Deforestation has become rampant in recent years in Brazil and has affected all biomes where manyspecies are threatened to extinction due to destruction natural habitats. Government initiatives to hinder thechain of destruction include two main lines of action: to establish conservation units (parks, reserves andothers); and programs to encourage plantation of native tree species for reclamation of degraded ecosystems, restoration of forests on permanent protection areas (riparian, and steep slope environments), and establishment of “legal reserves” (a mandatory forest reserve on at least 20% of the land area). Conservation units are effectivein conserving natural ecosystems. However, they are of limited value for the conservation of ecotypes, sincetheir... |