The Atlantic Forest Loss and Coastal Conservation Challenges on the Southeast Brazilian Coast
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21711173 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Fernanda A Moschetto (0000-0002-9158-3808, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Brazil), Débora M de Freitas (0000-0002-0374-5732, São Paulo State University - UNESP, Brazil) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 29 |
| Publication date | 2026-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Ambiente & sociedade (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1414-753X • E-ISSN: 1809-4422 |
| Publisher | FapUNIFESP (SciELO) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1590/1809-4422asoc02191vu29l29oa |
| OpenAlex | W7167519814 |
| SCIELO_PID | S1414-753X2026000100614 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 20 |
Coastal regions play a crucial role in global biodiversity conservation and human development, yet they face growing threats from urbanization, industrialization, and habitat loss. The Atlantic Forest, a biodiversity hotspot along Brazil’s southeastern coast, has been severely reduced by long-term anthropogenic pressures. This study analyzes spatiotemporal dynamics of Atlantic Forest cover and urban expansion in the Baixada Santista watershed over three decades. Using supervised classification of satellite imagery, we quantified changes in forest cover and identified key drivers of deforestation and regeneration. Results reveal forest loss followed by partial recovery, resulting in a net reduction of 1.21 km2 between 1991 and 2021. Urban expansion and informal settlements were the main drivers of vegetation loss, especially in sub-basins associated with the Santos-São Vicente Estuarine complex and industrial zones. Mangrove ecosystems in industrialized areas also showed significant degradation, highlighting the need for integrated conservation strategies, improved urban planning, and habitat restoration
Atlantic forest · Biodiversity · Biodiversity hotspot · Forest cover · Habitat · Human settlement · Mangrove · Watershed · Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics · Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management · Land Use and Ecosystem Services
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |