Topoclimatic Zoning of Embrapa identifies 12 native species with higher forest restoration potential
One published in the international scientific journal It brings significant advances to the management and sustainable forest solutions in the Brazilian Amazon. The study, led by the researcher, from (PA), used a methodology of its own, topoclimatic zoning, which allows to map areas and indicate the most appropriate native species for forestry and forest restoration in the Amazon region. The publication in Forests It focuses on 12 native species of high ecological and economic value.
Conducted by researchers from Embrapa, Federal University of Ceará () and other institutions, work reveals that forestry with native species positively influences climate change, as well as promoting income generation, recovering biodiversity and strengthening resilience of areas against natural disasters.
The findings emphasize the importance of topoclimatic zoning as a tool for conservation and sustainable use strategies. The results are aligned with Brazil’s Environmental Services Payment Law (PES), an approach capable of encouraging agroforestry practices, improving biodiversity conservation and strengthening Amazonian bioeconomics.
Method is applicable to any biome
The topoclimatic zoning methodology aims to subsidize conservation strategies and sustainable use of native forest species and can be applied to any biome.
The study used more than 7.6 thousand georeferenced records of native forest species, such as Angelim-Reti, IPê-yellow, Copaíba and Mahogany-Brazilian and crossed this information with climatic, topographic and geographical data collected between 1961 and 2022. From this, the researchers created maps showing the degree of environmental adequacy (high, medium or low) of different areas of areas Amazon for planting and management of each species.
Non -hierarchical statistical analysis generated models and maps that indicate areas with high, medium and low topoclimatic potential for planting and management of each species. “It is a planning methodology with enormous potential to support public policies aimed at forest restoration, bioeconomics and climate adaptation. It is applied science to the territory”says Martorano.
Among the results, the study demonstrates that species such as Angelim-Red (Dinizia excelsa) presented up to 81% of high topoclimatic aptitude in anthropized areas (degraded or changed by man), revealing a vast potential for productive restoration. In addition, species with greater environmental plasticity, such as Marupá (simusroba amara), can act as “sweatshirts” in places of less climate adaptation, provided they are accompanied by adaptive management.
Connecting biodiversity, climate and economy
More than just mapping where to plant, zoning allows you to align and subsidize public policies to Brazil’s international commitments in the Paris Agreement, such as the reforestation of millions of hectares and the fight against biodiversity loss. Native forestry, driven by this tool, integrates bioeconomics and climate, creating sustainable economic opportunities.
This approach has strong adherence to Brazil’s Environmental Services Payment Law (PSA), and may be the basis for attracting financing sources and fostering native agroforestry practices and forestry, as studied study data. The methodology focuses on forest species and, added to other zoning, has the ability to improve biodiversity conservation and strengthen Amazonian bioeconomics, ensuring ecological resilience and sustainable development.
The study also opens doors for native areas recovery programs and the carbon credit market. The researcher of (PR) and co -author of the article points out that well -adapted species identified by zoning maximize the offer of environmental services such as carbon sequestration, water and thermal regulation and biodiversity preservation. “When the country identifies accurately where and how to reforest, it creates better conditions to attract international climate investments”says the scientist.
With information from
