Eco Destination of the Month: Brazil
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The International Ecotourism Society recognized Brazil as the Eco Destination of the month for the month of May, 2009. Read the full article here, or read about the Pantanal and Brazil`s 4 other natural biomes below.
Natural Brasil: Breakdown of Brasil`s 5 Major Biomes
THE AMAZON - The Largest Rainforest in the World: The mythical Amazon can only be described in superlatives. It covers an area of 5 million square kilometers of which 80% is on Brazilian territory. It is the largest and most intact rainforest region in the world.
PANTANAL - In the centre of the South American continent lies the largest wetlands in the world: the Pantanal. Extending into three countries, Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, its total area is an estimated 240,000 square kilometers (60% is in Brazil). The origins of these floodplains probably go back to the time when there was a great inland sea in the South American continent. The diversity of vegetation, the rich soil and the abundance of water attract and sustain an enormous variety and abundance of wildlife. Most of the wildlife is also encountered in other parts of Brazil, but nowhere are they as easily seen as in the Pantanal.
THE ATLANTIC FOREST - The Forgotten Rainforest of Brazil: The Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened rainforests in the world. It used to stretch all along the Brazilian coast occupying an area of about 1.1 million square kilometers. Now less than 10% remains. Most of the forest cover in the states North of Salvador is gone.
CERRADO - The Magical Brazilian Heartland: The heartland of Brazil, the "cerrado", covers an area equal to Western Europe (2 million sq km) and is thought to be one of the South American continent`s more ancient ecosystems.
CAATINGA - Ancient Badlands of Northeastern Brazil: Caa-tinga (caa = woods, tinga = white) is the Tupi Indian name for the typical vegetation of the backlands of the North East of Brazil. In the prolonged dry season, most of the thorny bushes, scrubs and contorted trees of the caatinga lose their leaves and you see a thicket of dull grey-white trunks and twigs.
Source: The International Ecotourism Society http://www.ecotourism.org/site/c.orLQKXPCLmF/b.4875071/k.5444/Featured_Destination.htm#natural