370 bird species have been identified in Serra Bonita.  © Luis Claudio Marigo

Yellow-Breasted Capuchins are found in the reserve.  © Luis Claudio Marigo

The reserve now protects more than 6,700 acres of rainforest.   © Luis Claudio Marigo

December 4, 2014

Rainforest Trust supported its Brazilian conservation partner Instituto Uiraçu in the purchase of six properties that have expanded the Serra Bonita Reserve by 986 acres. The acquisition of these properties enlarges the reserve to more than 6,700 acres.

Located in the Brazilian state of Bahia, the reserve protects one of the last intact remnants of the Atlantic Rainforest, an ecosystem rivaling the Amazon Basin in biodiversity. Some of the region’s most endangered species are protected within the Serra Bonita Reserve, which is the second largest private reserve in the Atlantic Forest Biodiversity Corridor.

“At Serra Bonita we’ve counted 370 species of birds, 120 species of orchids, and over 70 species of frogs, some of them new to science,” said Dr. Vitor Becker, Director of Research at Instituto Uiraçu.

Despite its spectacular biodiversity, the Atlantic Rainforest is now considered one of the world’s most threatened biomes. During the last 50 years, 93% of its rainforest has been cleared. The consequences of such destruction have been devastating for many species. Primates like the Yellow-breasted Capuchin have experienced population declines in the range of 80% since 1965.

“As the Atlantic Rainforest continues to disappear, the importance of the Serra Bonita Reserve has steadily grown,” said Christine Hodgdon, International Conservation Manger for Rainforest Trust. “This important expansion will prove beneficial for all of the reserve’s species, especially for Pumas and other large mammals that have large home ranges and need sizable tracts of habitat to survive.”

The reserve protects habitat for five endangered primates, including the Yellow-breasted Capuchin and the Northern Brown Howler Monkey. The entire Northern Brown Howler population now totals less than 250 mature individuals and, without adequate protection, the species will likely face extinction.

The area is also extraordinarily rich in avian diversity and is home to 59 bird species found only in the Atlantic Rainforest, nine of which are threatened. In recognition of this fact, BirdLife has designated the Serra Bonita Reserve as an Important Bird Area (IBA).

These purchases were made possible by the generous support of Luanne Lemmer and Eric Veach, The Orchid Conservation Alliance, Edith McBean, Leslie Santos and Brett Byers, as well as GreaterGood.org and The Rainforest Site.