Review of Ecological Restoration in the Brazilian Pampa

• Published in: Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências Vol. 96; no. 4; p. e20231283
• Main Authors: MICHEL, THAIS, OVERBECK, GERHARD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Academia Brasileira de Ciências 2024
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Brazil; Conservation of Natural Resources; Ecosystem; Environmental Restoration and Remediation; Forests; Grassland; MULTIDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES; Brazil; Pampa; seed production; grasslands; restoration ecology; biodiversity conservation; species introduction
• ISSN: 0001-3765; 1678-2690; 1678-2690
• DOI: 10.1590/0001-3765202420231283

Ecological restoration is crucial to counter global ecosystem degradation. The Brazilian Pampa, home to significant biodiversity, has been overlooked in research and conservation policies. This study involved a comprehensive literature review of 26 articles on restoration in the Brazilian Pampa, including 17 on grasslands and nine on forests, to understand the current state of knowledge on the subject. In grassland areas, the primary challenges were the invasion of exotic species and the lack of native seed or plant material. For forest restoration, the main issue was the conversion of forested areas to pastures, with challenges including the limited availability of nurseries for native species seedlings. Despite recent increases in research and some promising results, effectively guiding restoration efforts requires more research across the ecosystems of the Pampa, stronger networks for seedling and seed production, and concrete actions to achieve national restoration policy goals. The Pampa's potential for sustainable grassland use offers a unique opportunity to promote biodiversity conservation alongside economic development, making restoration efforts especially attractive.