Brazil biodiversity faces challenges as endangered species count rises

Brazil's biodiversity is driven by its vast territory, diverse climates, varied relief, and multiple biomes, which create numerous ecological niches. This biological wealth encompasses species variety, genetic diversity, and ecosystem complexity, all of which are vital for environmental balance and regional economic and cultural activities.

However, conservation challenges persist. According to a survey by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), nearly 800 Brazilian fauna species are currently threatened with extinction. The list categorizes these animals into three risk levels: 337 are vulnerable, 286 are in danger, and 163 are critically endangered. Since 2022, 184 species have been added to the threatened list, while 158 have been removed.

In a notable conservation development, a pair of northeastern guans (mutum-do-nordeste) successfully reproduced without human intervention at the Belo Horizonte Zoo, a first since 1970 for this species, which is considered extinct in the wild.