A conservation strategy in the face of economic development.

To develop more sustainable societies, we need to know the nature and the interaction between the living beings that compose it. The balance of an ecosystem depends on the interactions between living organisms (biotic components or biocenosis) and the environment in which they live (abiotic components). A relation of plants, animals and microorganisms established between themselves and the environment guarantees the preservation of natural resources.

Rio Grande do Sul consists of two determinant formations for the region’s plant physiognomy – the field and the forest, its floristic composition is related to geological and climatic events, constituting in its geomorphology the Atlantic Forest and Pampa Biomes.

Nowadays, forests are under strong anthropic influence, and the areas that used to be extensive forests are now being reduced to small forest remnants. The preservation of these is essential for the conservation of species, water resources, air quality and climate, factors that directly interfere in the quality of life of the population.

Any activity that results in the intervention of forest resources is subject to Environmental Licensing (LA). Which is an administrative act that may be a Federal, State or Municipal competence.

In this sense, forest coverage reports are technical documents that serve as a basis for characterizing the flora of a particular region and/or place, its state of conservation, its diversity, successional stage, endemic and endangered species. After the survey of the vegetal cover, strategies are elaborated, aiming to preserve the biodiversity allied to the economic development.

Due to the complexity and floristic diversity of the species, the vegetation cover reports and forest inventories must be developed by trained technical professionals such as: biologists, agronomists and forest engineers.

Catiusa K. Rosin Ottonelli
Biologist
Master in Environmental Science and Technology