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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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CAATINGA |
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| General Description | The Caatinga Biosphere Reserve is characterized by Caatinga vegetation (a word of Tupi native Indian origin meaning ‘white forest’), as well as ‘Martius’ (Silva aestu aphylla) decidous forest in the drought period, the typical vegetation of the poor, semi-arid northeast of Brazil. Through the buffer and transition areas, the Caatinga Biosphere Reserve sets up ecological corridors among the diverse core areas, and it is also linked to the contiguous Mata Atlántica and Cerrado Biosphere Reserves. The Caatinga Biosphere Reserve is implementing a strategy of promoting the preservation of biodiversity, the development of research activities, environmental monitoring and education, sustainable development as well as the improvement of livelihoods of the people of northeastern Brazil. Some 210,000 people (2002) live in the Biosphere Reserve, mainly living from dry farming and cattle raising. There is also a great dependency on forestry products and several Caatinga plants are considered as having medicinal properties. Strategies aiming at the sustainable use of the Caatinga are part of the research agenda of the government and non-governmental organisations in the region. These strategies need in particular to reconcile traditional agriculture with irrigated fruit production. | |||
| Major ecosystem type | Tropical dry forest (Caatinga) influenced by Cerrado and Atlantic forest ecotones in its surroundings | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Caatinga stands for the kind of vegetation that covers the greatest semiarid region in Northeast Brazil. The Caatinga Biosphere Reserve has been divided into 6 units. Unit I represents a Caatinga high forest characterized by Tabebuia-Aspidosperma-Astronium-Cavanillesia association. Unit II varies from Caatinga middle or lower forest and open arboreal Caatinga. It presents four associations: a) Astronium-Schinopsis-Caesalpinia, b) Caesalpinia-Spondias-Bursera-Aspidosperma, c) Mimosa-Syagrus-Spondias-Cereus, and d) Cnidosculus-Bursera-Caesalpinia. Unit III represents a lower Caatinga forest and is characterized by Pilosocereus-Poepiggia-Dalbergia-Piptadenia association. Unit IV occurs in low Caatinga and includes four associations: a) Caesalpinia-Aspidosperma-Jatropha, b) Caesalpinia-Aspidosperma, c) Mimosa-Caesalpinia-Aristida, and d) Aspidosperma-Pelosocereus. Unit V represents a type of bushy Caatinga and is characterized by Calliandra-Pilosocereus association. Unit VI represents a Caatinga gallery forest and is characterized by Copernicia-Geoffroea-Licania association. Land uses include dry-farming (sequiro), agroecosystems, afforestation areas; pasture land. | |||
| Location | 03°00' to 16°00'S; 35°30' to 44°00'W | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 19,899,000 | |||
| Core area(s) | 1,000,342 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 13,545,000 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | 5,353,658 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +40 to +1,100 | |||
| Year designated | 2001 | |||
| Administrative authorities | IBAMA's Ecosystem Director and State Agents as follows: SEMACE/Ceara, IDEMA/Rio Grande do Norte, SUDEMA/Paraiba, SECTMA/Pernambuco, CODISE/Sergipe, IMA/Alagoas, CRA/Bahia | |||
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| Brief description |
Abiotic factors: Survey of potentialities, restrictions of surface and subterranean water resources use, and soil physical and chemical characteristics regarding function and availability towards agricultural processes Biotic factors: Survey of Caatinga's fauna and flora Socio-economic factors: Survey of socio-economic conditions of populations subdued by drought action |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Drought, soil. | |||
| Biodiversity | Fauna, flora. | |||
| Socio-economic | Agriculture/Production systems, resource use, social/socio-economic aspects. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Integrated studies/Interdisciplinaty. | |||
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| Contact address |
Alexandrina Sobreira Director of Ecosystems - IBAMA Edifício Sede do IBAMA, SAIN - Av. L4 Norte 70800-200 Brasilia D.F. Brazil |
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| Telephone | (55.61) 225 3241 (55.61) 316 1163/1164 |
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| Fax | (55.61) 225 7517 | |||
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alexandrina.sobreira@gmail.com |
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| Last updated: 3/8/2011 |
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