TY - JOUR

T1 - Measuring the natural capital of Amazonian forests

T2 - A case study of the National Forest of Carajás, Brazil

AU - Giannini, Tereza Cristina

AU - Oliveira Andrino, Caroline

AU - Gomes Barbosa-Silva, Rafael

AU - Bitencourt, José

AU - Borges, Rafael Cabral

AU - Brito, Renata

AU - Cavalcante, Rosane Barbosa Lopes

AU - Costa, Claudia Priscila Wanzeler

AU - Dantas, Sidnei M.

AU - Gastauer, Markus

AU - Gomes, Vitor Hugo Freitas

AU - Maia, Ulysses Madureira

AU - Martello, Felipe

AU - De Sousa Miranda, Leonardo

AU - Nunes, Sâmia

AU - Oliveira, Guilherme Corrêa

AU - Paracampo, Amanda

AU - Pontes, Paulo Rógenes Monteiro

AU - Ramos, Silvio

AU - Júnior, José Eustáquio dos Santos

AU - Silveira, Orlando

AU - Tedeschi, Renata

AU - Valadares, Rafael

AU - Viana, Pedro

AU - Biesmeijer, Jacobus C.

PY - 2025/4/26

Y1 - 2025/4/26

N2 - We propose an innovative approach that links nature and people to assess the natural capital of tropical forests in the Amazon. Our study location is a protected area inside Eastern Amazon forest, where we defined 14 sampling points and analyzed ten components, which encompass the maintenance of standing forests (nature to itself) and the provision of ecosystem services (nature to people). Five components were used to assess ecosystem functions and five components were used to assess ecosystem services. As for ecosystem functions, we registered 467 species of animals (122 bees, 53 butterflies, 292 birds) and 418 plant species, and a mean interaction diversity of 2.8 (from 480 bee-plant interactions). Based on functional traits, we found that at least 83 % of species must be preserved to guarantee resilience, and that functional diversity relies on 60 % of non-replaceable species. Eleven per cent of birds and 9 % of plants are endangered. As for ecosystem services, carbon storage in soil and vegetation is 41.6 and 173 MgC/ha (on average), respectively. One to four uses by Amazonian traditional communities were reported on 42 % of plants. In the vicinities of the protected area, we found that 66 % of crops (13 from 20 crop species) depend on pollinating bees, and the value of annual crop pollination service is US$4.5Mi. Regarding water protection and local climate regulation, data modelling has shown that the presence of protected forests leads to a 21 % increase in evapotranspiration and a decrease in temperature of 0.4 °C. Our framework showed a clear link between the megadiversity found in Amazonian tropical forest and the robust benefits provided to human welfare, highlighting forest conservation as a key element for sustainable development. Advances in understanding the value of forests stimulate significant new opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of forest conservation and management policies and decision-making.

AB - We propose an innovative approach that links nature and people to assess the natural capital of tropical forests in the Amazon. Our study location is a protected area inside Eastern Amazon forest, where we defined 14 sampling points and analyzed ten components, which encompass the maintenance of standing forests (nature to itself) and the provision of ecosystem services (nature to people). Five components were used to assess ecosystem functions and five components were used to assess ecosystem services. As for ecosystem functions, we registered 467 species of animals (122 bees, 53 butterflies, 292 birds) and 418 plant species, and a mean interaction diversity of 2.8 (from 480 bee-plant interactions). Based on functional traits, we found that at least 83 % of species must be preserved to guarantee resilience, and that functional diversity relies on 60 % of non-replaceable species. Eleven per cent of birds and 9 % of plants are endangered. As for ecosystem services, carbon storage in soil and vegetation is 41.6 and 173 MgC/ha (on average), respectively. One to four uses by Amazonian traditional communities were reported on 42 % of plants. In the vicinities of the protected area, we found that 66 % of crops (13 from 20 crop species) depend on pollinating bees, and the value of annual crop pollination service is US$4.5Mi. Regarding water protection and local climate regulation, data modelling has shown that the presence of protected forests leads to a 21 % increase in evapotranspiration and a decrease in temperature of 0.4 °C. Our framework showed a clear link between the megadiversity found in Amazonian tropical forest and the robust benefits provided to human welfare, highlighting forest conservation as a key element for sustainable development. Advances in understanding the value of forests stimulate significant new opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of forest conservation and management policies and decision-making.

U2 - 10.1016/j.ecoser.2025.101734

DO - 10.1016/j.ecoser.2025.101734

M3 - Journal article

JO - Ecosystem Services

JF - Ecosystem Services

SN - 2212-0416

M1 - 101734

ER -