Landscape connectivity to implement payments for ecosystem services in the Paraíba do Sul and Vale do Ribeira basins

• Grant number: 22/16720-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date until: February 01, 2023
• End date until: May 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Agreement: Global Environment Facility (GEF)
• Principal Investigator: Kaline de Mello
• Grantee: Evandro Barbosa de Castro Junior
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias para a Sustentabilidade (CCTS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/10125-1 - Decision support for the implementation of payment for ecosystem services projects related to water, carbon and biodiversity: Paraíba do Sul and Vale do Ribeira, AP.JP

Abstract

The Atlantic Forest is a world hostspot of highly threatened biodiversity that needs investments in forest restoration to reestablish its biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by this biome. Payments for Ecosystem Services (PSE) are key instruments for achieving restoration goals in this biome. For these programs to be successful, it is necessary to spatially plan the location in these PSEs, such as areas of high potential for regeneration, and potential areas for landscape connectivity to native species. In this sense, the main objective of this proposal is to generate a landscape connectivity map for two river basins in the Atlantic Forest in São Paulo, aiming at the implementation of PSE programs. The results will make important contributions to planning the implementation of PSE programs in the Atlantic Forest. (AU)