What do tree-growth archives tell us about anthropogenic pressures and their mitigations in the Atlantic Forest?

Author(s)

Olmedo, Gabriela Morais ; de Oliveira, Juliano Morales ; Tomazello-Filho, Mario

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS; v. 33, p. 20-pg., 2025-01-01.

Abstract

The Atlantic Forest is a complex and heterogeneous biome, reflecting significant biodiversity that has historically been threatened by anthropogenic pressures. In this sense, solutions to these issues are needed and growth rings could represent an opportunity for this. This review aimed to compile studies addressing growth rings in the Atlantic Forest. We sought to answer whether these studies are contributing to an understanding of the impacts of environmental problems on trees and the implementation of environmental solutions. From 105 articles published on growth rings in the Atlantic Forest, most have contributed to exploring the climatic responses of trees. Compiling the results of these studies, we show a similar tendency for tree growth in the biome to be positively influenced by water conditions. However, it is important to highlight that few papers have focused on issues such as land degradation, climate change, biological invasions, and restoration approaches. Although it has been shown that dendrochronology is a collaborative science among researchers, there is a gap in studies and research groups in the northeast and southwest regions and with the applications of multiproxy research. There are studies worldwide that address environmental problems using different growth ring approaches to evaluate matters including climate change, pollution, tree health, carbon sequestration, and environmental monitoring. In this sense, there is a need and opportunity for tree-ring research in the Atlantic Forest biome on these issues. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 23/08463-1 - Dendrochronology applied to the evaluation of forest restoration in the Atlantic Forest biome: growth, nutrition, biomass and carbon in the tree stem wood
• Grantee: Gabriela Morais Olmedo
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate