Durrell's Conservation Work in Brazil

The Atlantic Forest in Brazil is one of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet.

The forest is home to 7% of the world’s species with over half of them found nowhere else in the world. Large areas of forest have been cut down to make way for intensive farmland, and now only 6% of the forest remains, split into fragmented areas.

Each hectare of mature, healthy forest can sequester hundreds of tonnes of CO2, meaning the destruction of the Atlantic Forest does not only threaten its inhabitants but also worsens the effects of climate change for the entire planet.

remaining Atlantic Forest

100+

tree species being planted

1,600

black lion tamarin population

Our conservation work

What we're doing to help in Brazil

Reconnecting the Atlantic Forest

Only 6% of the once 1,000,000km2 Atlantic Forest remains and this is split into isolated fragments, replaced by cattle pastures, intensive farmland and plantations.

What we're doing to help

With our local partners, we are planting tree corridors to reconnect areas of forest. The corridors enable animals to move safely between fragments, increasing genetic diversity and preventing tree-dwelling species from needing to travel along the ground.
Sequestering carbon

Over 30 years, growing rainforest can remove 383 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere. In comparison, plantations can only sequester 18 tonnes over 30 years.

What we're doing to help

By planting trees in the Atlantic Forest, we are helping to combat the effects of climate change as well as protecting many precious species from extinction. Rewild Carbon, our carbon offsetting programme, gives businesses a way to balance their carbon usage by planting trees in the Atlantic Forest.
Protecting the black lion tamarin

Black lion tamarins were thought to be extinct until they were rediscovered in 1970. Forest fragmentation continues to threaten this tree-dwelling species.

What we're doing to help

Jersey Zoo first began breeding black lion tamarins in 1990 and is now the only place outside of Brazil to hold a breeding group. Tamarins born at the zoo were released into the Atlantic Forest and we continue to work with local partners to restore the tamarin’s forest home and keep them safe.
Providing safe sleeping sites

As the forest corridors develop, the trees are still too young to have formed the cavities in which black lion tamarins like to sleep. This meant that the animals were not using the corridors to travel between forest fragments.

What we're doing to help

Nest boxes were designed at Jersey Zoo, tested by our resident tamarins, and are now being placed in mature trees in the Atlantic Forest to give black lion tamarins a safe place to sleep whilst the forest canopy grows.
Promoting sustainable careers

Most of the Atlantic Forest has disappeared due to the land being cleared to make way for farmland and cattle pasture.

What we're doing to help

Alongside our local partners, we train local communities in more sustainable farming practices, as well as providing careers in rural extension, monitoring, restoration services and seedling production. Environmental education is also provided in local schools.

Our partners

Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas (IPÊ)

Donors

The Michael Marks Charitable Trust | IDEA Wild

Species we're helping

Black lion tamarin

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Brazil

The Atlantic Forest in Brazil is one of the most biodiverse habitats on the planet.

Our conservation work

What we're doing to help in Brazil

Reconnecting the Atlantic Forest

Only 6% of the once 1,000,000km2 Atlantic Forest remains and this is split into isolated fragments, replaced by cattle pastures, intensive farmland and plantations.

What we're doing to help

With our local partners, we are planting tree corridors to reconnect areas of forest. The corridors enable animals to move safely between fragments, increasing genetic diversity and preventing tree-dwelling species from needing to travel along the ground.

Sequestering carbon

Over 30 years, growing rainforest can remove 383 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere. In comparison, plantations can only sequester 18 tonnes over 30 years.

What we're doing to help

Protecting the black lion tamarin

Black lion tamarins were thought to be extinct until they were rediscovered in 1970. Forest fragmentation continues to threaten this tree-dwelling species.

What we're doing to help

Jersey Zoo first began breeding black lion tamarins in 1990 and is now the only place outside of Brazil to hold a breeding group. Tamarins born at the zoo were released into the Atlantic Forest and we continue to work with local partners to restore the tamarin’s forest home and keep them safe.

Providing safe sleeping sites

As the forest corridors develop, the trees are still too young to have formed the cavities in which black lion tamarins like to sleep. This meant that the animals were not using the corridors to travel between forest fragments.

What we're doing to help

Nest boxes were designed at Jersey Zoo, tested by our resident tamarins, and are now being placed in mature trees in the Atlantic Forest to give black lion tamarins a safe place to sleep whilst the forest canopy grows.

Promoting sustainable careers

Most of the Atlantic Forest has disappeared due to the land being cleared to make way for farmland and cattle pasture.

What we're doing to help

Alongside our local partners, we train local communities in more sustainable farming practices, as well as providing careers in rural extension, monitoring, restoration services and seedling production. Environmental education is also provided in local schools.

Our partners

Donors

Species we're helping

Where we work

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