Protected areas: solution for preservation? Araucaria Forest in the State of Santa Catarina

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the historical process of deforestation of the Araucaria Forest in the West of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, during the 20th century and early 21th century. In addition, discuss the process that led to the creation of Conservation Units in the year of 2005 by the Federal Government. In the State of Santa Catarina, the Araucaria Forest accounted in the past for 42.5% of the total vegetation. Currently the remaining fragments correspond to less than 5% of the original area and only 0.7% can be considered as native Forest, placing it among the most threatened typologies of the Atlantic Forest. The colonization process chosen for the region is one of those responsible for the current situation of the Forest. The analyses of different sources indicates that devastation occurred regardless of legislation, the problems resided in Law enforcement and overlapping economic interests and even in the absence of a public opinion acting in defense of preservation ad reforestation of the Araucaria Forest.