Nature - (General)

Brazil is one of the richest countries in terms of diversity in nature and types of eco-systems. Of course there is the immense Amazon with it´s huge rivers and enormous jungle, still undiscovered species of flora and fauna as well as the biggest swamp areas with hundreds of thousands of animals in the Pantanal. But there are also the unknown and unique ecosystems of the so called Caatinga. A unique and only in Brazil found type of landscape of half dry desert type half covered with dry plants and fauna in the center of the states .. and ...
Then along the Atlantic coast  there are still big reserves of Mata Atlantica. A type of florest wchich has per square km the biggest variation of flora found on this planet. A diversity of thousands and thousands of  different plants, trees, flowers and fruits with many speciesof typical animals and birds.
There are the canyons and plateaus in Chapada Diamantina, Chapada dos Guimarães and serras, mountains with jungle like Serra da Bocaina, Serra ... etc.
Along the coast we find many rivers with mangrove, islands and it´s own vegetation and wildlife.
Brazil is very active and rigorous in the protection of its nature. The problem are the distances to protect. When nature protection officers are controlling an area of thousands of square kilometers it is hard to be everywhere because of the lack of money and equipment. Many international wood companies from overseaas still prefer to pay low prices for illegal cut wood than paying a higher price for re-planted or ecologically correct cut wood.
The laws in Brazil are very severe and anyone caught with wood which has not the official seal has got confiscated his truck, equipment and everything and is going to jail immediately without any possibility for discussion.
In general there is a very severe law that not one tree in any place can be cut without punishment in jail immediately.
The official organization of the government for nature protection is called IBAMA and they are very very serious and powerfull. Any illegal action or denuntation is followed up immediately with back up of the Federal Police.
Also the brazilian people themselves are very font of nature and most have trees, fruits and plants in their garden or small farm. In the weekends or hollidays they make trekkings in the reserves, form ONG´s (non governamental organizations) for protection, learn the children at school how to plant trees, have many actions and programs about ecology on tv. There are stimulating programs from the government for pruivate people to turn florests and other original natural areas like restinga etc. into private protected reserves: APA´s These Area´s of private proection are free of any taxes and other advantages but need to stay untouched, unused and protected by the owner.
A problem are the big landlords who still use small unemployed farmers to burn down florests to get more land for free for cattle, soya plantations. and speculation. Another treat are the illegal miners of minerals and gemstones (especially diamond and gold) who enter the indian reserves to start digging and destroying. Fortunately the Federal Police helps the indians in their struggle to keep these often very agressive and killing intruders out of the reserves.
Many indian tribes themselves are getting together to protect the nature and their areas against devastation.
Some good examples you can find in the chapter Protection.
Some countries pointing to Brazil to protect the Amazon and forests already cut a lot, or all the forests they had, still growing their cities, traffic, asphalt and concrete roads using the last little bit of green they have. The Amazon might be the lung of the planet and treasure of many already discovered and still to discover natural medicines but of course all countries have first to protect their own nature and plant more nature and forests themselves. Also stop the importation and use of wood. Stop building more roads and houses (asphalt, bricks and concrete is not nature). Let nature grow and take over naturally everywhere so our next generation of children and .. can live, breath and enjoy life too.

In every chapter on the menu you can find examples of the most found species of animals, birds,plants,fish etc.)