Apresentao
Em mais de quatro sculos de histria, o Estado de
So Paulo perdeu boa parte de sua vegetao nativa,
constituda sobretudo por Mata Atlntica, Cerrado e
vegetaes costeiras.
Atualmente, grande parte do que restou de sua mata
nativa est protegida em unidades de conservao, sob
responsabilidade da Secretaria Estadual do Meio Am-
biente. A Fundao Florestal o rgo responsvel pela
administrao da maioria das unidades de conservao,
entre elas os parques estaduais, reas privilegiadas para
atividades de ecoturismo, como a observao de aves.
Chamada em ingls de birdwatching, essa atividade vem
se tornando cada vez mais popular no Brasil.
A Mata Atlntica uma das regies com maior bio-
diversidade do mundo e tambm muito rica em aves.
Sua avifauna inclui mais de 600 espcies, das quais
cerca de 160 so endmicas, isto , no existem em
nenhum outro tipo de ambiente no mundo.
As aves tm relaes importantes com a natureza.
Espcies que comem frutos transportam as sementes
e contribuem para a disperso das plantas. Outras
tm papel destacado na polinizao de flores, como
os beija-flores.
Elas ainda participam da cadeia alimentar, sendo
predadoras ou presas.
Introduction
Over the last four centuries the state of So Paulo has
lost much of its native vegetation, largely consisting
of Atlantic Forest, brushland and coastal vegetation.
Today, much of what remains of this native forest
is protected in special areas managed by the State
Environmental Secretariat. The So Paulo Forestry
Foundation is responsible for administering the majority
of protected areas, some of which are classified as
state parks. These are prime areas for ecotourism
activities, including birdwatching a hobby thats
becoming increasingly popular in Brazil.
The Atlantic Forest is one of the most biodiversity-
rich regions in the world, particularly in terms of birdlife.
Of the 600 or so species of bird found here, 160 are
endemic that is, they occur nowhere else in the world.
Birds maintain an important relationship with na-
ture. Species that feed on fruit transport the seeds
and help with plant dispersal. Others, such as the
hummingbird, play a pivotal role in flower pollination.
As both hunters and prey, birds also form a link in
the food chain.
The survival of many forest-dwelling species de-
pends on the preservation of the natural environment.
Landscapes altered by human activities may exhibit
rich birdlife, but this will largely consist of species that