Usina São José Research Site, Pernambuco

  • Title

    Usina São José Research Site, Pernambuco

  • Description

    The Usina São José, Pernambuco

    The Usina São José, located near the coast of the state of Pernambuco north of Recife (7º 40’ 21.25" – 7º 55’ 50.92" S and 34º 54’ 14.25" – 35º 05’ 21.08" W) has an approximate area of 280 km² (Trindade et al., 2008). The area includes two registered private reserves, the Mata de Piedade and the Fazenda Tabatinga. The vegetation is considered seasonal semideciduous lowland forest, according to Velloso et al. (1991), and includes about 110 forest fragments (Trindade et al., 2008). The fragments inventoried include those discussed in Alves-Araújo et al. (2008): Piedade (306 ha), Macacos (357 ha), Zambana (388 ha), Pezinho (30 ha), Santa Helena (12 ha), Vespas (14 ha), plus the fragments known as BR (91 ha), Chave (89 ha) and Cruzinha (87 ha).

    Of the states north of the Rio São Francisco, Pernambuco has the largest remaining area, and largest original area of Atlantic forest (Uchôa Neto & Tabarelli, 2002). The work here is being directed by Dr. Marccus Alves of the Federal University of Pernambuco and carried out by his students.