PAST SUCCESSES

Conservation and Management of Dimophandra wilsonii in Brazil

Dimorphandra wilsonii is a Critically Endangered legume tree endemic to the cerradão in Minas Gerais State, southeast Brazil, one of the most important and threatened ecosystems in the country. The tree itself is highly threatened with 10 adults and 6 juveniles left in the wild, surrounded by pasture land in a highly deforested and fragmented landscape. The main threats to the species are:

• Deforestation for charcoal production - the most important threat to the whole Cerrado Biome.

• Deforestation for pasture establishment

• Competition from exotic grass (Brachiaria)

Within Brazil, the fruits of several other species of Dimorphandra are used for the production of a medicine to treat circulatory diseases. Although Dimorphandra wilsonii has never been used in this way due to its rarity, if it could be propagated in sufficient numbers it could become economically valuable for the medicinal trade. In partnership with a range of organisations, the botanic garden of the Fundação Zoobotanica de Belo Horizonte is working to protect this species and develop ex situ collections.

Led by the Botanic Garden of the Fundação Zoo-Botânica de Belo Horizonte in cooperation with other institutions and farmers, the project aimed to:

• Protect and monitor the remaining wild population of Dimorphandra wilsonii

• Locate any new individuals

• Cultivate the species in ex situ collections, in order to support reintroduction work

• Conduct further scientific research into the species and its habitat

• Raise awareness and understanding locally about the species and the threats to it.


As a result of the project, a new law was created in Minas Gerais State specifically for the protection of Dimorphandra wilsonii.


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