The tallest tree ever recorded in the Southeastern part of Brazil was recently discovered in the heart of the Atlantic Forest. At 50 meters tall, the imposing jequitibá-rosa (Cariniana legalis) was found in the Private Natural Heritage Reserve (PNHR) Macedonia Farm, a CENIBRA conservation area in Ipaba, Minas Gerais.
The discovery is a hallmark in the Atlantic Forest biome and further reinforces the importance of environmental protection and preservation. In a scenario where forest fires have devastated extensive green areas throughout the country, the jequitibá has become a symbol of survival.
The tree was initially spotted through satellite images. What caught the researchers’ attention was the prominence of its crown, measuring over 700 square meters – equivalent to four volleyball courts – and casting a large shadow over the surrounding trees.
“When we looked at the satellite image, it was clear that we were dealing with a monumental tree,” says Jacinto Lana, a specialist in CENIBRA’s Environmental Management department.
A multidisciplinary team was put together to investigate the finding and, using drones and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, they confirmed the height of 50 meters. This technology uses lasers to measure distances, which allows researchers to see details of the ground and trees, even in densely forested areas.
According to Bruno Ferraz, an expert with CENIBRA’s Forestry Planning and Research department, LiDAR detected a height of 48.946 meters, but there was no guarantee that the highest branch of the tree would be detected by the laser, which could lead to a difference of up to one meter.
“We used a drone to remove the superficial layers of leaves on the ground, thus enabling the precise measurement from the base of the tree. The combination of these two techniques allowed us to obtain an accurate measurement, which corroborated our expectations regarding the size of this tree,” Bruno explains.
Once the tree’s height had been determined, the next step was to identify its species. Such identification was only possible thanks to a single fruit that fell off early, providing a rare opportunity for confirmation. This was all that was needed to identify the jequitibá-rosa, an endangered species.
Impact of the finding
Although jequitibá trees of this size are more common in the Amazon, finding such a large tree in the Atlantic Forest attests to this biome’s resilience and importance. According to records from the website Árvores Gigantes, which specializes in officially catag monumental trees, the largest jequitibá recorded was 43.8 meters tall, in the state of São Paulo. Therefore, the jequitibá-rosa found at PNHR Macedonia Farm becomes the largest tree in the Brazilian Southeast and the third largest in the Atlantic Forest ever documented.
“Protecting these trees is essential, as they sustain biodiversity and are living witnesses to Brazil’s natural history,” highlights Thales Claussem, environmental analyst at CENIBRA’s Social Responsibility Department.
The next challenge will be to estimate its age, which is believed that to be over 600 years old. Research is already being planned in collaboration with experts from the Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM).
Preservation and sustainability at Macedonia Farm
The jequitibá-rosa demonstrates the key role played by PNHR Macedonia Farm as a biodiversity preservation area. Created three decades ago, this PNHR was the first in the Southeast of Brazil to be recognized as a Private Natural Heritage Reserve by IBAMA, through Ordinance No. 111 of October 14, 1994.
Macedonia Farm is also considered a High Conservation Value Area (HCVA), characterized by extreme biological, ecological, social, or cultural importance. The main attribute that makes Macedonia Farm a HCVA is the presence of endangered species of Brazilian wildlife.
With more than 560 hectares of preserved native forests, the Farm is home to several fauna and flora species threatened with extinction. Biodiversity studies and monitoring carried out in the PNHR to date have recorded 15 species of birds and 9 species of mammals included on official lists of endangered species in the wild. “There’s a true ecosystem in its canopy, with orchids, vines, bird nests, and a variety of epiphytic plants, which reinforces the importance of these trees for local biodiversity and the need for their preservation,” Jacinto Lana explains.
Future research and environmental commitment
The discovery also aroused the curiosity of the multidisciplinary team, made up of environmental and forest engineers and biologists, and new research is being planned to explore other protected areas belonging to CENIBRA. The Company lands total254,070.53 hectares, of which 105,730.95 are Permanent Preservation Areas, Legal Reserves, and native vegetation. New monumental trees are expected to be found.
Kelen Moreira, Environmental Management coordinator at the Company, points out that the discovery of the jequitibá brings new momentum to discussions about the preservation of the last Atlantic Forest remnants. “We must ensure the longevity of these trees and their surrounding ecosystems, and this discovery highlights the importance of continuous conservation actions,” she says.
Another milestone for CENIBRA was the recent certification by LIFE, a recognition of the Company’s commitment to preserving biodiversity. This certification is granted to organizations that show excellence in the management of natural areas and the adoption of sustainable environmental practices.
“We’re the first company in the industry to be certified by LIFE. And the discovery of this jequitibá-rosa tree is further evidence that our conservation areas are essential for biodiversity protection,” Moreira adds.
About CENIBRA
Incorporated on September 13, 1973 and located in eastern Minas Gerais, Celulose Nipo-Brasileira S.A. (CENIBRA) operates two bleached short-fiber eucalyptus pulp production lines in its 1.2 million tons/year industrial plant in Belo Oriente. The Company is present in more than 80 municipalities in Minas Gerais and s for more than 8,000 direct jobs. It’s forest base is a mosaic of planted and native forests linked by wildlife corridors, which are fundamental elements of biodiversity conservation and protection of water resources, key to sustainable life.
Learn more at cenibra-br.diariomineiro.net | [email protected] | 0800 283 3829
