Brazil is universally recognised as the first among the
17
so - called megadiverse countries.
About 15 to 20% of the entire
biodiversity
on Planet Earth is to be found here. The
flora and
fauna of the known Brazilian biota
is estimated at 140.000 to 190.000 species.
The
ecosystems of the
Atlantic
Rainforest
Biome
are particularly diverse.
Brazil contains rich
social/cultural
diversity, as represented by more than
two hundred
indigenous people
and a range of local communities (such as quilombolas,
caiçaras, seringueiros and others) holding a priceless store of traditional
knowledge related to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity
( see also
COP8).
