Brazil has 7,367 km of coastline, that is, areas bathed by the sea. Thus, there are several types of plant formations distributed throughout these areas, thus characterizing an important diversity, which contributes to an equal variability of animal species. This natural wealth comes from the diversity of climates and reliefs that make up the Brazilian territory.
We can classify the Brazilian coastal vegetation into two main subtypes: the mangroves and the restingas, also showing undergrowth and some types of grass.
You mangroves (or mangroves) are vegetation found in regions where rivers and seas usually meet. It is a coastal ecosystem present in tropical and subtropical regions, characterized by being coordinated by the tidal regime. Plant formations are characterized by their resistance to brackish water, which is remarkable in this type of location.
In Brazil, the area of mangroves is estimated at 25,000 km², equivalent to 12% of all mangroves in the world. They are distributed throughout practically the entire coastal zone, from Oiapoque, in Amapá, to Laguna, in Santa Catarina.
Illustrative image of a mangrove
At restingas they are plant formations present in sandy soils, generally in the coastal areas of the continents, following the extension of the beaches. As in mangroves, the vegetation of restingas is characterized by its ability to resist salinity from water and ocean environments. They also have strategic skills to withstand fresh water shortages, strong winds and intense soil sandization. They are mostly plant species of the creeping type.
Mangroves and restingas have a high environmental importance, being even considered as Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs). However, this does not mean that these formations are not threatened. As they are rich in minerals and, above all, in economically important animal species, they remain constantly threatened by the exploitation of their resources by man. Mangroves, for example, are responsible for providing around 90% of all the food that humans take from the sea or from environments influenced by it.
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* Image credits: Valestock and Shutterstock
By Rodolfo Alves Pena
Graduated in Geography
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/brasil/vegetacoes-litoraneas.htm
