Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Uncovering the First Reforestation Project in the 19th-Century Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest: Insights from Wood Anatomy and Historical Analysis

  A groundbreaking study has uncovered the first large-scale reforestation project in 19th-century Brazil, mapping trees planted as early as 1862 in Rio de Janeiro's Tijuca Forest. Using tree-ring dating, wood anatomy, and historical analysis, researchers identified Cedrela odorata, Copaifera lucens, and Lafoensia glyptocarpa as key species employed in this pioneering effort to restore the Atlantic Rainforest. This approach not only sheds light on one of the world's earliest successful urban reforestation programs but also provides critical insights for modern forest management and climate change research. The findings underscore the importance of ecological restoration in Brazilian ecosystems, offering a historical blueprint for addressing today's environmental challenges.

  Sales, G. P. d. S., Costa, W. S. d., Pierre, R. M., Callado, C. H., & Guedes-Bruni, R. R. (2026). Uncovering the First Reforestation Project in the 19th-Century Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest: Insights from Wood Anatomy and Historical Analysis. Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection, 14(01), 423–436. https://doi.org/10.4236/gep.2026.141023

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• Tijuca Massif, Its Forests, and the Social Metabolism of the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from the Nineteenth to the Early Twentieth Century

  Rio de Janeiro's Tijuca Massif and its forests, including the largest planted urban forest in Brazil, played a pivotal role in the city's expansion and cultural identity from the 19th to early 20th century. This study reveals that the massif and Tijuca Forest were not merely natural landmarks but structuring vectors influencing territorial growth, social practices, and Carioca identity. The research identifies key factors guiding land use and transformation, demonstrating how urban development reflects a complex interplay of social, ecological, and political interactions. By analyzing historical processes, the study reframes the significance of green spaces in Rio de Janeiro as both biological and cultural heritage, illustrating their central role in the city's socio-environmental metabolism.

  Sales, G. P. d. S., & Guedes-Bruni, R. R. (2026). MACIZO DE LA TIJUCA, SUS BOSQUES Y EL METABOLISMO SOCIAL DE LA CIUDAD DE RÍO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL, DEL SIGLO XIX A COMIENZOS DEL XX. Mercator, 25. https://doi.org/10.4215/rm2026.e25001

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• Parque Nacional da Tijuca sob o Olhar dos Seus Visitantes:

  A significant portion of visitors to Tijuca National Park, particularly at Tijuca Peak, engage in superficial and narcissistic behaviors, primarily captured on Instagram. This study analyzed 72 images and captions, revealing that 83% depicted solo visitors and 66% involved posing for the camera, transforming the park into a setting for self-affirmation rather than meaningful ecological engagement. Such behavior contributes to environmental impacts like vegetation trampling and social trail formation, potentially encouraging inappropriate practices among other visitors. The research suggests implementing targeted environmental education initiatives leveraging Instagram’s visual language to promote responsible public use and protect the park's natural heritage.

  Ferreira, J., Sant’Anna Gomes, N., & Menezes, W. (2026). Tijuca National Park Through the Lens of Its Visitors: An Analysis of Instagram Posts at Tijuca Peak. Anais Do Uso Público Em Unidades de Conservação, 14(19), 01–22. https://doi.org/10.47977/2318-2148.2026.v14n19p01

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• Assessment of the Variation in Faunistic Parameters of Mosquitoes (Culicidae: Diptera) Across Different Forest Gradients in the Tijuca National Park Area, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  Mosquito species richness, diversity, and evenness peak at the forest edge of Tijuca National Park, suggesting that edge effects significantly influence mosquito distribution in Atlantic Forest remnants. This finding emerges from a study assessing 27 mosquito species across three environmental gradients—forest edge, 35 m inland, and 500 m inland—using CO₂-baited CDC light traps, Shannon traps, and human-protected attraction methods over 19 months. Statistical analysis revealed higher abundance and diversity at the forest edge compared to deeper interior points, challenging assumptions about uniform distribution in conserved areas. The study highlights the need for expanded sampling to fully capture ecological patterns, underscoring the park's role as a biodiversity hotspot and its importance for both conservation and public health monitoring.

  do Nascimento, N. H. F., Leite, P. J., Silva, J. d. S., Gil-Santana, H. R., Barbosa, R. P., de Mello, C. F., & Alencar, J. (2025). Assessment of the Variation in Faunistic Parameters of Mosquitoes (Culicidae: Diptera) Across Different Forest Gradients in the Tijuca National Park Area, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Diversity, 17(2), 81. https://doi.org/10.3390/d17020081

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• Ants (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from the Floresta da Tijuca sector, Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  A groundbreaking inventory of ants (Formicidae) in the Floresta da Tijuca sector of Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Brazil, reveals a striking diversity of 80 species, including 18 new records for this area and 37 for the entire park. This study significantly expands the known ant biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest biome, with one species' range extended northward and others adjusted southward or eastward. The research used pitfall traps and Winkler extractors across three preservation levels—primary forest, disturbed areas, and advanced restoration—showing that primary forests harbor the highest species richness, though this shifts seasonally in disturbed zones. Notably, Holcoponera moelleri emerged as the most abundant species, underscoring its ecological dominance. The findings highlight the park's critical role in conserving Neotropical ant diversity amid ongoing habitat fragmentation.

  Silva, M. M., Mayhé Nunes, A., & Moreira, F. (2025). Ants (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from the Floresta da Tijuca sector, Parque Nacional da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Biodiversity Data Journal, 13. https://doi.org/10.3897/bdj.12.e132248

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• Mycophagy in the yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulatus): feeding trial experiments at Tijuca National Park (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)

  A feeding trial experiment revealed that yellow-footed tortoises (Chelonoidis denticulatus) in Tijuca National Park, Brazil, actively consume a diverse range of macrofungi. The study, conducted by Refauna Association and researchers from the University of Rio de Janeiro, offered 21 basidiomycete specimens representing 13 taxa to seven tortoises. Only one individual rejected the mushrooms entirely, while ten species were consumed or partially accepted. This finding highlights the importance of mycophagy in the diet of this threatened species, particularly in fragmented Atlantic Forest habitats like Tijuca National Park. The study also underscores the need for further research to identify the specific fungal species consumed by tortoises and their nutritional contributions.

  Trierveiler-Pereira, L., Silva, E. d. S., Starling-Manne, C., & Baltazar, J. M. (2025). Mycophagy in the yellow-footed tortoise (Chelonoidis denticulatus): feeding trial experiments at Tijuca National Park (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). Lilloa, 97–109. https://doi.org/10.30550/j.lil/2073

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• Bamboo (Poales, Poaceae): An Important Maintainer of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Biodiversity Hotspot in the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  A study conducted in Tijuca National Park, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, reveals that bamboo species—Guadua tagoara and Bambusa vulgaris—serve as critical habitats for immature mosquitoes, supporting a diverse range of 19 mosquito species. Over the course of one year, researchers collected 1,845 mosquito immatures from artificially drilled bamboo plants, with 72% found in one sampling area and 28% in another. Among these, 1,162 individuals reached adulthood, including several potential arbovirus vectors such as Culex iridescens and Wyeomyia species. The findings highlight the ecological significance of bamboo in maintaining mosquito populations within this urban biodiversity hotspot, which attracts large numbers of tourists, thereby increasing the risk of human-mosquito interactions and disease transmission.

  Leite, M. P. C., Dias, R., Leite, P. J., Silva, S. O. F., Gil-Santana, H. R., Barbosa, R. P., de Mello, C. F., & Alencar, J. (2024). Bamboo (Poales, Poaceae): An Important Maintainer of Immature Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Biodiversity Hotspot in the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Life, 14(3), 351. https://doi.org/10.3390/life14030351

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