THE LANDSCAPE AND USE OF THE ATLANTIC FOREST BIODIVERSITY IN THE ITAJAÍ-AÇU VALLEY (SANTA CATARINA) IN THE XIX CENTURY

Abstract

The 19th century marks the effective colonization of interior of the Itajaí Valley. The aim is to approach various extractive activities (hunting; fishing; vegetation, timber) in  Atlantic Forest, and the use of this biodiversity in the 19th century. Another approach to be considered is to describe the natural landscape, a historical period that historical documents still depict a region with the presence of extensive unexplored forests. The method comprises consulting primary sources from the 19th and early 20th centuries, and secondary sources. The primary sources report the beauty of the Atlantic Forest and the erosion of the banks of the Itajaí-açu river (lower valley) even with the presence of forest cover. Timber extraction was important for export. Biodiversity was also essential for subsistence, such as hunting and the distinct elements of the forest. The richness in the flora's variety represents a diversity in the properties of the species, such as hardness, resistance, easy handling of the wood, and the chemical composition that conditioned the use for several purposes. In the 19th century, they found abundance in biodiversity, but their successive exploration led to the threat of extinction of species of fauna and flora, which motivated the creation of conservation units.