A study conducted by Brazilian researchers on Trindade Island, in Espírito Santo, shows how degraded ecosystems can recover a considerable portion of their native vegetation.
The Capixaba island recorded, between 1994 and 2024, an increase of 1,468.62% in forest area (65.06 new hectares) and 319.45% in pasture areas (325.14 new hectares). The main factor behind the change was the complete removal of an invasive species in 2005: the goat.
The animal was introduced to the island back in the 18th century. Without natural predators, the population grew rapidly, and the goats began feeding on nearly all available plants, causing severe damage and hindering the survival of native species.
The study was carried out by researchers from the Postgraduate Program in Biological Sciences at Museu Nacional/UFRJ (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro). The work was published in the international journal Journal of Vegetation Science, titled From Disturbance to Recovery: Unraveling the Role of Goats and Ecological Drivers in the Vegetation Dynamics of Trindade Island, South Atlantic, Brazil.
“Islands deserve our attention and care because they feature delicate ecosystems where we often find native species not seen anywhere else. Any threat to this balance can lead to the extinction of unique species. Here we specifically studied Trindade Island, but the knowledge we gained extends far beyond it,” said Professor Nílber Gonçalves da Silva, the research advisor, to the museum’s press office.
The study was also conducted by biologists Felipe Zuñe, Márcia Gonçalves Rogério, and Ruy José Válka Alves.
The scientists emphasize that, despite the goats’ major impact on the island’s flora, the negative effects were intensified by other environmental conditions, such as rainfall volume. Rainier years coincided with accelerated restoration in forest areas, when goat populations were smaller. Drier periods amplified the goats’ impact on pastures until 2004.
The conclusion is that fully understanding vegetation changes requires considering biological and environmental factors together. Even after serious environmental damage, nature has the potential to recover if the causes are understood more comprehensively and rationally. From there, effective measures can be taken.
The work suggests restoration strategies that incorporate adaptive management practices, accounting for species impacts and changes in climatic conditions.
“This is particularly important in the context of global climate change, which can alter vegetation recovery dynamics in ways not yet fully understood,” the researchers state.
Source: Agência Brasil