Conservation strategies for Manilkara dardanoi Ducke in the Pernambuco Atlantic Forest based on geographic distribution

Manilkara dardanoi Ducke is a species of the Sapotaceae family with a geographic distribution in the Atlantic Forest of Pernambuco, Brazil. Selective logging, because of the timber it targets, can reduce its population, potentially leading to its extinction. Thus, this study aimed to validate the geographic distribution of M. dardanoi to support decision-making for Atlantic Forest conservation. It also provided increased knowledge about the area's biodiversity and legal protection, as it is a center of species diversity. Herbarium data were collected through Specieslink at CRIA (Center of Reference in Environmental Information), and their occurrence was validated in the field by visiting populations in nature using the geographic coordinates obtained from Specieslink. The results showed that among the 12 documented occurrence points for the species, only two currently maintain living populations. These sites are located in the municipalities of Igarassu and Barreiros, the latter representing a center of diversity for the taxon due to its high abundance of individuals. In the remaining localities, the species has been locally extinct, as a consequence of habitat conversion from Atlantic Forest to urban landscapes. Based on these findings, we conclude that the threatened status of M. dardanoi should be maintained.