Local Flora: The Foundation of Sustainable Architecture in Brazil
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A 2020 study by the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden revealed that Brazil is home to a rich vegetation with over 46,000 endemic plant species. However, despite this rich natural environmental value, landscape development projects in Brazil have long been influenced by exotic plant species. These practices were mainly influenced by the countries that colonized Brazil. It wasn’t until around 1940, with Roberto Burle Marx, one of the leading landscape architects of the 20th century, that integrating native plants into national projects began to be properly promoted.
Since then, gardens composed of native species have become popular in projects across Brazil, laying the foundation and enhancing the architectural value of the country. In addition to their clear aesthetic appeal, native species offer environmental benefits to gardens and their users.
Among these benefits, one can highlight the preservation of biodiversity, considering the relationship between local plant species and native wildlife and insects, including the attraction of pollinators, contributing to the health of ecosystems, and adapting to local conditions, requiring less overall maintenance compared to exotic species.
Moreover, native plant species often facilitate enhanced microbial activity in the soil, improving soil health through deep-root systems that frequently improve soil structure and prevent erosion.
Join ARDOR Green in exploring a collection of Brazilian projects that incorporate local plant design into their structures!
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