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Fundação Grupo Boticário launches a game on Facebook about the biodiversity of the most threatened biome in Brazil

Getting to know the Atlantic Forest just got easier and more fun. With the objective of promoting environmental awareness and expanding society's knowledge about species that inhabit the most threatened biome in the country, in September 2013, “Discover the Atlantic Forest” was launched, a game that brings users of the social network together. Facebook of the biome in which more than 115 million Brazilians live, around 60% of the national population, according to data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

The game is available on the fan page of the Grupo Boticário Foundation for Nature Protection and can be accessed free of charge through the link: www.facebook.com/fundacaogrupoboticario, by more than 70 million Facebook users in Brazil – the data is from the consultancy company internet and Social Bakers statistics. According to the executive director of Fundação Grupo Boticário, Malu Nunes, the large number of profiles enhances the dissemination of the game on the internet, allowing these internet users to have access to content related to nature conservation also on the large network.

Accessible to various audiences, the game can be used both by professionals in the environmental area - who can learn even more about native species of the Atlantic Forest - and by players with little or no contact with topics related to the environment, due to the accessible language used. in the explanations. The game can also be used as a learning tool, by educators and parents. In addition to promoting knowledge, one of the expectations regarding the game is that it contributes to raising people's awareness of the cause of nature conservation.

Observing nature in “Discover the Atlantic Forest”

The mission in “Discover the Atlantic Forest” is to photograph the animals and plants, through a mini camera that the player operates, and then fill in a virtual album. The task is not difficult, but it is necessary to pay attention and notice some characteristics of the animals. As fauna species, for example, emit sound, the player can be guided by these noises to try to find them and record them in good quality.

For each photo taken, the player will receive one to three stars, according to the quality of the captured image. When you click on the species found, a window will open - in the game itself - with information such as scientific and popular names, biology, habitat, as well as interesting facts about these animals and plants.

The game consists of two phases: one that simulates the day, with species of daytime habits, and another at night, with species viewed at night. However, to access the second phase, the player must complete part of the day phase mission. In total, there are twenty species of fauna and four of flora, all native to the Atlantic Forest. The game result can be shared with Facebook friends.

A mosaic of vegetation rich in biodiversity

Despite being known around the world for its beautiful landscapes and biodiversity, the Atlantic Forest is the Brazilian biome most affected by human action. Currently, 7% of its original coverage remains, according to statistics from the Ministry of the Environment (MMA). Fundação Grupo Boticário contributes to the protection of 2,253 hectares of this biome, through the maintenance of the Salto Morato Nature Reserve, located on the northern coast of Paraná.

In the Atlantic Forest - one of the richest areas in biodiversity in the world - there are more than 20,000 species of plants, of which 8,000 are endemic (which only occur there), according to MMA data. Regarding fauna, there are 270 cataloged species of mammals, 992 species of birds, 197 of reptiles, 372 of amphibians and 350 of fish. One of the animals that live in this biome and that can be found in the game “Discover the Atlantic Forest” is the golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia), a species that runs a serious risk of extinction.

Access the website www.facebook.com/fundacaogrupoboticario and start playing to have fun and learn.