The power of tapirs to restore Amazon forests

Dr. Ludmila Rattis’s newly released TED talk connects biodiversity, forests, and climate

We’re proud to share the TED Talk by Dr. Ludmila Rattis on the power of tapirs to restore Amazon forests.

Last summer, Woodwell’s Dr. Ludmila Rattis took to the stage at the TED Countdown Summit 2023 to champion a surprising climate solution: tapir poop.

Tapirs are large mammals—cute or ugly, depending on whom you ask, but definitely charismatic—who roam Amazon forests eating plants and fruits, then depositing the seeds as they wander. Importantly, because they are large, they can spread large seeds that become large trees. And because they prefer mosaic landscapes, they disperse three times more seeds in degraded forests than in undisturbed forests. That makes them a powerful force for forest regeneration.

photo by Chris Linder

We know this thanks to research that has taken place at Tanguro—an active farm turned field research station at the Brazilian agricultural frontier. Dr. Rattis leads efforts there as Tanguro’s general coordinator.

For twenty years, our work at Tanguro Field Station has generated important, actionable insights into the relationships between agriculture, forests, biodiversity, and climate—including the key role that tapirs and other large mammals can play in restoring degraded or destroyed forests.

We invite you to watch Dr. Rattis’s playful and informative talk at: https://www.ted.com/talks/ludmila_rattis_how_ poop_turns_into_forests

Learn more about Woodwell Climate’s work at Tanguro: https://woodwellclimate.org/project/woodwell-tanguro

header photo: Jasmina Tomic/TED