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The article focuses on the study published in this week's issue of the journal "Science," on harvesting of nuts from the rainforest. The finding is important because Brazil nut harvesting is a major part of the Amazon economy and has been thought to be a sustainable way to prevent more-destructive activities such as ranching. Brazil nut trees are the stoutest trees of the Amazon, with girths of up to 16.5 meters. Carlos Peres, a wildlife biologist, about 10 years ago, started to investigate the impact. He first surveyed relatively untouched stands of Brazil nut trees in the remotest parts of the Amazon. Then he and 16 collaborators measured trunk diameters, and assessed the history and intensity of harvesting through public records and interviews with local collectors.

The article focuses on research on the plan to save the diverse and endangered Atlantic Forest of Brazil published in "Science" journal. Topics include the impact of farming, ranching and urban development on forest, the amount of forest needed to maintain the integrity of biological communities, and the amount of forest restoration projects in the nation. The benefit of technology to forest restoration is also mentioned.