the biodiversity conservation index indicates that biodiversity in the north region is generally better preserved owing to the larger native vegetation cover and extension of protected areas and indigenous lands while many states in the southeast and south display lower index values mma the index however does not consider the actual status of ecosystems within protected areas chapter its immense forest resources extend almost million km and almost twothirds of its territory is covered with forest or other wooded land nearly all of brazil s forests are natural nonplanted forests while the rate of deforestation has significantly declined brazil is the country with the highest average annual reduction in total forest cover figure