They live in a subtropical climate like the one here in Brazil. A subtropical climate usually does not have many days below freezing, so more diverse plants and animals can survive the winter here.
The tree that I saw lives close to a small tropical forest reserve in Pato Branco. As I was running on the sidewalk along the forest reserve, I saw a group of animals run across the road. They looked like a kind of monkey or lemur, but I did not recognize them or get close enough to take a picture. Seeing them reminded me that this protected forest is a home for the Paraná pine, and also for a variety of forest animals who need a habitat.
The Paraná pine grows tall enough to catch the sun above the trees in a thick forest. I can recognize the round clumps of leaves and the upward curving branches above other trees in the city. Paraná pines prefer well-drained soil. Because of the hills here, rainwater flows quickly down the hills, giving the tree a chance for a quick drink before the water flows away again.
One challenge facing the Paraná pine is deforestation (cutting down trees). People love to use the Paraná pine for construction because of its unusually tall, straight trunk. People also eat the seeds from the Paraná pine. Eating the tasty seeds keeps them from becoming new Paraná pines. A third danger facing the Paraná pine is agriculture. When farmers clear a new field, they cut down many trees, including Paraná pines. Forest reserves like the one in Pato Branco are a vital means for preserving the Paraná pine here in Brazil.
