Part 1: Historical and biogeographical aspects -- The Atlantic Forest: an introduction to the megadiverse forest of Southern America -- The Atlantic Forest Ecological History: from pre-history to the Anthropocene -- The North-eastern Atlantic Forest: biogeographical, historical and current aspects in the Sugarcane Zone -- The Hileia Baiana - an assessment of natural and historical aspects of the land use and degradation of the central corridor of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest -- The southern Atlantic Forest: Use, degradation, and perspectives for conservation -- Part II - Biodiversity -- Tree diversity in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: biases and general patterns using different sources of information -- Vascular Epiphytes of the Atlantic Forest: diversity and community ecology -- Social Insects of the Atlantic Forest -- Tetrapod diversity in the Atlantic Forest: maps and gaps -- Freshwater Studies in Atlantic Forest: general overview and prospects -- Part III - Threats -- Land-cover changes and an uncertain future: will the Brazilian Atlantic Forest lose the chance to become a hopespot? -- Climate change and biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest: best climatic models, predicted changes and impacts, and adaptation options -- Non-native species introductions, invasions, and biotic homogenization in the Atlantic Forest -- Causes and consequences of large-scale defaunation in the Atlantic forest -- Pollination systems in the Atlantic Forest: characterization, threats, and opportunities -- IV - Opportunities -- Atlantic Forest: ecosystem services linking people and biodiversity -- Changing the agriculture paradigm in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: the importance of agroforestry -- Engaging people for large-scale forest restoration: Governance lessons from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil -- The Atlantic Forest Trail: connecting people, biodiversity and protected areas -- Conservation initiatives in the Brazilian Atlantic forest -- Financing conservation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest -- Integrating researchers for understanding the biodiversity in Atlantic Forest -- The future of the Atlantic Forest.