Could Bowdichia virgilioides Be an Important Ally for Forest Restoration Under Climate Change Scenarios?

ABSTRACT Forests play a central role in addressing climate change, yet they are also among the most vulnerable ecosystems to its impacts. In this context, identifying native species with adaptive capacity is critical for the long‐term success of ecological restoration. Here, we assess the current and future distribution of Bowdichia virgilioides Kunth (Fabaceae), a native species widely distributed across Brazil and recommended for reforestation programs, using Species Distribution Models (SDMs). Models were constructed with the MaxEnt algorithm and projected for the present and the year 2070, using two CMIP6 climate models (MRI‐ESM2‐0 and MIROC‐ES2L) under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP126, SSP245, SSP370, SSP585). The model showed good performance (AUC = 0.839; Boyce index = 0.972), and the results confirmed the species' current distribution, with high climatic suitability in the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes. Future projections indicated a potential range expansion toward eastern Amazonia and sustained suitability in northern portions of the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest. These results indicate that B. virgilioides is likely to be resilient to climate change and a promising candidate for restoration initiatives. Its ecological relevance and suitability for multi‐use systems further support its inclusion in climate‐resilient reforestation strategies across different biomes in Brazil. This case study underscores the utility of predictive modelling in guiding the selection of native species adapted to both current and future climatic conditions.