The Mata Atlàntica is regarded as a natural treasure because of its heritage and its genetic and landscape qualities. This is demonstrated by the following figures: amongst the plants found there, 55% of trees and 40% non-tree species are endemic, meaning that one of every two species can be found only in this Mata. Amongst the animal species, 15% of primates that exist in Brazil live in this type of rainforest and 39% of mammals that live in the Mata are endemic to it.
Where the project area is located, only 38% of the original Mata Atlántica tree cover remains. This statistic leaves in no doubt the importance of the protection of flora and fauna of this biomass.
The work of Fundación Natura is located in the northern tip of the extensive area that makes up the Mata Atlántica. It is close to two areas that make up a transition zone of mixed forest and dense forest, the last in Santa Catarina. Furthermore, the area is also near to the future North-South ecological corridor that will extend over a wide territory across the states of Santa Catarina and Paraná, to the north.
Bearing in mind the bureaucratic difficulties a non-Brazilian organization would face when trying to purchase land, Fundación Natura decided that it was better to buy the land through the creation of a bilateral collaboration agreement with APREMAVI, a Brazilian NGO that was operating in the area.
In August 2006 APREMAVI was able to sign the sale contract with the existing landowner.
To find the necessary funding to make sure all of the 316 ha can be purchased. To develop a pilot carbon sink project, which will also focus on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development of the local population. To finalise the drawing up of a collaboration agreement between the two organisations that will specify the method of buying and managing the land and will also define the projects that will be carried out.
According to this agreement all the projects and plans with reference to the project area must focus on:
The protection of biodiversity and the natural heritage of the woods including the surrounding areas and the creation of a RRPN zone (Private Reserve of Natural Heritage) to protect the more ecologically valuable areas.
The development of the forest as a carbon sink. According to initial estimations, the plantation will be able to store between 17,672 tonnes of CO2 (a conservative estimate) and 39,761 tonnes of CO2 (optimistic estimation) in its vegetation and soil.
The improvement of scientific knowledge of the Mata Atlántica and the role of carbon sinks in the fight against climate change, within the framework of a pilot project.
Providing long-term sustainable benefits for the local population.
The next step will be to do a careful cartography of the area and to specify zones that will mark the three planned projects areas.
Zone 1.Virgin Rainforest Maintenance Area. This area will be left to nature’s course, low impact activities such as ecotourism or scientific investigation will not be allowed, only permitted outside the marked RRPN area.
Zone 2. Secondary Forest Management Area . This zone will serve as a buffer zone for the virgin rainforest, and also as an area of study to see if this area is capable of becoming a carbon reserve. Furthermore, correct management should reduce the risk of forest fires here. Zone 3. Reforestation Area This zone, which occupies 10-20% of the plantation, is intended for a small scale reforestation project using native plant species. There is also an opportunity to plant tree species that could have a commercial value for the local population (fruit trees, medicinal trees, for fragrance, decoration) .
As it is possible to run parallel projects we want to look at the possibility of developing an ecotourism project. A hostel would be situated in an area of reforestation, with a renewable energy supply. The hostel would combine accommodation for visitors and tourists along with visits of university students or researchers interested in the flora and fauna of the Mata Atlàntica.
Oficial web site: http://www.apremavi.com.br( in Portuguese, English and German).
We offer opportunities to all firms and interested parties that wish to collaborate with us in this project, and to participate in an excellent opportunity to preserve part of a great ecological treasure, the Brazilian Mata Atlàntica, not only for Brazil, but for the world.
