RESERVA ECOLOGICA de GUAPIAÇU, Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL

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1 Objectives RESERVA ECOLOGICA de GUAPIAÇU, Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL Presentation, Belize 19th /23rd May 2008 Reserva Ecologica De Guapiaçu (REGUA) is a conservation organisation working to preserve the Atlantic Rainforest in the Upper Guapiaçu River basin, located within the watersheds of Serra do Mar in the state of Rio de Janeiro. REGUA adopts a holistic approach towards conservation. It saw the necessity of changing the perception of the local community members towards the surrounding forests thereby contributing to the conservation to the valley. A set of sustainable activities were devised, these being protection, education, research, landscape restoration and income generation. Funding Sources REGUA receives funding from individual donors, organisations, and generates part of its own income through eco-tourism. Prices are in Brazilian Reals ( 1 dollar = 2.8 reais in 2004, currently 1 dollar = 1.7 reais) Raised funds, BART,WLT & private Tourism 1

2 Break down of Costs Prices are in Brazilian Reals Salaries and Taxes Services Transportation Travel and Visits Information Maintenance Material Equipment maintenance Developments Measures of Success: Activity est. Land under REGUA administration 2500ha 6700ha 7000 Employees Research projects Species counts of birds (bio-indication) Visitors 30 bednights 808 bednights Trees planted 0 18, Habitats restored 0 2 (wetland and 2 forest planting) School visitors Young Rangers Members Volunteers Day visitors

3 Key updates since the last symposium: - Further land purchases: Purchased 30 ha Onofre Cunha shares and in process of purchasing 277 ha Matumbo Gap, funds from IUCN/WLT/ABC. Identified a further 2000 hectares for fundraising. - Lowlands, 3000 hectares could be turned into a drinking water reservoir for Rio de Janeiro city eliminating the necessity of purchasing this expensive area. It creates a successful protection barrier. - Education and outreach: Regua has ceceived limited school visits. Potential evident as private donation for transport in 2007 resulted in 4 School visits. Increased community visitation for walks in the reserve. Increased environmental awareness in the public. Continued programme with the REGUA Young Rangers. - Ecological services: An extra 3 hectare wetland created and 30,000 trees planted since Carbon sequestration: not available in Brazil for premium tree species planting. REGUA has received funds from individual donors through Carbon Footprinting. - Tourism: Increased from 600 bed nights/2006 to estimated 1000 in Direct correlation between biodiversity / quality of the habitat with visitor levels. Direct correlation betweeen increased visitation and publicity such as the UK birdfair and websites. Increased receipts inc. charges for guiding result from a recognized international reputation.. - Monitoring techniques: The continual presence of the REGUA rangers, vistors, volunteers, researchers and tourists is instrumental in reducing presence of undesired visitors such as hunters. - REGUA has increased partnerships with Universities to receive more researchers and 9 Phd projects are currently under way, with another 3 possibilities funding permitted. - REGUA has received over 50 international volunteers benefitting REGUA with their academic experience. Their intergration with the local community has been instumental to REGUA s success in community acceptance. Both students and researchers present Powerpoint presentations to show what they are doing to REGUA staff and visitors and at the local schools. 3

4 Map of Reserve Tilted Google image showing the topography and vegetational cover: The land owned by REGUA identifying prospective partners and areas to acquire. REGUA s total land area is currently ha. REGUA members own 3250 consituted by the Lemgruber farm 750ha and the 2,500ha Schincariol farm. The Asssociation owns 3.467ha, including the Donna Maria farm of 600ha purchased in 2001, the Serra do Mar farm of 1.650ha purchased in 2001, the São Jose farm of 405ha purchased in 2003, the João Paulo farm of 785ha purchased in 2006, the 27ha Onofre Cunha farm in 2007 and the IUCN funded 49 ha farm in

5 Problems Since the last syposium REGUA has grown from strength to strength in most activities. However there have been several problems, such as : - The strengthening Real which has risen from 2.8 reias to 1.7 reais per dollar. Consequently everything is Brazil has become very expensive and the project costs more in real terms. The tourism prices need to be re-evaluated but rising charges diminish tourism numbers. - Increasing purchases within the valley have caused an increase in land prices. These have settled at a realistic value of 2000 reais/ per hectare/ 1100US/ha or 220 pounds /acre. Property price negociation is still a long process. - There are less larger sized properties available for purchase in the valley. Properties have become smaller and relatively more expensive. There is fortunately no competition from other land purchasers for larger properties. Smaller properties receive interested property developers for weeeknd housing resulted in an increased value - In spite of REGUA being partially located within the Três Picos park, the current legislation is not capable of fully protecting the forests, and the purchase of areas with in the park boundaries is seen as vital importance for the long term sustainability of the park. - With increased tourism and planting in the restoration programme, more staff are needed. - Finding funds to help in the education programme and especially transport has been difficult. Perhaps REGUA has to go to the schools with a presentation, but this does not achieve the same results - The last problem is really related to overburdoning the project with work and financing responsibilities. Instead of becoming too large, the people involved need to reflect, undertake a self evaluation and see whether everyone in the project is content and stimulated to continue within the same objectives. Future Plans The REGUA conservation proposal recognizes that its work is on a small scale. It aims to build a solid base, the development of a practical model and obtaining success with its activities. Located within a known Hotspot ultimately working to conserve as much nature as possible. It seeks not to enter in conflict with the people living here but side by side changing their perspectives and asking them to share in the responsibility of looking after what they have around. 5

6 Specific plans : - Purchasing more land to define land use and tenureship within the park and adjacent areas. - Increasing the number of employees, in particular the rangers patrolling the land - Improving the facilities, to become a known conservation centre, partnerships with the local Universities and a reference for workshops conferences and other information sharing events. - Increasing the education programme to offer REGUA as a destination for school trips - Plant trees within the next 5 years - Extending the research and volunteer programmes - Increase the field day experiences for visiting children through activities such as pond dipping, bird watching etc - Offer a REGUA Young ranger web site for the children involved in the young ranger programme - Working towards financial self sustainability through the promotion of eco-tourism. - Increase tourism and work with 2500 bed nights fully intergrated with the community and more local guides with lectures in the evenings with the reseachers and volunteeers - Increase the training of local guides within the eco-tourism activity - 6