Support to Knowledge and Research
The Canguçu Research Center Scientific Context
The Canguçu Research Center (geographic coordinates: 9°58´41´´S and 50° 02´12´´ W) is located some 220 km due west of Palmas, the capital of Tocantins State, on the banks of the Javaés river facing Bananal Island, world’s biggest river Island. It lies some 25 kms upstream of the confluence of the Javaés and Araguaia rivers, just outside the northwestern border of the Araguaia National Park and south of the nearby Cantão State Park.
The construction of the Canguçu Research Centre was funded by resources from AES Barry Foundation, UK, and was officially inaugurated in August 1999, with the Brazilian Environment Minister, Sr José Sarney Filho, and Tocantins State Governor, Sr José Siqueira Campos, presiding over the opening ceremony. The Centre was established with three main aims:
1. to provide scientific estimates and calculations of carbon sequestration and to develop the scientific
framework for estimates of the carbon sequestration potential in tropical forests generally;
2. to serve as a base for multi-disciplinary research by local, national and international scientists into issues such as climate change, conservation biology and the sustainable use of natural resources;
3. to serve as a centre for ecotourism activities in the Bananal Island region and thereby help generate revenues to ensure the continuation of the researches BICSP and associated initiatives once the initial directly funded phase was complete.
There are currently several research projects underway at Canguçu, involving both national and international researchers. The academic institutions represented in these various efforts are:
- University of Aveiro
- University of São Paulo
- Ministry of Science and Technology of Brazil
- Hohenheim University (Germany)
- University of Brasilia
- Lutheran University of Brasil
- Federal University of Tocantins
- Tocantins State University
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Ecoturism Potential
The Canguçu Research Center offers birders both the Amazonian and Cerrado avifauna, as well as many birds of the Pantanal. Arriving in Palmas, one has the opportunity for wonderful Cerrado grasslands birding, with species such as Blue-and-Yellow Macaw, Cinnamon Tanager, Red-legged Seriema, Rufous-winged Antshrike, Helmeted Manakin, Coal-crested Finch and Yellow-billed Blue Finch.
Once at the Canguçu Research Center, you are in the Amazon. One can see Orinoco Goose, Horned
Screamer, Great Black Hawk, Red-throated Caracara, Chestnut-bellied and White-crested Guan, Hoatzin, Yellow-collared Macaw, Festive and Orange-winged Parrot, Red-necked Woodpecker, Glossy Antshrike and the very endemic Bananal Antbird. To date 323 species have been seen, but we are sure many more occur here.
In addition, many mammals inhabit the region. In one night in June 2000, prints on a muddy road showed that Jaguar, Puma, Ocelot, Marsh Deer, Brazilian Tapir, Crab-eating Raccoon, Crab-eating Fox and Bush Dog all were active within 100 meters of the Center! Pink River Dolphin is regularly seen while boating on the Araguaia River's eastern branch.” Douglas Trent – Focus Tours Inc.
Canguçu
