Brazilian Amazon Reforestation Project

The Brazilian Amazon Reforestation Project (BARP) involves the around 20,000 hectares of land in an area adjacent to the Canguçu Research Centre.1 Following the purchase, a total of 8,800 ha will be designated a Private Environmental Reserve in accordance with Decree No1,922 (dated 5th June 1996) which authorises the establishment of private nature reserves of this type under the denomination “Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural”. Areas of virgin Cerrado/Amazonian transition rainforest within the Reserve will then be preserved intact, apart from the installation of such infrastructure as may be necessary to enable the Reserve to serve as a centre for ecotourism (e.g. access routes, landing jetty, Visitor’s Centre).

Degraded areas of forest elegible under clean development mecanism – amounting to some 9,000 ha in all – will be reforested with native species such as mahogany (Sweetenia mahogoni), jacarandah (Jacaranda brasiliensis), and teak (Tectona grandis). From Year 6 onwards, these will be selectively logged, providing revenues to help ensure project sustainability in the long term. New saplings will be planted to replace harvested timber. 3,900 hectares will be acquiring considering the Brazilian legislation for natural legal reserve.

In common with other carbon offest projects conceived and managed by Ecológica, the BARP has a strong social and educational component which will train young people and adults from neighbouring communities in forestry techniques and environmental conservation practices. Skills development courses for members of community associations will also be held covering areas such as agroforestry, honey production, handicraft production and ecotourism.

The Canguçu Research Centre will thus serve as a multiplier for practical skills relating to forestry, agroforestry and environmental conservation in general. All courses and workshops run by the Project will be duly certified, enabling students to seek relevant gainful employment where they can apply their new skills.