BRAZIL
>> GEF-SGP biodiversity projects
>> UNDP Equator Prize Finalists and Winners
Selected GEF biodiversity projects:
>> Integrated management of freshwater biodiversity and water resources in the Amazon:
The over-arching goal of the project is to promote conservation of freshwater biodiversity through the integrated management of water resources in the Amazon Basin. The project's key objectives would be: 1) to support the conservation of freshwater biodiversity of global importance in the Amazon River Basin through the formulation of a strategy for the sustainable integrated management of water resources and freshwater biodiversity in two to three sub-basins of the Brazilian portion of the Amazon River Basin, and 2) to identify and disseminate practices that could be adapted towards the conservation of freshwater biodiversity in other parts of the Basin.>> National Biodiversity Project:
The project (PROBIO), to be managed by the Ministry of the Environment (MMA), will consist of 1) a series of workshops to set biome-level priorities for biodiversity conservation and to develop a national biodiversity strategy; 2) establishment of a national biodiversity information network; and 3) funding of model biodiversity projects involving various combinations of public and private sector organizations.>> Brazilian Biodiversity Fund:
The project will help establish the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (FUNBIO), to be managed by the Getulio Vargas Foundation, a private non-profit organization. An independent Board, composed of representatives from the private sector, the conservation community, academia and government, has been appointed and will be responsible for FUNBIO operational and investment policy. FUNBIO is a sinking fund with a minimum contribution target of $25 million, to be provided by GEF, the private sector, NGO's, the public sector and research institutions. The fund will provide modest long-term financing for projects consistent with biome-level priorities identified in the MMA-managed workshops in the National Biodiversity Project.>> Promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable use in the frontier forests of Northwestern Mato Grosso:
The long-term goal of this project is the consolidation in northwest Mato Grosso (an area comparable in size to Panama) of an integrated matrix of different land uses consisting of contiguous blocks of intact primary forest cover on private lands, corridors of secondary regeneration and more intensive agrosilvopastoral and forest management systems. The project will demonstrate a widely replicable, integrated approach to the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity on private lands. Project outputs will include a greater emphasis on biodiversity protection in ecological-economic zones and the identification of high biodiversity areas for future protection.>> Amazon Region Protected Areas Programme (ARPA):
A project to support expansion and consolidation of strict protected areas in the Amazonian region. Three specific objectives have been identified: 1) identify and create new strict protected areas; 2) effective establishment of these new areas; and 3) develop long-term sustainable management tools and mechanisms for effective protection within all Amazonian strict protected areas. The project emerges from a commitment to expand effective strict protection in the Amazon to cover at least 10 per cent (37 million hectares) of the biome (370 million hectares). Although it is expected that all costs associated with the project will be of global benefit and incremental, GEF grant funds will act as seed capital to catalyze additional funds to cover a significant share of project costs.>> Establishment of Private Natural Heritage Reserves in the Brazilian Cerrado:
This project aims at the expansion of the protected areas in the Cerrado Region through the implementation of Private Natural Heritage Reserves involving private owners and NGO's in the area. Project sites are located near the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park and Grande Sertão Veredas National Park. This project aims at the expansion of the protected areas in the Cerrado Region in order to enhance biodiversity conservation. The project will 1) establish four Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs) with management plans; 2) prepare and implement an awareness programme in order to disseminate to other landowners and associations the best practices and lessons learned; 3) prepare and implement an awareness programme to enhance local support for and participation in the RPPN project; 4) train technical staff from RPPN in protected areas planning and management and ecotourism development; and 5) establish a RPPN support network, consisting of RPPN managers, NGO's, relevant government staff members and local communities.>> Parana Biodiversity Project:
The project will assist the State of Parana to conserve two globally significant biomes, the interior Atlantic Forest and the Araucaria forest ecosystems. It will do so by 1) upgrading management of protected areas and buffer zones; 2) removing underlying causes of biodiversity loss; 3) establishing a framework to encourage community and private sector participation in conservation by employing sustainable development production systems; and 4) implementing a system of disseminating information on the value of protected biomes. It will seek to achieve these aims through 1) mainstreaming biodiversity conservation among government and civil society stakeholders; 2) mitigating threats through the creation of ecological corridors of sufficient quality and area; 3) reforming relevant policy and regulatory frameworks.>> Back to top
Selected GEF-SGP biodiversity projects:
>> Capacity building, honey production and NGO networking in Northern Maranhao:
Project to strengthen the Environmental Forum of Cidelandia by introducing new development models based on the preservation of native bees.>> Cerrado Biome School: ecotourism, youth promotion and public policies in the Chapada dos Veadeiros Region:
A pilot capacity building project focusing on processes of economic, environmental, social and cultural sustainability, focusing on ecotourism and / or rural tourism.>> Cerrado flowers and fruits in the daily life of the Xavante kitchen:
Helps Xavante women invest in the identification, collection and conservation of fruits and flowers in the Sangradouro Indigenous Territory through a plant nursery and orchards around the Xavante villages.>> Sustainable use of pequi fruit (Caryocar brasiliense) in Japonvar, Minas Gerais:
Project to build a pequi processing unit and to install a nursery of fruit-bearing plants for reforestation and preservation.>> Implementation of the macaúba nut (Acrocomia aculeata) oil-extraction microplant at Montes Claros, Minas Gerais:
Project to improve the processing system of the macaúba coconut to produce quality oil, soaps, animal feed and charcoal.>> Production, certification and commercialization of natural resources of the Cerrado of the Jalapao Region, Tocantins:
Project to integrate three associations of the Mateiros region for the production, certification and commercialization of plant species, generating income and reducing the impact of ranching on the Veredas.>> New technology model for the Cerrado in the Bico do Papagaio, Northern Tocantins:
Project to implement agroforestry systems and strengthen agroecological experiences that already exist in the region while promoting alternative marketing and indicating ways to design a new technological model that is environmentally, culturally, socially and economically sustainable.>> Participative construction of the Cachoerinha Creek Ecological Park:
Project to improve public participation in the running of the Ecological Park of Cachoerinha through continuous observation and environmental education.>> Strengthen the NGO network to promote sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity conservation and public policies for the Cerrado biome:
Project to strengthen the institutional development of the Cerrado NGO Network through internal and external consultation among NGO's, governmental sectors, grant-making institutions and other sources of support.>> Art in the backyards of the Cerrado:
Strengthening the production and marketing of Terena native handcrafts so as to improve protection of natural resources.>> Women and water: keep the Cerrado standing:
Conserving the biodiversity of the Cerrado through agroforestry systems, production of orchids, processing and sale of women's products and other measures.>> Sustainable handling and commercialization of the faveira by collector populations of the Northeastern Goiás:
Strengthening the cultural and socioeconomic identity of the agroextractivist populations of Northeastern Goiás by improving their direct participation in the sustainable management and commercialization of the faveira (Dimorphandra molis).>> Training programme for income generation and environmental education for communities near the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park:
Capacity building of local commercial establishments in an ecotourism region, production of products of sustainable biodiversity use, exchange of experiences with communities in other ecotourism regions.>> Rational use of babaçu coconut and community development:
Supporting a women’s extractivist organization to make a living from the sustainable harvesting of babaçu coconuts.>> Expansion of beekeeping and honey production:
Encouraging beekeeping among poor rural communities as a sustainable income source.>> Processing of products extracted from Cerrado: sweets and soap:
Sustainable use of Cerrado biodiversity by the members of a small farmers' association, improving environmental awareness through income generation.>> Exchange and coordination of experiences with Cerrado medicinal plants:
Integrating popular and scientific knowledge and developing exchanges to scale up and replicate community-based experiences with Cerrado medicinal plants.>> Cerrado fruits nursery in an indigenous people’s reserve:
Participatory construction of a Cerrado fruits nursery in an indigenous people’s reserve. The seedlings will be planted to enrich the surroundings of the village to improve the population’s nutrition and diminish the women’s workload.>> Development of beekeeping in the Xingu Indigenous Park:
Project to further the development of native beekeeping in the settlements of the Xingu Indigenous Park as a sustainable economic activity.>> Research on Cerrado medicinal plants and community medicinal plants nursery:
Recovery, preservation and dissemination of traditional knowledge of Cerrado medicinal plants.>> Raising rheas in the area surrounding a private reserve of natural patrimony:
Development of rhea husbandry with the participation of the community in a private conservation area. Improving the quality of life of this community through improvement of food supply and other activities.>> Workshop on medicinal plants of the Cerrado:
Organization of a workshop dedicated to community, organizational, legislative and scientific aspects of the production and use of Cerrado medicinal plants. Participants will be selected among all organizations that presented proposals in this area to the SGP and all organizations with projects approved.>> Green limes: promoting sustainability of extraction of native species:
Improving the commercialization of the extractivist production of an indigenous community through socio-environmental research and introduction of the permaculture system.>> Reproduction of rheas in captivity and replenishment in indigenous lands of the Paresi and Nambikwara Peoples:
Project to develop a rhea husbandry system and to train the indigenous peoples involved in reintroduction and other activities.>> Management and preservation of Cerrado soils and biodiversity:
Harnessing the knowledge of traditional farmers and landless people concerning soil conservation, thereby conserving soil biodiversity and disseminating intermediate technology.>> Solar dehydration of medical plants, tropical and native fruits:
Improvement of solar dehydration technology for fruits and medicinal plants; improving income generation by processing end-products.>> Cerrado fruit processing unit:
Implementing a fruit processing unit to produce fruit pulp for juice-making by farmers; using fruits extracted or produced in agroforestry systems.>> Back to top
UNDP Equator Prize Finalists and Winners:
>> Green Life Association of Amazonia (AVIVE) (Equator Prize 2002 Finalist)
AVIVE is a local women’s NGO which uses traditional knowledge to make cosmetics, soaps and perfumes from sustainably harvested forest products. The profits from the local and international sale of AVIVE’s high quality products are ploughed back into the local community.
AVIVE is based in Silves – one of the oldest urban settlements in the Amazonas state and the main center of human population in an area of immense biological importance. With its unique ecology, Silves has become a popular destination for ecotourists. Unemployment rates are high, however, and unsustainable resource exploitation is threatening the region’s biodiversity. AVIVE was formed in response to these challenges. The initiative began with the creation of a small workshop – complete with moulds and other soap-making equipment – and an associated garden, in which many of the natural ingredients for the products are grown. Garden-grown ingredients are supplemented by tree leaves and branches collected from the forest (whole trees are never harvested). The group makes a wide range of ordinary and novelty soaps, as well as a number of other articles (fibre necklaces, baskets, small wood products, etc.)
To date, the main market for AVIVE’s products has consisted of tourists, but international sales have also begun. 20% of the income from soap sales goes straight to the participants. The remainder is divided between AVIVE’s fixed costs (labels, etc.) and investment into primary resources for the local community. There are currently 26 women – aged between 16 and 70 – in the association, the majority of whom were without jobs until the project began. AVIVE has afforded these women a significant measure of economic independence.
These socio-economic gains have been achieved in conjunction with a number of positive impacts for the environment. All the ingredients used in the manufacture of AVIVE’s products are sustainably harvested. The workshop nursery has also contributed to the perpetuation of local biodiversity. Between May 1999 and March 2002, for example, some 6,000 seedlings of native Amazonian plant species were transferred from the nursery to areas of private land within the municipality. In particular, AVIVE is leading the fight to save the endangered rosewood tree, by showing that it is possible to extract greater quantities of essential oil from juvenile leaves than from the wood itself. And through its ecological education activities, AVIVE is helping to preserve traditional respect for the forest.
AVIVE’s success in fusing the aims of biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction secures its status as a model for sustainable development initiatives throughout the world.
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>> Bolsa Amazonia (Equator Prize 2002 Finalist)
Bolsa Amazonia is a regional partnership dedicated to developing small-scale enterprises within the rural forest communities of Amazonia, with the overall aim to generate livelihoods while protecting and preserving the environment. Through the creation of small-scale industrial projects, the harvesting and processing of value-added products and their successful commercialization, thousands of families have benefited from an increase in incomes and employment opportunities.
One of Bolsa Amazonia’s most notable success stories is a coconut-fibre processing initiative located within a unique Amazonian island ecosystem. This project has benefited around 4000 people in the various steps of production (fibre extraction, transformation, industrial processing, etc.) The eventual high-quality product has found a market within a variety of industries. The project supplies car seats to DaimlerChrysler-Mercedes, for example, and a number of other items to gardening, agricultural, construction and decorative markets.
A variety of other initiatives have flourished throughout Brazil. In the economically poor state of Para, for example, 16 rural communities have found a source of income and employment in the cultivation (through sustainable agro-forestry) and processing of tropical fruits. In another region, an association of 17 communities has devised a way to responsibly harvest the acai palm for use in fruit processing. In addition to the creation of jobs and incomes, Bolsa Amazonia initiatives have also improved the provision of basic services. The income generated through the various projects has been re-invested in local housing, electrical appliances and other amenities. Water treatment and energy generation projects (using green technologies) have been established. Various measures have also been taken to improve food security. For example, the above-mentioned coconut agro-forestry consortium also cultivates fruits, nuts, and vegetables for food.
Bolsa Amazonia’s agricultural forestry system, known as ‘agriculture in layers’, integrates indigenous knowledge with agronomic techniques, and has engendered a shift away from monoculture and slash-and-burn mentalities towards mixed-crop and sustainable farming.
Since its inception in 1992, in four communities in the State of Para, Brazil, the project has extended to every one of the Amazon basin countries. Building on its experience, Bolsa Amazonia now has offices in four countries (Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador), with four offices in Brazil alone. The rapidity of this expansion attests to the initiative’s remarkable success in combining the aims of poverty reduction and biodiversity conservation.
Online resources:
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>> Amazon Life Project (Equator Prize 2002 Finalist)
Amazon Life works with indigenous rubber tapper families in the Brazilian Amazon to produce an ecologically and socially sound fabric – ‘Treetap’ – which can be used as an alternative to leather in the manufacture of bags, shoes, clothing and other products.
The project began life in 1992 in conjunction with the Earth Summit in Rio. From the first, the project sought to redress the inequalities that derived from the absence of a truly commercial market for the traditional rubber tappers’ produce. Prior to the formation of Amazon Life, indigenous communities were often compelled to deal exclusively with traveling merchants who paid a scandalously low price for their rubber.
Amazon Life saw the potential of natural Amazonian rubber to become an internationally competitive product. Investment derived from numerous sources was used to combine traditional knowledge with modern technologies. A new vulcanization process was developed, production was systematized and a commercial network was established. Amazon Life achieved its aim: word soon spread and the Treetap product became sought after throughout the world. Clients have included Coca Cola, FIFA and the French fashion house Hermes.
The majority of the benefits of this commercial success have accrued to the rubber tappers themselves. The indigenous communities are co-owners of the patented vulcanization process and the price paid for their rubber has risen from around US$0.31 per kg (paid by the traveling merchants) to around US$3.08.
Since by its very nature, rubber tapping demands the continued existence of the forest, Amazon Life’s network of over 200 indigenous rubber tapper families comprise an informal cadre of ecological stewards. Treetap is contributing, in this way, to the protection of some 919,229 hectares of wild forest.
The quality of people’s lives has improved and the environment is better protected. And all because Amazon Life has found a way to pay the rubber tappers a fair price for their produce.
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>> Cananeia Oyster Producers Cooperative (Equator Prize 2002 Finalist)
Based around the Mandira Neighborhood Extractive Reserve, the Cananeia Cooperative is a partnership between a traditional community and a group of oyster extractors. The Cooperative – numbering some 100 individuals – works to ensure a sustainable living through oyster sales while safeguarding the fragile mangrove environment within which the extraction takes place. The need to protect Brazil’s largest continuous stretch of Atlantic forest has long been apparent. But it was not until the early nineties that the identification of possible reserves began. Mandira was named as a potential protected area because the oyster-rich coastline offered the potential for sustainable livelihoods. The Cananeia community came together as the ‘Association of Dwellers in the Mandira Extraction Reserve’ and worked to formalize the request to create the reserve.
The Cooperative is a classic example of the power of united action. By organizing themselves into an association, the Cananeia extractors were able to overreach the middlemen who once dominated the oyster market – and who paid artificially low prices for the raw produce. The Cooperative has also introduced a cleaning facility, which has further increased the value of the oysters. Prior to the Cooperative’s foundation, the average price of a dozen oysters was R$0.50; it has since risen to R$1.70.
Prices look set to rise: a market study has confirmed the potential for increased sales. And if the community achieves its aim to develop a ‘green seal’ for its produce – a guarantee that the oysters have been sustainably extracted – the selling price of the harvest may increase still further. These socio-economic gains have been achieved alongside a number of important ecological benefits. The oysters themselves are protected by law against unsustainable harvesting. In addition, the Cooperative has introduced a nursery to relieve the pressure on the wild oyster population. The illegal collection of oysters from swamps and the tendency to over-harvest have alike decreased as a result of the higher prices available on the market. Oysters are not the only species to have benefited. The members of the Cooperative are committed to obeying environmental legislation. And the higher incomes available from oysters alone have lessened the exploitation of other natural resources (subsistence agriculture and hunting, commercial logging, etc.).
The Cananeia Cooperative proves that no matter how vulnerable the ecological context, biodiversity conservation and poverty reduction are simultaneously achievable.
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>> Sociedade Civil Mamirauá (Equator Prize 2004 Finalist)
Among other successes, this innovative NGO has pioneered the creation of Sustainable Development Reserves (SDR's) in Brazil. Through application of this novel approach to the management of protected areas, Sociedade Civil Mamirauá has achieved tangible outcomes in the areas of biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation. In order to protect local biodiversity, the group serves as manager of two SDR's located within the Central Amazon Conservation Complex - a richly biodiverse UNESCO World Heritage Site. In this capacity they have worked since 1992 with communities, scientists, and state government to ensure a sustainable future for both local livelihoods and the living resources of the Amazon rainforest upon which communities so vitally depend.
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