Establishing a new nature reserve in Brazil

The region of the Rio Aripuanã in the Central Amazon Basin is home to a unique diversity of plants and animals, including several large mammals that have not been scientifically described yet. In 2006 Stiftung Artenschutz funded two research expeditions which were carried out in cooperation with the Brazilian NGO Hiléia.
The authorities of Amazonia State officially designated the region as "Protectorate of Sustainable Development" (RDS) on July 21st 2006. This new conservation area is now called "Juma", which is the name of an affluent of the Rio Aripuanã, and comprises 589,611 hectare. A section of the territory - the exact borders of which will yet have to be identified - will receive a higher level of legal protection.
The human population already settled in the area will maintain the right to live in the reserve and use its natural resources in a sustainable manner, but new inhabitants are not allowed to settle and commercial farming or large scale plantations are banned.
Manicore Marmoset
The manicore marmoset was not scientifically described until the year 2000.
The aim of this project is to assure that active protection of the new reserve "RDS Juma" will be implemented and not remain on paper only. Access to the reserves needs to be strictly controlled to counter illegal wood cutting. The local people will be introduced step by step to alternative, sustainable sources of income. At the moment, they primarily earn money from selling timber and from hunting. Sustainable use of rainforest products and tourism, however, will not only be compatible with the goals of biodiversity conservation, but will also offer the inhabitants a long term economic perspective.

A further aim of this project is to carefully delimitate the reserve's completely protected core area in regard to the unique ecological value of the region along the Rio Aripuanã. This requires support from the local inhabitants and the relevant environmental authorities.
Caboclo settlement

The local inhabitants called "Caboclos" live along the rivers of the Rio Aripuanã basin.
Stiftung Artenschutz supports Hiléia in implementing the following conservation measures:
  • Installation of a pontoon on the Rio Aripuanã to control access to the reserve. The pontoon will also serve as a basis for activities such as the training workshops mentioned below.
  • Training of voluntary forest guards.
  • Workshops of the local human inhabitants to:
    1. introduce apiculture as an alternative source of income;
    2. introduce permaculture in an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable way.

meeting
To establish the nature reserve, the project team closely cooperates with the locals.
For the Juma project Stiftung Artenschutz gratefully acknowledges funding from the Schellenberg-Stiftung.

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