idea Owners
The Atlantic Forest located in the Southeast of Brazil is renowned for its exuberant biodiversity, so much so that it is considered a Biodiversity Hotspot by Conservation International. The Atlantic Forest reigns as significantly important biome on the planet despite the fact that over 80% of the forest has been destroyed. This forest and the majority of the species endemic to it, such as the Northern Muriqui, are endangered. For the Atlantic Forest, one of the more challenging aspects of conservation management is the isolating effects of forest fragments. Fauna can become stuck in a forest fragment completely isolated by pasture and as such, are unable to find sufficient food and/or procreate. For example, females of the critically endangered Northern Muriqui will leave their familial group before puberty to pair with another group, which is important to maintain genetic diversity. However, when a group becomes isolated, there is only emigration of females, with no replenishment. Over time, the group will go extinct. The image of a female failing to locate another group and dying alone in a forest enclosed by pasture is distressing. However, we must be empathetic to plight of the farmers who oftentimes maintain traditional, yet precarious, lifestyles. In our experience, providing tree saplings at no cost to these farmers to plant corridors is not successful. The farmer will lose his ability to produce on that land while also assuming responsibility of an extra chore, two things that can negatively impact his ability to maintain his livelihood. Our idea is meaningful because it is an economic solution to an environmental problem. We want to use agroforestry because it is a sustainable way to produce our food, it doesn't utilize artificial inputs and creates healthy soils. Not only will we introduce farmers to a more sustainable livelihood, but we will stimulate the local economy and provide habitat for the Northern Muriqui. We hope that this project can serve as an inspiring pilot that can be replicated throughout Brazil and benefit innumerous species.
Reserva do Ibitipoca is a socio-environmental project that was founded in 1981 with the intention of creating a green-belt around the State Park of Ibitipoca. Over the past thirty years the reserve has grown to over 4,000 hectares and executes a number of projects in the region with a focus on native species and community development. 90% of this territory was once pasture and through natural regeneration and a well-trained fire brigade, we have seen the Atlantic Forest return and flourish. However, some areas were seriously degraded and we have employed agroforestry techniques to recuperate the soil while being able to benefit from sustainable agricultural production. Over the past three years, our agroforestry plantations have flourished and we want to expand the plantations.
One of the last remaining populations of the Northern Muriqui reside in Ibitipoca and can be found in a forest fragment known as the Luna Forest. The Luna Forest was once a small forest fragment (around 30 hectares) and today the forest cover has grown to over 200 hectares. However, the land surrounding this forest fragment is still utilized as pasture. The region is a patchwork of different landowners that raise cattle and are uninterested in abandoning their familial land. At the same time, we want to incentive our traditional neighbors to maintain their culture and livelihoods, just in a more sustainable manner. We are currently developing a project in collaboration with our neighbors to plant an ecological corridor that connects the Luna Forest with other large forest fragments in the region. These forests are currently completely surrounded by pasture, and would remain inaccessible to the arboreal primates of Ibitipoca. Our plan is to plant a 500-meters by 4-meter stretch of agroforest, and prioritizing endangered or vulnerable native species, such as Juçara Palm (Euterpe edulis). We already have one neighbor who has manifested interest in participating and will plant a 300-meter stretch of agroforestry, for a total of 800-meters. Upon completion of this ecological corridor, the habitat for the Northern Muriqui will double in size. Economic benefits will be derived from the plantation through the harvest and sale of food products. Today we incentive the production and sale of the fruit from the Juçara Palms. We have an established market for these agricultural product in Ibitipoca, which is a popular tourism destination that attracts visitors from all over the world, many of these ecotourists appreciate organic and responsibly produced items.
In conclusion, this idea is sustainable for the following reasons:
1) Economic development through alternative livelihood opportunity that is soil-smart and free of artificial inputs.
2)Biodiversity preservation through the planting of endangered and vulnerable species while expanding habitat for endangered native fauna species.
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