The study is part of a research project seeking to evaluate the results of actions for restoration and conservation of the Atlantic Forest at Pontal do Paranapanema. With the data at hand, researchers will analyze how effective the actions were in regards to animals and identify management initiatives that contribute to the region.

The research belongs to a wider project called “Development of simplified procedures for monetary-economic valuation of ecosystem services and non-monetary valuation of cultural ecosystem services related to forest restoration”, a partnership of IPÊ with CTG Brasil, a clean energy company, through a R&D project from ANEEL.

Heading the Biodiversity branch of the Project is Simone Tenório and the general manager is Laury Cullen, both researchers at IPÊ.

To identify the fauna present in the region, the researchers Rafael Souza Cruz Alvez and Claudia Zukeram Kanda (pictured) installed 60cm high trap cameras around tree trunk.

“This way it is possible to grasp if mammals are moving through the restored areas, and if they actually use the area for survival”, says Claudia.

By analyzing the presence of animals, the researchers will be able to evaluate the advances in conservation related to the ecosystem services rendered by them. “The animals will help keep the health of ecosystems and productive areas, contributing to pest control”, stated Rafael Souze Cruz Alvez. 

An example for this is the Brazilian Tapir (Tapirus terrestris), considered the forest gardener due to how it scatters seed with greater germination potential. Forests inhabited by tapirs have a greater diversity of trees, for they move great distances inside their habitat and also between forest fragments (around 500 hectares – or 500 soccer fields). “Areas with tapirs have woods and riparian forests of higher quality, and, therefore, more preserved. This restoration will lead to better water quality, as it reduces soil runoff (particulate organic matter in the water)”.

Three study scenarios

In the study with mammals, 37 areas are analyzed in 3 scenarios: in conservated fragments, in restored fragments, and in the biggest restored forest corridor in the biome, connecting two conservation units, the Parque Estadual Morro do Diabo and the Estação Ecológica Mico-Leão-Preto. Each area will be monitored for two months, during three cycles, resulting in six months of image capturing.

During the installation of the cameras, the researchers found traces, such as tracks and feces of Brazilian tapirs (Tapirus terrestris), cougars (Puma concolor), and ocelots (Leopardus pardalis).  

The "Dream Map" emerged from the IPÊ team’s desire to plant native trees of the Atlantic Forest in rural properties located in Pontal do Paranapanema, far west of São Paulo, so that the planted forests connect to the native fragments and form corridors of life. Such corridors are essential for the conservation of species such as the black lion tamarin (Lentopithecus chrysopygus), the jaguar (Panthera onca), the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), among others. The dream is that the corridors have 60,000 hectares of forests (the environmental liabilities of the region), and 3,000 hectares are already a reality. In the next 5 years, the proposal is to plant 5,000 hectares.

According to Laury Cullen, project coordinator and researcher at IPÊ, the Dream Map is the flagship of the projects carried out in Pontal do Paranapanema (SP). "The team of technicians breathes this map daily. It is even stamped on the wall of the meeting room, because it is our mission, ambition and long-term vision for the region", he says.

The map is the rescue of the Atlantic Forest, the possibility of bringing the forest back, since the Atlantic Forest Act (2006) based on the New Forest Code (Federal Law N°.12,651/2012, BRASIL) requires that each rural property have 20% forest.

Among the results of the Dream Map is the largest restored forest corridor in the Atlantic Forest (with 12 km and 2.4 million trees), allowing for the flow of fauna from one fragment to another in the Atlantic Forest, contributing to the survival of vulnerable and endangered species.

In Pontal, these 20% of forest can be divided between the areas of Legal Reserve and riparian forest (protection of water resources) - in properties cut by rivers, streams and springs – as long as it adds up to the 20% required by law. "Many farms already have their forests conserved with the percentage established in the legislation," Cullen says.

Given this panorama, the Dream Map aims exactly at the 400 rural properties that have not adapted to the New Forest Code so far. The proposal of the map is to allocate the 20% of forests of each rural property in the best possible way for the formation of life corridors. For example, by assuring that the reserve of "farm A", connects to "farm B" which is linked to the settlements, consequently, this connectivity connects the corridors to the native forest of Morro do Diabo State Park, an area with about 34,000 hectares of native forest.

In Cullen's assessment, these corridors of life are a way to ensure the long-term survival of various animals, including the endangered black lion tamarin. He explains that after a while, isolated animals in the forest of "farm A" begin to have serious demographic and genetic problems. Therefore, it is extremely important to move these animals, because the circulation allows the crossing of the animals of the "farm A" with the animals that inhabit morro do Diabo. “Not only the corridors offer this alternative to the animals, it is also fundamental for the dispersion of seeds. And we already have tangible results of this work, exemplified by the Brazilian tapirs (Tapirus terrestris). They use the corridors and are seed dispersers, and so plant species have been identified germinating in their fecal samples."

According to Cullen, the map provides suggestions for the landowner to restore the forest in order to generate numerous benefits. “Among these consequences, we have the conservation of water resources (water quality, erosion and silting prevention), the connection of forest fragments, and protection of the fragments from the so-called edge effect, when the forests are exposed to wind, light, fire, and desiccation and, consequently, lose quality."

Through LTCI - Lowland Tapir Conservation Initiative, after the wildfires in Pantanal (MS) in 2020, IPÊ has contributed with surveying the impacts the fires had on the region’s fauna, including tapirs. Among the most affected areas is PRNH Sesc Pantanal (Private Reserve of Natural Heritage – RPPN in Portuguese), which today can count on INCAB for monitoring the animals with camera traps. To better understand the situation, we interviewed Sesc Pantanal’s socio-environmental Center superintendent, Christiane Caetano.

Has the impact of the 2020 wildfires in Sesc Pantanal already been evaluated? What is the extent of area lost?

Two units of Sesc Pantanal have been hit by the fires, one in Poconé, another in Barão do Melgaço. The country's largest private reserve, the PRNH Sesc Pantanal, with 108,000 hectares, had 93% of its area affected by the fires, to varying degrees. This unit is located in Barão do Melgaço. Sesc Baía das Pedras Park, in Poconé, had 500 of its 5,000 hectares hit. 

How are you working today for the regeneration of the area?

Regeneration of the area will happen naturally, with monitoring from the institution. Three lines of research are underway at the RPNH at the moment: on fauna, flora, and water quality. The aim is to evaluate the impacts of the fires and, by coupling scientific data and local knowledge, contribute to decision-making throughout Pantanal.

The biome is a large region, encompassing urban, rural, and wild environments. It is inhabited by numerous traditional communities, indigenous villages, farms, touristic establishments, and conservation units. All of them have been impacted to some degree by the 2020 wildfires, and all, to some extent, have some protection but also face threats.

How are the donations made by INCAB-IPÊ being applied?

The donated trap cameras are integrated to fauna research and allow for the monitoring of the animals, after the worst wildfires in the history of RPNH Sesc Pantanal, which was also the worst fire season in Pantanal in the last decades.

Through the traps, about 300 fauna sightings were recorded each week, just after the fires, in September. Due to being weak, many animals walked kilometers looking for water and food, and at first concentrated close to the spots installed by Sesc Pantanal, where the cameras are located.

This significant concentration of animals hasn’t been seen in 2021 anymore. This shows the importance of monitoring, which allowed for the observation of this emergency support, essential for helping the surviving animals overcome the acute phase, moving towards a gradual return of regular life, among them the Tapir, also known as the "gardener of forests".

The reduction in the number of sightings, which now hovers around 30 per week, the reduction in consumption of food offered by the institution, the identification of the reestablishment of natural sources of food and water, coming from the rain, contributed to the end of the emergency action, with the removal of the troughs and suspension of food distribution in February.

With the end of the emergency action, all cameras now contribute to the observation of the new routines and renewed takeover of the territory by the animals.

What is the role of Brazilian society in the protection of Pantanal? How can Brazilians contribute?

Pantanal is a common heritage of humankind and the largest continental wetland area in the planet, its role in the maintenance of biodiversity and ecological systems is undeniable, as is the value of resources and ecosystem services rendered by the biome that humanity receives and takes advantage of. Its protection is responsibility of all society, public and civil, which, in its different levels and in a shared manner, must promote actions to protect its ecosystems, the development of good productive practices and promote sustainable development in the communities in its territory, always taking the characteristics of the region into account.

We must consider that human life is intrinsically entwined to the ecological balance of the environment, and that this connection depends upon the quality of our existence. Therefore, it is everyone’s responsibility, as we can contribute even with small local actions, such as buying consciously and reducing residential waste, all the way to helping with the formulation and effectiveness of public policies for the conservation and sustainable development of Pantanal.

Five out of nine community nurseries located in the Pontal do Paranapanema region, closely tracked by IPÊ, are led by women. They are also the majority among workers. In total, among the 26 professionals in the nurseries, 15 are women. In 2020 these nurseries produced approximately 800,000 seedlings and 26 families benefited. The production potential, however, is almost double, and since the environmental liability in the west of São Paulo is 77,000 hectares, this can increase even more.

The female force is ahead from the collection of seeds to the moment of planting in the field. They are also responsible for sales. The production is sold to IPÊ, farmers, entrepreneurs, and city halls for reforestation.

Ivone Ribeiro Campos Félix, owner of Viveiro Floresta for 4 years, reveals the progress of the business and the next steps. “I started producing 17,600 seedlings per year. In 2020, the nursery produced 150,000 seedlings and the plan is to expand production. The goal for 2021 is to produce 300,000 seedlings and hire more professionals due to the booming market in the region”.

With the income from the nursery, she guarantees university education for her two daughters. “Peace, contribution to the environment, and my daughters’ graduation are the results I reap from my nursery”, she points out.

In her successful journey, she exalts two great teachers, her brother Valter Ribeiro Campos, pioneer in the area of nurseries in Teodoro Sampaio (SP) and the seedlings themselves. “With them I learned the germination time, which species like a lot or little water. Working with a nursery is a mix of work and rest because the plants give me so much peace. Besides, it’s exciting to see the seedling I planted turn into a tree in the restored areas”, she emphasizes.

Maria Regina dos Santos (Photo) has also been standing out in the field. One and a half years ago, she set up the Mata Nativa nursery, where she employs an employee and produces 100,000 seedlings per year, from 85 species, including native and exotic (those that do not occur naturally in the area). At the moment, the nursery is under renovation to expand the planting area. Upon completion it will be possible to produce 250,000 seedlings per year.

“My husband and I share the job of selling the seedlings. Now, collecting the seeds, planting and dealing with the seedlings are my responsibilities and I have the support of an employee. There are periods when work demand increases and I, sporadically, hire day laborers”, she clarifies.

Maria sells native Atlantic Forest seedlings to IPÊ, farmers in the region and even to rural producers from other states such as Goiás. Exotic seedlings, on the other hand, are sold in general to allotment owners in the urban area in Teodoro Sampaio (SP) and neighboring cities.

For over more than 20 years, along with the development of forest corridors in the Pontal do Paranapanema region, IPÊ has encouraged the formation of 11 forest nurseries and has been closely monitoring nine of them to this day. With the Community Nurseries project, it is possible to positively relate important issues such as: environment restoration, income generation, quality of life and food security for the community”, says Nivaldo Ribeiro Campos, an IPÊ technician. Most of the nurseries are constituted in the form of associations or cooperatives, but there are still private initiatives of farmers who have undergone free training from IPÊ.

José Palahv Gavião is the first scholarship indigenous student of the Professional Master's Degree at ESCAS from the WWF program (Education for Nature/EFN PROGRAM), offered by the course.

“I looked for where I would best fit in a Masters program, that me and my culture could relate to. I learned about ESCAS and that the school had a scholarship. I decided it was time” he says.

“I think ESCAS is the place for the indian people, because we have a vision alligned with the school, which is protecting the nature, of people who preserve the environment. ESCAS is the place for us. I feel safe attending this college in the sense that it reflects my reality and, with my knowledge, I can contribute to my people. I hope I can open doors. May I be the first of many”, José Palahv Gavião.

Born in Ji-Paraná, Rondônia, of the Gavião ethnic group, Palahv learned from his grandfather about the Amazon, medicinal plants, fishing, hunting and its traditions. A Tupi-Mondé speaker, he became literate in Portuguese at the age of 13 and since then has not stopped seeking academic knowledge that was alligned with his culture and that could bring benefits to the Gavião people.

He studied Intercultural Education at the Federal University of Rondônia and specialized in medicinal plants. He became a teacher at the village school and, at 39, he decided it was time to deepen his knowledge and develop a project that would contribute to the development and conservation of biodiversity in the Gavião territory.

The Gavião people live in the Lourdes basin and other tributaries of the Machado (or Ji-Paraná) river, an important region of the Amazon biome, close to the border of Mato Grosso. There, in addition to açaí and copaiba, the extraction of Brazil nuts generates most of the population's income.

“The project I am developing in the Master is precisely to create a value chain for the nuts collected in our territory. This way it can be sold by the indian people directly, without any middlemen, at a more suitable price. I have already helped build a cooperative and we are looking for improving the harvest, modernize what we have achieved. I want to learn more about how to do this and I am getting it with the support of the course and the people I am in contact with,” he says.

Started in 2020, the Vekala cooperative now has 44 members and continues to seek fairer trade for the product, improving the quality of the collection and working for a certification.