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Carbon Capture on the Island of Bananal
Phase I
What it is:
The Carbon Capture Project on the Island of Bananal (PSCIB I);
Where:
National Park of Araguaia, State Park of Cantão and five municipal regions surrounding the Island: Dueré, Lake Confusão, Cristalândia, Pium and Caseara;
Duration time:
1998 to 2003;
Financial Sponsor:
AES Barry Foundation;
Institutional Partners:
Ibama, Naturatins, Gaia and the regional councils;
Components:
Social, forest management research.
The PSCIB I began in 1998 and was the first in the whole nation. The project aimed to preserve natural ecosystems reducing the rate of deforestation and the reforestation of degraded areas, in addition to promote the generation of income for the communities involved. The joining of these objectives brought about the pioneering concept of Social Carbon™. The project developed pioneering experiences such as the implantation of Agroforest Systems (SAFs) in the scrubland region.
OBJECTIVE
The activities include forest management (conservation, regeneration and promotion of agroforest systems) and environmental monitoring and research within the local ecosystems and environmental education. The key principal of the PSCIB I was to encourage the participation and involvement of the local communities in the project’s activities, using the social component to promote alternative economics, thus increasing, the financial potential of these communities and motivating them to follow practices compatible with environmental conservation.
PROJECT RESULTS
▪ The activities described below have been put together in the book Carbon Capture: A solid experience, being the first edition published in partnership with the Tocantins State Federation of Industries – FIETO.
▪ Two vivariums established with native shrubs for the SAFS in rural areas;
▪ Tree planting activities in urban areas;
▪ Joint action with the local producers for the sustainable practice of silviculture;
▪ Implantation of the Canguçu Research Center, inaugurated in August 1999;
▪ Production of the environmental education leaflet “Learning from Nature”;
▪ Training of 245 local school teachers and environmental education activities with the shrub vivariums with the regional school pupils;
▪ Motivate through the line of support “Proposal for Small Projects – PPP”, aimed and local sustainable businesses;
▪ Prepare geo-processing studies (5 thousand/ha) and development of the base line methodology for forest preservation projects;
▪ Inventory of ecotonal forest region species and biomass and carbon stock studies in the scrubland, forest and wetland areas.
THE ROLE OF THE ECOLOGICAL INSTITUTE IN THE PROJECT
The Ecological Institute conceived and implemented the project, being responsible for the management and administration of the operations and the supervision of the environmental monitoring.
The project had IBAMA, The Instituto Natureza do Tocantins (Naturatins) and the Gaia (Environmental ONG in Tocantins) as institutional partners.
Phase II
What it is:
The Carbon Capture Project on the Island of Bananal (PSCIB II);
Where:
Araguaia National Park and the Araguaia Indian Park on the Island of Bananal;
Duration time:
2000 to 2002;
Partners:
AES Fifoots, Indigenous communities on the Island of Bananal and Funai;
Components:
Social, forest management and research.
The PSCIB II project began soon after the PSCIB I (May 2000). Both projects have essentially the same objectives distinguishing themselves by the fact that the second is directed to support the indigenous communities. The work sought to value more the culture of the indigenous population of the Island of Bananal, helping in the demarcation of the land as well as giving support to the educational activities and the quest for sustainable alternatives (generation of income). Given the history of disturbing interventions targeted at the indigenous population of the Island of Bananal and surrounding area, it can be said that the most important component was the establishing of positive and open relations between the Ecological Institute team and the indigenous communities.
OBJECTIVES
The principal objective of the PSCIB II was the improvement of the standard of life of the Javaé and Karajá indigenous communities on the Island of Bananal, guaranteeing in turn, the conservation of the environment. The project included forest management, scientific research and the socio-economic development of the communities.
PROJECT RESULTS
▪ Preparation and publication of the socio-environmental diagnosis of the Karajá and Javaé communities on the Island of Bananal (Portuguese and English);
▪ Joint action with the leaders of the Island of Bananal Indians;
▪ Demarcation of the Chief Fontoura Indian Territory (MT);
▪ Implantation of apiculture activities together with the São João and Boto Velho Indigenous village communities;
▪ Implantation of activities to strengthen the Indigenous identity together with the Boto Velho Indian village community;
▪ Construction of the House of the Past - Hymna Heto
▪ Amplification of the installations and support for research activities in the Canguaçu Research Center;
▪ Reinforcing of the project activities to generate income;
▪Survey of the fish farming aquaculture implantation areas employing a network system of tanks;
▪ Education activities on the environment and rubbish collection in the Javaé villages;
▪ Implantation of the meteorological station in the Canguaçu Research Center;
▪ Publication of scientific panels of the first research results;
▪ Construction of a Vivarium for native shrubs in Lake Confusão with emphasis on the requirements of the local indigenous communities.
THE ROLE OF THE ECOLOGICAL INSTITUTE IN THE PROJECT
The Ecological Institute conceived and implemented the project, being responsible for the management and administration of the operations and for the supervision of the environmental monitoring, conducted as an integral component of the research. The PSCIB II is a partner with the National Indian Foundation (Funai).
Monte do Carmo
What it is:
Monte do Carmo Project;
Where:
Serra do Carmo, Aparecida do Rio Negro and Palmas municipal regions (TO);
Duration time:
1999 to 2024;
Financial Sponsor:
Medway Power Plant, UK;
Components:
Forest management, environmental initiatives, social initiatives, handicraft and research
The project, which was approved by Medway Power Ltd. in May 1999, was aimed at the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the maintaining of the native vegetation that is in danger of being destroyed and the improvement of absorption through reforestation. The indirect beneficiaries of the project are the region’s small farmers, teachers from the Taquaruçu district and the dwellers of Serra do Carmo.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the project is to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases, through carbon capture by the conservation of the forests and the establishment of agroforest systems in the Serra do Carmo region. The project also includes a research component, which will document the biodiversity of the area (predominantly the scrubland and associated forest ecosystems).
PROJECT RESULTS
In June 2000, two properties in the Serra do Carmo region were acquired by the Ecological Institute. One of which (230 ha of scrubland, with extensive gallery forest formations) was destined to be a Private Reserve of Natural Patrimony (RPPN) and the other (250 ha) functions as the Ecological Farm for organic products and ecotourism. Training programs were held in agroforest systems for local farmers. The project achieved the following results:
▪ The purchase of the preservation areas;
▪ Establishment of the Ecological Farm;
▪ Obtained the organic certificate from the IBD (Biodynamic Institute) as the first farm to be certified in Tocantins;
▪ Implantation of the RPPN in the Aparecida do Rio Negro municipal region (in the phase of completion);
▪ Implantation of the visitor center on the Ecological Farm and consolidation of the ecotourism activities within the Taquaraçu Ecotourism District;
▪ Forest intensification activities and implantation of shared cultivation with the production of guava, lemon, passion fruit and banana;
▪ Vivarium for shrubs to supply the local demand and also new interested producers;
▪ Construction of forest fire prevention monitoring systems;
▪ Survey of the possibility for bird watching in the region;
▪ Environmental education and training activities together with the regional schools and farmers.
Click here to see a presentation of the project.
MORE INFORMATION
RELATED LINKS
www.ibama.gov.br
www.naturatins.to.gov.br
www.funai.gov.br |
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