The Alliance for the Conservation of the Atlantic Forest recently approved small grants for 13 projects that will help ensure sustainable management of existing private reserves and six projects that will help establish at least 17 new reserves in the Central and Serra do Mar conservation corridors in Brazil.
The grants are the first in a new Alliance program supported by CEPF to assist landowners and civil society in sustainably managing private reserves and creating new ones in the two corridors, which are focal areas for CEPF investment. The Alliance includes Conservation International-Brasil and SOS Mata Atlântica.
The program is focusing its efforts on Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs). While more than 500 private reserves exist in Brazil today, many landowners need technical or financial support to effectively manage these areas and maximize the benefits for conservation.
The newly awarded grants support projects in five Brazilian states. They include, for example, support for:
- construction of a forest observatory to attract ecotourism at RPPN Mitra do Bispo in Minas Gerais
- construction of a tourist reception center to stimulate the agroecotourism at RPPN Ararauna in Bahia
- creating at least 10 new RPPNs in different areas of south Bahia
- creation of RPPN Engenho da Serra in Minas Gerais