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The market has been renewing itself and creating venture proposals connected to the demands of a socio-environmental committed agenda. In the Amazonian context, the so-called impact businesses are gaining more space and they stand out by combining economic gains with the appreciation of local practices, knowledge, and culture, and the purpose of overcoming regional inequalities. &nbsp;When it comes to the Amazon, the challenges are numerous and include, for example, biome conservation, logistical singularities, investment attraction, the appreciation of culture through traditional activities among the population, the incorporation of disruptive strategies, and the dissemination in different consumer markets. To face these and other issues, actions aimed at high-impact businesses acceleration have demonstrated their importance as facilitating mechanisms for sustainable development. A great contribution in that sense has been made by Fundo Vale, which incorporated fostering businesses with positive socio-environmental impact into the planning of Meta Florestal da Vale 2030 (Vale’s 2030 Forest Goal). Within this scope, the mining company made a voluntary commitment to protect and recover 500,000 hectares of forests, 400,000 of them being in protected areas, and 100,000 in recovery areas. Among these last ones, this will be mainly processed by impactful business arrangements such as employment and income generation for the population involved, the re-establishment of a family farming and small producers culture, as well as improving aspects such as carbon dioxide sequestration capacity through greater vegetation coverage. With this planning, the main focus is on supporting agroforestry systems projects (SAFs), which are alternatives for area recovery, then contributing to the ecosystem services, using different productive arboreal, agricultural, and/or animal species, thus enabling the aggregation of biodiversity conservation and economic return. &nbsp;<blockquote>We align the natural environment with an intrinsic factor to the project’s sustainability, which is mankind’s role in the ecosystem. Agroforestry systems are based on the premise of conservation through use, that is, sustainable income generation, emphasizes Bia Marchiori, Fundo Vale’s agronomist.</blockquote> Currently, there are already five projects directly supported by Vale’s 2030 Forest Goal, which, by the end of 2021, have contributed to the recovery of 6,178 hectares through planting. One of them is Belterra Agroflorestas that promotes the deployment of productive forests in which different cultures are associated, such as cassava, cocoa, açaí, and banana. There are over 1,000 recovered hectares in different types of contracts with producers from the states of Pará, Rondônia, Bahia, and Minas Gerais.<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Bia_Marchiori_Fundo_Vale_1a8b5922f2.png" alt="Bia Marchiori - Fundo Vale[.png" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Bia_Marchiori_Fundo_Vale_1a8b5922f2.png 117w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Bia_Marchiori_Fundo_Vale_1a8b5922f2.png 375w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Bia_Marchiori_Fundo_Vale_1a8b5922f2.png 563w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Bia_Marchiori_Fundo_Vale_1a8b5922f2.png 751w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>To Bia Marchiori, Fundo Vale’s agronomist, supporting these new businesses is essential to build a new economy (Release/Fundo Vale)</figcaption></figure> To Bia Marchiori, Belterra’s experience is representative of the alignment with the set of criteria valued by Fundo Vale, which includes the business’s financial and sustainable indicators analysis, such as the scale potential, the carbon credit generation, and the positive social &amp; environmental impacts. “The challenge here is that there aren’t many agroforestry projects or businesses in the scale intended to be achieved by Vale’s 2030 Forest Goal. Therefore, is it essential we look carefully at the bottlenecks and potentials of agroforestry businesses invested so that, in addition to the implementation of hectares, we can foster and strengthen this sector in an ecoefficient way. The alignment of food and raw material production, along with soil, water, and biodiversity conservation is essential. Then, yes, we reached the scale, and we will also be able to help decrease climate change”, adds Bia Marchiori. In addition, Fundo Vale supports initiatives such as Amaz Aceleradora de Impacto (Amaz Impact Accelerator) which seeks, through innovation, to transform the region’s economic matrix. Projects involving sustainable agriculture and livestock, forest management, community-based tourism, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, carbon credit generation, and other environmental products and services are some of the axes valued in the businesses that make up the initiative’s portfolio. &nbsp;<blockquote>“Supporting these new businesses is essential to build a new economy. We don’t know exactly how it will emerge; we have several guesses, several chains, several potential territories, but the only way we have to build this economy is to test it, to invest a lot in many different types of enterprising businesses”, states the new businesses director and CEO of Amaz, Mariano Cenamo, that emphasizes what is intended is to build the foundations of an economy committed to environmental conservation and the reduction of social inequalities.&nbsp;</blockquote> Amaz was born in 2021 but is already a result of a successful proposal in the impact business area, the Parceiros pela Amazônia (PPA) acceleration program. In a PPA spin-off-like fashion, the accelerator inherited the 12 businesses supported since 2018 and should reach 2025 with a total of 30 projects, benefiting from a BRL 25 million investment. According to Cenamo, the proposal has three main differentials in comparison to other experiences. The first one is the initial allocation of BRL 200,000 for those selected, which enables the businesses to invest and dedicate themselves to mentoring, training, qualification, immersion, and other activities. In the second one, Amaz creates acceleration timeframes that suit different projects' needs. And in the last one, there’s the technical team involvement on the program’s daily basis activities and in the solution of problems faced by the supported ventures. With this, it is possible to envision benefits that extend from the short term, with the incentive to actions that favor command and control institutions in the fight against deforestation, as an example; to the medium and long term, by creating a favorable environment for innovation and proposing alternatives to the Amazon development.“It is indeed necessary to take risks, to test, and to gather both regional and foreign entrepreneurs to build this new economy. That’s why it is so important to support businesses, especially those which are willing to innovate in their method to offer a service or product to society and those that have the purpose to solve urgent social and environmental problems in the Amazon region”, emphasizes Mariano Cenamo.“Supporting these new businesses is essential to build a new economy. We don’t know exactly how it will emerge; we have several guesses, several chains, several potential territories, but the only way we have to build this economy is to test it, to invest a lot in many different types of enterprising businesses”, states the new businesses director and CEO of Amaz, Mariano Cenamo, that emphasizes what is intended is to build the foundations of an economy committed to environmental conservation and the reduction of social inequalities.&nbsp; “It is indeed necessary to take risks, to test, and to gather both regional and foreign entrepreneurs to build this new economy. That’s why it is so important to support businesses, especially those which are willing to innovate in their method to offer a service or product to society and those that have the purpose to solve urgent social and environmental problems in the Amazon region”, emphasizes Mariano Cenamo. &nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Belterra_dez2021_9_2e49170be6.jpg" alt="Belterra_dez2021_9.jpg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Belterra_dez2021_9_2e49170be6.jpg 234w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Belterra_dez2021_9_2e49170be6.jpg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Belterra_dez2021_9_2e49170be6.jpg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Belterra_dez2021_9_2e49170be6.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>v there are already five projects directly supported by Vale’s 2030 Forest Goal, Belterra Agroflorestas is one of them. (Release/ Belterra Archives)</figcaption></figure>Among the same line of action, Movimento Amazônia em Casa, Floresta em Pé (Amazon at Home, Forest Standing Movement) proposal comes to strengthen the regional sustainable businesses, especially focusing on those that sell products from the local socio-biodiversity. The main line of action is the market access program, which combines training and dissemination at fairs and events, with constructing alternatives for logistics and commercialization, thus facing major bottlenecks that restrict access to Amazon products and limit their competitiveness at the national and global scenario.“As Bioeconomy is a sector under construction, many are the challenges presented, ranging from the structuring of the entire innovation, research, product development ecosystem, and access to the market &nbsp;to the development and improvement of these products. Many of them need to improve their communication, such as packaging, impactful narratives, assessment of nutritional values. There are also many logistical challenges given the Amazon continental dimensions and inappropriate infrastructure for small entrepreneurs” contextualizes Floriana Breyer, Movimento’s strategic partnerships coordinator.In practical terms, the structure of Movimento Amazônia em Casa, Floresta em Pé enables the 33 selected businesses to be promoted on large platforms such as Mercado Livre, Locale, Soulog, among others which currently offer consumers a variety of food, handicraft products, and vegetable oils from the main socio-biodiversity regional chains.To Floriana Breyer, an experience like this is capable of showing the potential the national economy has to pave new paths.<blockquote>“The benefits are diverse; they can change the country’s development blueprint by creating and strengthening new production chains based on forest assets and by keeping it standing, instead of following the commodities supply line of raw materials, thus avoiding deforestation, carbon emissions, generation jobs in the region and keeping local populations in their territories of origin”, points out the coordinator.</blockquote>

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Investment in innovative ventures contributes to forest conservation, combined with social impact

High-impact businesses acceleration strengthens Amazon's economy

Home to the greatest biodiversity on the planet, the Amazon region possesses a rich ecosystem regarding plants, animals and microorganisms. About 60% of its territory is located in Brazil, according to Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE) [Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics]. Within this broad territory, in the largest tropical forest on the planet, considerable amount of raw materials are found suitable to develop unique technologies, capable of making the region a gateway to innovative investments.<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2Vm2X-oLjQ&amp;list=PLwoDrF1Md_jN15S6RhWgpJbVrVpm-ln7K&amp;index=4"><div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P2Vm2X-oLjQ" style="position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; top: 0; left: 0;" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></figure>Startups – technology-based companies that seek solutions for products and services – have progressively won more space in the region, and especially in the territory of Pará state. One of them – Biomimetics Biotechnology – develops an edible skin. Imperceptible to the human eye, and made from fruit peels. This delicate skin is able to extend the life of food stored in shelves. The product was created in 2019 by three partners as a result of an entrepreneurship competition organized by the Federal University of Pará [UFPA], The Inove+. Since then, the product has been improved and is now undergoing the final stages of development to be launched in the market.&nbsp; &nbsp;Increasing the shelf life of bananas, tomatoes and apples is the company's main focus, explains partner and executive director Jonas Cunha da Silva, a bioprocess engineer: “We've already achieved the extension of about four more days at room temperature. All this thanks to our bioactive components. In addition to fruit peels, we use several natural ingredients from the Brazilian Amazon”. The main customer to test the progress and efficiency of the product is the hortifruti products distributor, who makes the food circulate to the entire chain. “We have about nine people, most of whom are bioprocess engineers working in research, product development and production”.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The growing increase in organic waste, mainly deriving from agribusiness, and the great waste of food on a global scale were the factors that motivated the team of entrepreneurs to act. One of the founders had the idea to make the skin – the organic film – while researching on biomaterials. After sharing his idea with two other friends, who studied the extraction of components from fruit peels, the project was born. The initial intent was to take part in the contest promoted by the Federal University of Pará [UFPA], in which the idea won the first place. The other partners of Biomimética Biotecnologia are the bioprocess engineers André da Luz de Freitas and Patrícia Oliveira Santos, respectively, research and production directors.<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:25%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/image_3_09c136986e.webp" alt="image (3).webp" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_image_3_09c136986e.webp 137w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_image_3_09c136986e.webp 439w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>(Reproduction)</figcaption></figure>“In order to ensure a more sustainable future for our country, we need to invest in products with high added value, such as this skin. I see a lot of potential in what we do, as our team is very engaged and has already developed other innovative products with similar proposals. We have gathered a lot of knowledge on the subject and we are aware of the relevance of this type of product for the country and for the world. I believe a great deal in the potential of our country and I know we are one of the countries responsible for feeding the rest of the world. But to keep up performing such a task, we need to guarantee safe and quality food for everyone”, says Jonas Cunha the bioprocess engineer.According to Jonas , one advantage of developing this technology within the Amazon is the enormous diversity it encompasses, which allows the product to incorporate natural ingredients with bioactive properties that can protect food in a fully functional and safe way, without the need to synthesize harmful chemicals to the environment.In addition, we emphasize the opportunity to observe conscientiously the rich diversity of the fruit sector, with foods that exist, exclusively, in states that surround the Amazon region - known abroad as ‘superfruits’. Jonas also explains that many of these fruits are not yet known due to their short shelf life: they spoil even before they reach other states or countries. The organic skin created by Biomimetica can help change this scenario and increase the income of communities that depend on this type of commerce.Bringing up sustainable ideas is the way out to guarantee a long life for businesses and projects. The startup's executive director emphasizes: “The market is becoming increasingly competitive and, nowadays, it’s not just about making money, but staying consistently profitable, that is, financially alive for the next decades, without harming the environment or causing social instability. A sustainable idea must be based on three pillars: social, financial and environmental. This attitude towards the market and nature will guarantee a less unequal planet for everyone, one that is more environmentally friendly to live in, with fewer disasters and fewer tragedies and economic instabilities”, says Jonas Cunha.<blockquote>"A sustainable idea must be based on three pillars: social, financial and environmental" -&nbsp;Jonas Cunha,&nbsp;bioprocess engineer.</blockquote>In his opinion, investments from public and private agents are the solution for sustainable ideas to succeed. Jonas defends that the State should invest in Bioeconomy and, in partnerships with solid companies, providing the necessary support for these projects to fully mirror the market, instead of being simply ‘ideas’.&nbsp;<h2 style="margin-left:auto;">Technology transforms family farming</h2>&nbsp;Developing a system that could track any product originating from family farming was the determinant motivating factor for the emergence of Amachains, a startup company that today has a traceability management platform with a marketplace. The tracking of products and services is performed by using blockchain and compliance to transform agribusiness and bioeconomy production chains into sustainable business networks. The team started working in January 2018, but it was only in October 2019 that the company was established. Today, it operates in the agribusiness and bioeconomy production chains, but the company has already had experience with the mining chain as well.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/image_7_31bbfe2537.webp" alt="image (7).webp" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_image_7_31bbfe2537.webp 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_image_7_31bbfe2537.webp 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_image_7_31bbfe2537.webp 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_image_7_31bbfe2537.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Alexandre Bezerra, a production engineer and also an agribusiness technician (Personal archive)</figcaption></figure>“The main solution is a platform that allows tracking products, services and impact indicators linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Amachains proposal has its origins in the harsh reality of family farmers who, despite the various actions taken by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), companies and people on their regard, cannot change their condition of being the weakest part of agribusiness”, evaluates Alexandre Bezerra – the startup's founder and CEO, a production engineer and also an agribusiness technician. “We realized that we could help and decided to tackle this problem with a traceability system that could be given away for free to one of the most important players in agribusiness and the bioeconomy in Brazil. We represent a social project with the purpose of generating justice, prosperity and dignity for all producers”.By offering an innovative and disruptive platform, the Amachains may project the Amazon region to national prominence concerning modernity and technology, providing cutting-edge technology at affordable prices to all producers in agribusiness and bioeconomy, considering either those ones who work on extractive activities or not, and also for free to the producers who are legally registered as family farmers.&nbsp;&nbsp;<blockquote>"Surely, our greatest satisfaction and potential is being able to gather small family farmers in this journey towards the achievement of sustainable development and innovation" - &nbsp;a production engineer and also an agribusiness technician (Personal archive)</blockquote>&nbsp;Alexandre explains that the solutions being created add great value to all the actors in the productive chains, especially to family farming. In parallel, there are innovations in state-of-the-art technology, such as blockchain. “The way we use the blockchain to create our platform and our business is innovative in Brazil and in the world. Surely, our greatest satisfaction and potential is being able to gather small family farmers in this journey towards the achievement of sustainable development and innovation. Our platform was developed to reach national and international levels”.The team currently has 10 members – it has increased 100% in number of employees in 2021 and is supposed to increase even more in 2022, according to the CEO. Alexandre states that it becomes increasingly necessary to create startups which solve problems concerning global warming and provide more sustainable development. For him, a company that does not care about the planet, following guidelines of good governance, paying close attention to environment and social issues, is like signing a “death penalty”. Thus, he advocates everyone should work in advance and pay attention to the Amazon.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2 style="margin-left:auto;">Project seeks to decrease cost to producers and to buyers</h2>&nbsp;Directto, another startup empowering producers and buyers, aims at cutting out the necessity of middlemen in the commerce of Amazon bioeconomy products. Using a platform, the group, acting in Pará state territory for about one year, manages efficient and clear direct sales, without the necessity of intermediary people, resulting in higher profiting and lower costs to the sellers and to the buyers, also providing a source of reliable and quality suppliers.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/image_8_7331784ded.webp" alt="image (8).webp" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_image_8_7331784ded.webp 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_image_8_7331784ded.webp 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_image_8_7331784ded.webp 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_image_8_7331784ded.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira is Co-founder and CEO of Directto (Personal archive)</figcaption></figure>Co-founder and CEO of Directto, Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira, expert entrepreneur in growth hacking, attributes the emergence of the project to a friend of him, who was living in Portugal – since he had no planned career, he thought about exporting products to that country. He decided to sell açai, and for that purpose he contacted local companies. “I saw how the process of intermediary sales happen, how the production bought here is sold abroad. Their mode of operation did not seem efficient to me. I started to study about it and thought about a model of marketplace, I wondered if that would possibly work properly to the exporting scenario of açai and other products. I figured it out that there was an opportunity to add value to both parts”.Even though there are many productive chains participating in the Amazon bioeconomy, all of them face the same problem, says Rodrigo, because the producer has the expertise ‘in production’, not ‘in selling’ or financial management. This evidence, according to the CEO, impairs the commerce, that is why they are always behind . So, the market tool has a gigantic potential to add value to the region. This model of business is going to work for exporting and for the local market, says the co-founder. Thus, producers will find new suppliers more easily and will get a clearer process of commerce.&nbsp;&nbsp;<blockquote>"I think our forest brings many challenges, but entrepreneurship is just like that: the companies exist to solve problems” -&nbsp;Rodrigo Gomes de Oliveira, Co-founder and CEO of Directto.</blockquote>&nbsp;“It is a differential touch to the Amazon, because this regional bioeconomy community of producers is going to economically evolve. This is going to be a very good thing for us to be able to develop not only the productive chains, but also keep the forest standing, which is the concept of the products from the Amazon. So, it has a great social, economic and ecologic impact. It is important to create sustainable ideas, which value the Amazon culture. I think our forest brings many challenges, but entrepreneurship is just like that: the companies exist to solve problems”.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2 style="margin-left:auto;">Partnership creates ecosystem to startup acceleration&nbsp;</h2>&nbsp;All these projects are part of&nbsp; Associação Paraense de Inovação e Tecnologia (Açai Valley) [Innovation and Technology Association from Pará], acting since 2019 in Pará, aiming at gathering entrepreneur ideas. The initiative was born from the necessity of discussing innovation and entrepreneurship in the state. Currently, the entity holds about 200 mapped startups, including about 420 members. Last week, O Liberal Group and Açai Valley agreed on a partnership to create the LibVenture, the first ecosystem of startups acceleration in the North connected to a group of communication. The goal is to enhance, encourage and value the environment of innovation in the companies.&nbsp;&nbsp;<blockquote>"An ecosystem of innovation needs active strong actors, and a lot of collaboration and union among them, so that the startups may emerge, develop themselves and grow up" -&nbsp;Alexandre Bezerra, production engineer and also an agribusiness technician.</blockquote>&nbsp;The idea, according to Aline Viana, market director of the Liberal Group, is to promote the idea of ‘innovation’ more and more. The partnership with Açai Valley is going to expand this space. “The objective is to bring the innovation ecosystem as much as possible into the group. Nowadays, there are plenty of possibilities here in Pará and&nbsp; a lot of startups still do not get enough visibility. The aim is to bring this concept and to invest in innovation in 2022. The Açai Valley is the main association of startups in the state and we want to strengthen this relationship with them”.Some of these projects support the association with mentorship to the beginner startups, sharing some experiences and helping to develop new ideas in our region, such as Amachains. “An ecosystem of innovation needs active strong actors, and a lot of collaboration and union among them, so that the startups may emerge, develop themselves and grow up. The Açai Valley is like the “glue” that bonds all these actors. We think Açai Valley was indispensable to reach the results we have today, says Alexandre Bezerra.&nbsp;On the other hand, Jonas Cunha, from Biomimética, considers Açai Valley as a network of opportunities. “The association has great goals for the future, but currently it has been a place that works as a support net for the entrepreneurs in Pará and that helps in the communication process with various public and private actors. We are always sharing ideas about the market, pitching for investors and other things”, he comments.&nbsp;

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Empowerment of entrepreneurship leads startups to seek solutions to regional problems

Development of the Amazon stands on technological innovation

By land, water or air, the Armed Forces play a fundamental and strategic role in protecting the Amazon. To carry out this mission, one of the main obstacles is logistics. The continental distances of the region represent a chapter in itself in fighting against criminal actions and also in carrying out social activities. Usually, the population has no idea of ​​the daily and continuous anonymous work carried out by the Air Force, Army and Navy.The three corporations have distinct characteristics. But, for the best performance and success of the missions, they work together and also in partnership with other federal, state and municipal institutions. Although few people know about it, one of the tasks of the Brazilian Air Force is to transport human organs in cases of transplantation.Another interesting fact is that the 23rd Infantry Division of Jungle Brigade, in the municipality of Marabá, is one of the most out-and-out in the entire Brazilian Army. It is a ready-made force to act in any part of the national territory, and abroad. For 2020, the division has already received an extra mission: to qualify a company to be used in peace operations.Regarding the Navy, to have a thorough idea of ​​the work performed in the region, the land area under the responsibility of the Command of the 4th Naval District is equivalent to around 23% of the entire national territory. The maritime dimension, including the search and rescue area of jurisdiction, is around 2 million km².The military men of the Armed Forces have also played a decisive role in combating covid-19, especially in the most critical periods of the disease in the region. During the pandemic, for example, the Army carried out 2,419 disinfection procedures in different areas and also provided support for immunization, contributing with the logistics for the application of 380,000 vaccines.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/image_2_4dde43173c.webp" alt="image (2).webp" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_image_2_4dde43173c.webp 208w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_image_2_4dde43173c.webp 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_image_2_4dde43173c.webp 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_image_2_4dde43173c.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Promotional material / Army</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;Along the ‘Operation Covid’ and facing the mission to integrate the country, the Brazilian Air Force [FAB] performed 6,225 flight hours and transported 5,018 tons of cargo and 11,710 patients. This feat represented the equivalent of circling the earth 107 times.&nbsp;By air, FAB guarantees vaccine, food and transportation for patients and organs&nbsp;Located in Belém, the First Regional Air Command (I Comar) operates in Pará, Amapá and Maranhão. The commander, Air Brigadier Major Maurício Augusto Silveira de Medeiros, says that ‘defense’ is the primary action taken by the Air Force in the Amazon. “Our mission is to maintain the sovereignty of the airspace, but we also have other missions to integrate the national territory. We've been working in the Amazon for 80 years,” he says. Integration is performed, for example, by means of the transport of organs for transplantation and vaccines. “Now, during the Covid pandemic, we have been carrying a lot of oxygen cylinders. The presence of the Air Force gives citizens the certainty that the Brazilian State is present and that whatever they need, wherever they are, we will help”, guarantees Major-Brigadeiro Medeiros.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/image_4_d68218b037.webp" alt="image (4).webp" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_image_4_d68218b037.webp 234w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_image_4_d68218b037.webp 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_image_4_d68218b037.webp 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_image_4_d68218b037.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>&nbsp;&nbsp;Air Force Brigadier Major&nbsp;Maurício Augusto Silveira de Medeiros&nbsp;(Igor Mota / O Liberal)&nbsp;</figcaption></figure>According to the commander, the Armed Forces exist to protect the country. “We always carry out this mission of protecting the borders, intercepting illicit aircrafts that transport drugs, smuggling”, details the Brigadier-Major.One of the challenges we face, however, is having a place to land the aircrafts. “If there is not a landing field, we use a helicopter, or if there is no landing field, we build one. The Air Force works in such an obstinate way that, if there is a constraint, we try to overcome the obstacle in one way or another”, he says. Another challenge is the weather. “Not rarely, we want to get to a place, but we are not able to because of the weather. So, we wait until the next day. We persevere until the mission is accomplished, regardless of who is involved – to look for someone who is sick, to provide vaccine, to deliver food”, guarantees Medeiros.<blockquote>"Sometimes people want to put a division between civil and military society, but that doesn't exist. There is Brazilian society" - Maurício Augusto Silveira de Medeiros, Air Brigadier Major of the Air Force.</blockquote>In the Amazon, there is a rainy season and also a dry season. “Often, during the dry season, when the river is not navigable, the Air Force becomes in charge of delivering food, in addition to a series of other assistance services and few people are aware of it. It's not that we don't want to show it, but we don't need to be trumpeting what we're doing”, he says.To guarantee the protection of the Amazon, Brigadier-Major Medeiros says it is essential to have people who are really engaged in the work towards the development and protection of the country. “We are part of Brazilian society and our job is precisely to support this society in whatever it needs. Sometimes, people tend to put a divide between civil and military society, but there is no such thing. There is one Brazilian society”, he believes.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/image_2_424c1eeb37.webp" alt="image (2).webp" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_image_2_424c1eeb37.webp 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_image_2_424c1eeb37.webp 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_image_2_424c1eeb37.webp 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_image_2_424c1eeb37.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Promotional material</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;“With the motto 'Wings that protect the Country', the Air Force, wherever it is, will always be carrying out this protection work. ‘Wings’ because we fly and arrive fast and, consequently, we manage to do everything that is necessary. Society can and must count on us, because we will always protect the country”.&nbsp;<h2 style="margin-left:auto;">Air base in Belém</h2>&nbsp;At the Air Base in Belém, the commander, Colonel Aviator Ricardo Bevilaqua Mendes, explains that there are four main operational organizations. One of them is the First Air Transport Squadron, which sends ballot boxes, transports wounded people, vaccines, military personnel and representatives of Federal Organs, such as the Federal Police and Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis [IBAMA] and provides support to people who are under vulnerable conditions. There is also the Neptune Squadron, which has an aircraft whose main mission is to carry out maritime patrol and performs searches and reconnaissance over the national territory.<blockquote>"Covid was a major logistical operation. We deliver several oxygen cylinders, medicines. This was part of our work" -&nbsp;João Chalella Junior, Army general.</blockquote><h2 style="margin-left:auto;">Northern Military Command covers 20% of the national territory</h2>&nbsp;“The Army never stops. We must be able to accomplish any kind of mission”, guarantees the Northern Military Commander, Army General João Chalella Júnior. According to him, the Amazon is so important to Brazil that, previously, there was only the Amazon Military Command in the region, which was responsible to cover the Western and Eastern sides of the territory. “Due to the strategic importance and some differences between the “two Amazons”, the Northern Military Command (CMN) was inaugurated, in 2013. The mission of the CMN is the defense and protection of the Eastern Amazon, explains Chalella.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/image_9_399bde1b57.webp" alt="image (9).webp" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_image_9_399bde1b57.webp 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_image_9_399bde1b57.webp 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_image_9_399bde1b57.webp 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_image_9_399bde1b57.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>North Military Commander, General of the Army João Chalella Junior&nbsp;(Marcio Nagano / O Liberal)</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;The General points out the work done by the institution at the border areas, the fight against the transnational illicit and actions to support many federal departments and institutions, besides helping in logistic, for instance, providing transportation. “The Army does not function alone. We work together with the Air Force, Navy, and with other institutions, such as IBAMA, FUNAI, among others. We are the “strong arm” and we have another side, which is the “friendly hand”, our motto. The Army’s friendly hand is quite effective. There are also other operations to support indigenous communities”, he says. Furthermore, he highlights the Army help to the Civil Defense, for example, during the flooding seasons in Marabá, when hundreds of residents are affected.Chalella emphasizes that among some important actions, there is the “Agata Operation”, at the border extension; the “Verde Brazil Operation”, which fights against deforestation and illegal mining; and the “Bailique Operation”, aimed at helping municipalities and civil institutions to storage, to board and to distribute water for the residents of the Bailique archipelago, in Amapá state, where there is shortage of clean water during this time of the year, because there is a salinization phenomenon in the waters of the Amazon river, caused by the dry weather.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/image_10_82e24bc47b.webp" alt="image (10).webp" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_image_10_82e24bc47b.webp 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_image_10_82e24bc47b.webp 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_image_10_82e24bc47b.webp 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_image_10_82e24bc47b.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Promotional material / Army</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;The main problem to carry out that kind of mission in the Amazon is the transportation. “There are some roads that are inaccessible during the whole year and the distances traveled are pretty large. For instance, there was a unit operating 1,400 km away from the headquarter, so, during the actions, we have to integrate all the modals, including helicopters, whenever necessary”, he says. According to the General, the pandemic did not stop the actions of the Army. “We are always ready for the extremely hard missions. The covid was a great logistic operation. We delivered many oxygen cylinders and medicines. It was part of our work”, he highlights.Chalella points out that, in order to face the challenges to ensure the defense and protection of the Eastern Amazon, it is essential firstly to provide training for the troop. “For the defense and protection of our Eastern Amazon, we need equipment, resources and well-trained people, ready to step in anytime. “Strong arm and friendly hand” working to guarantee the sovereignty, laws, order, and defense of the country, but we also have to be ready to help the population, working together with other institutions here in the region”, he affirms.The Northern Military Command encompasses the states of Pará, Amapá and North of Tocantins, covering 20% of the national territory.&nbsp;<h2 style="margin-left:auto;">Command of the 4th Naval District: fight against the environmental and transborder crimes</h2>&nbsp;Some of the missions carried out by the 4th Naval District (Com4ºDN) include actions such as, preventing environmental and transborder crimes, in ocean and river areas; implementing and monitoring the enforcement of the laws and regulations in Brazilian Jurisdictional Waters, in the Continental Shelf and in high seas, besides naval inspection and patrolling, including cooperative actions with other government institutions, operating in the states of Amapá, Maranhão, Pará and Piauí. The 4th Command is responsible for the Eastern Amazon area, which is based in Belém. The Command of the 9th Naval District (Com9ºDN) is in charge for the Western Amazon area.According to the Corvette Captain Jean Bergamaschi, in charge for the Training and Communication subsection of the 4th Naval District, the most important mission is to train and use the Navy Force, Air-Naval Force and the Marines to contribute to protect the country, to ensure the constitutional powers, the law, the order, and to support the foreign policy.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/image_11_b3495fbcea.webp" alt="image (11).webp" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_image_11_b3495fbcea.webp 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_image_11_b3495fbcea.webp 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_image_11_b3495fbcea.webp 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_image_11_b3495fbcea.webp 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Corvette Captain&nbsp;Jean Bergamaschi&nbsp; (Marcio Nagano / O Liberal)</figcaption></figure>&nbsp;In practice, riverine operations are carried out to guarantee the defense of the territory, besides actions to ensure the enforcement of the law and order, in cooperation with other government institutions, rescue operations, support to the search and rescue service in the area covered by the Com4ºDN, aiming at preserving the human life in the sea and in the rivers. Other kinds of operations are, for instance, social civic actions, focusing on humanitarian assistance and help to health actions in riverine communities, operations in partnership with other Navies, focusing on supporting the foreign policy.&nbsp;In 2021, the main actions were the patrols in rivers and seas; search and rescue operations, and the Agata operation, which aimed at intensifying the presence of the state at the land and sea borders. Bergamaschi also pointed out the “Operação Verde Brasil 2” [Green Brazil Operation 2], to fight deforestation, fires and illegal mining, another operation was “Samaúma”, with the purpose of helping to prevent fires and illegal deforestation in the Amazon; lastly, “Pão da Vida operation”, focusing on reducing the problems faced by the marajoara population under social vulnerability conditions, which was increased during the covid-19 pandemic.The Corvette Captain Jean Bergamaschi states that one of the main problems is the large extension of area covered in the operations, and the complexity about them, since they include both sea and river areas, each one has certain specificities. “There are around 5,500 km of navigable rivers. Those dimensions demand a complex logistic support, proper equipment and highly trained people”, he explains.

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Army, Navy and Air Force carry out integrated actions towards the overcoming of continental distances, guaranteeing the fight against crime and humanitarian aid to the peoples of the region

Order and Strategy in Protecting the Amazon

The more studies about the Amazon deepen, the more scientists and researchers discover endemic characteristics responsible for maintaining the biome.&nbsp;Paru State Forest (Flota do Paru), located on the border of Pará and Amapá states, is a good example of the Amazon region uniqueness.&nbsp;Listen to the podcast:<div class="raw-html-embed"><iframe src="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/liberal-amazon/embed/episodes/LIBERAL-AMAZON-48-Giant-trees-e204j8n/a-a9fbech" height="102px" width="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></div>It was precisely at this site that the Amazon Institute of People and the Environment (Imazon) discovered, in September 2022, the tallest tree in the region: a sample of angelim-vermelho (Dinizia excelsa), approximately 400 years old, 9.9 meters in circumference and 88.5 meters in height.&nbsp;It is the equivalent of a 30-story building. Much bigger than some monuments that many people dream of having a photo next to, such as Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro (38 meters) and the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy (57 meters).&nbsp;This tree would be, in itself, a remarkable discovery.&nbsp;"But what we discovered there was a sanctuary of giant trees, some of them over 70 meters tall, when they are usually 25 or 30", says Jakeline Pereira, a forestry engineer who is part of the management council of the State Forest, which has 36 thousand square kilometers.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Maior_arvore_da_Amazonia_foi_localizada_em_setembro_de_2022_na_Flora_do_Paru_no_Para_E_um_angelim_vermelho_com_88_5_metros_de_altura_e_quase_10_metros_de_circunferencia_Foto_Havita_Rigamonti_Imazon_Ideflor_1_de58623dd1.j" alt="Maior árvore da Amazônia foi localizada em setembro de 2022 na Flora do Paru, no Pará. É um angelim-vermelho com 88,5 metros de altura e quase 10 metros de circunferência (Foto_ Havita Rigamonti_Imazon_Ideflor)(1).jpg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Maior_arvore_da_Amazonia_foi_localizada_em_setembro_de_2022_na_Flora_do_Paru_no_Para_E_um_angelim_vermelho_com_88_5_metros_de_altura_e_quase_10_metros_de_circunferencia_Foto_Havita_Rigamonti_Imazon_Ideflor_1_de58623dd1.jpg 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Maior_arvore_da_Amazonia_foi_localizada_em_setembro_de_2022_na_Flora_do_Paru_no_Para_E_um_angelim_vermelho_com_88_5_metros_de_altura_e_quase_10_metros_de_circunferencia_Foto_Havita_Rigamonti_Imazon_Ideflor_1_de58623dd1.jpg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Maior_arvore_da_Amazonia_foi_localizada_em_setembro_de_2022_na_Flora_do_Paru_no_Para_E_um_angelim_vermelho_com_88_5_metros_de_altura_e_quase_10_metros_de_circunferencia_Foto_Havita_Rigamonti_Imazon_Ideflor_1_de58623dd1.jpg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Maior_arvore_da_Amazonia_foi_localizada_em_setembro_de_2022_na_Flora_do_Paru_no_Para_E_um_angelim_vermelho_com_88_5_metros_de_altura_e_quase_10_metros_de_circunferencia_Foto_Havita_Rigamonti_Imazon_Ideflor_1_de58623dd1.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>The tallest tree in the Paru Forest is a 400-year-old angelim-vermelho, 88.5 meters high (Havita Rigamonti/Imazon/Ideflor)</figcaption></figure>Jakeline Pereira is a researcher at Imazon and has been working for 15 years in the region, where she’s carried out socioeconomic surveys and cataloged physical aspects, such as relief and hydrography.&nbsp;She describes the area as a very dense and closed forest, with tall trees and very large leaves, surrounded by rivers with lots of waterfalls and rapids, which prevent the passage of speedboats at certain points.&nbsp;"There are some high terrains with huge stone walls. And there are also areas with mountains, not to mention the part we call the Amazonian cerrado. It's beautiful", she reports.Surveys performed Imazon's Deforestation Alert System, which monitors the region via satellite, show that the forest has already lost 46.5 square kilometers of vegetation cover since 2008.&nbsp;However, data from the Project for Monitoring Deforestation in the Legal Amazon by Satellite of the National Institute for Space Research, indicate a larger number: 74 square kilometers.&nbsp;The information does not surprise Jakeline Pereira. According to the researcher, the southern region of the conservation unit has been the focus of deforestation.<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:38.67%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Jakeline_Pereira_Daisy_Feio_Imazon_14a6fa6737.jpeg" alt="Jakeline Pereira (Daisy Feio-Imazon).jpeg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Jakeline_Pereira_Daisy_Feio_Imazon_14a6fa6737.jpeg 117w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Jakeline_Pereira_Daisy_Feio_Imazon_14a6fa6737.jpeg 375w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Jakeline_Pereira_Daisy_Feio_Imazon_14a6fa6737.jpeg 563w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Jakeline_Pereira_Daisy_Feio_Imazon_14a6fa6737.jpeg 750w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Engineer Jakeline Pereira has worked in the region for 15 years and is a member of the management council of the State Forest (Daisy Feio/Imazon)</figcaption></figure>"In 2022 deforestation broke out. The government has not yet taken action. It has not gone to the area to remove people, nor has it fined anyone. And they are not traditional populations. They are people from the South and Southeast of Brazil who arrived in the municipality from Prainha to place cattle, plant corn. They saw an opportunity and started to do Rural Environmental Registry in a conservation unit, which is illegal. The danger is that it is precisely where we saw the new chestnut areas and there are already squatters collecting toll. Mining activities are also advancing, opening up clearings and creating risk due to mercury. We have already mapped two thousand people working in mining", warns the researcher.The Rural Environmental Registry is a device that demarcates rural property areas and is self-reporting.&nbsp;After campaigns and pressure from environmental activists, the State Secretariat for the Environment and Sustainability canceled 456 registrations in December 2022. This report has contacted the public body, but received no response so far.<h2>Sustainable production</h2>Since 2006, the Paru State Forest has been a conservation unit designated for the sustainable use of natural resources, with 425,000 hectares predetermined for forest management carried out via concession and intended for extractivists who have authorization to explore products such as chestnut, copaiba, andiroba and camu-camu.&nbsp;According to Jakeline Pereira, sustainable production is essential for maintaining the forest.&nbsp;She even recalls that more and more areas of chestnut groves have been discovered by farmers who are exploring the forest, which is important for generating jobs and income in the region."When we talk about a conservation unit, people think that it is something untouched, that prevents development. It is an outdated view. The Paru Flota is being used and generates income in a legal and supervised way. It generates royalties per cubic meter of wood for each municipality where it crosses and we hope that one day it becomes a place for adventure tourism, for people to visit the trees and rapids. Furthermore, family farming already existed before the creation of the unit and these families were mapped and continue working until today", says Jakeline Pereira.<h2>"Supporting our activity is supporting the standing forest "</h2>Maria Jorge Tavares, 68, is an extractivist. Maria and her children alongside, continue an activity learned from her father and which has been passed on from generation to generation: the chestnut harvesting.&nbsp;The operation is complex. Most of the chestnut collectors who work on the banks of the Paru River, which gives its name to the state forest, live far away from the collection sites.&nbsp;Maria, for example, lives in Laranjal do Jari, in the south of the state of Amapá. She and her family need eight days just to reach the chestnut grove, where they camp for around five months, always between the months of February and August, the harvest period in the region.Working hours usually run from eight in the morning to five in the afternoon. The chestnuts are taken on rafts to the district of Monte Dourado, in the municipality of Almeirim, in Pará.&nbsp;Sixty kilos of raw Brazil nuts reached R$1,000 at the peak of the covid-19 pandemic. Now, the price is around R$ 200.<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:69.11%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Maria_Jorge_Tavares_Arquivo_pessoal_e8492ee1c7.jpeg" alt="Maria Jorge Tavares (Arquivo pessoal).jpeg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Maria_Jorge_Tavares_Arquivo_pessoal_e8492ee1c7.jpeg 208w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Maria_Jorge_Tavares_Arquivo_pessoal_e8492ee1c7.jpeg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Maria_Jorge_Tavares_Arquivo_pessoal_e8492ee1c7.jpeg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Maria_Jorge_Tavares_Arquivo_pessoal_e8492ee1c7.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Maria Jorge's family has lived off the chestnut harvest for generations (Personal archive)</figcaption></figure>Maria Jorge says that production faces several obstacles, ranging from the difficulty of getting around and the lack of roads in the region to the few credit opportunities, which, according to her, have decreased in recent years.&nbsp;"I wanted the Federal Government to look at us. In the previous government, it was four years without funding and support. So, we are hopeful now that the government has changed. A lot of money was blocked, zero loans for family farming. Supporting our activity is supporting the standing forest. I was born here and so were my children. We and the forest are one. Who would take better care of the forest than someone born in it?" asks Maria, who started picking chestnuts at the age of 11 and says she doesn't intend to stop anytime soon. Manager of social operations at Jari Foundation, an entity that provides technical assistance to workers in the region, Jorge Rafael Almeida estimates that more than 600 families have already been impacted by the actions, although he points out that extractivists need more support.&nbsp;According to him, the price of nuts often fluctuates and the harvest period lasts less than half of the year."We also work to prevent that extractivists depend on middlemen, who pay for gasoline and transport, however, in return, define the price of the product. It becomes a “sistema de aviamento” [goodwill business system] that predominates in the majority part of the Amazon. The solution for this is providing easier credit. There are several successful cases of people who started to pay for their own operation with the help of the banks. Encouraging the family economy is one of the keys to preserve the Flota do Paru", states Jorge Rafael, who is also a member of the managing board of the Flota do Paru.<h2>Saharan dust fertilizes the Amazon</h2>It is agreeable to say that the last time South America and Africa were connected was more than 240 million years ago, when all the solid land of the planet was a single continent which gradually separated, named Pangea.&nbsp;But that's not quite the case: the two continents are still intrinsically linked, thanks to the dust of the Sahara Desert, which travels taken by the rains to the Amazon.&nbsp;"The Amazon is integrated into the atmosphere of the planet as a whole. In addition to exporting water vapor and biogenic aerosols, it absorbs greenhouse gases and also receives nutrients that come from the Sahara Desert along with dust and emissions from fires, including spores and small seeds from species that are abundant in Africa," says Paulo Artaxo, a physicist and climate scientist who is vice-president of Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science.<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Paulo_Artaxo_Foto_Jardel_Rodrigues_SBPC_eacb163bd5.jpg" alt="Paulo Artaxo - Foto Jardel Rodrigues - SBPC.jpg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Paulo_Artaxo_Foto_Jardel_Rodrigues_SBPC_eacb163bd5.jpg 234w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Paulo_Artaxo_Foto_Jardel_Rodrigues_SBPC_eacb163bd5.jpg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Paulo_Artaxo_Foto_Jardel_Rodrigues_SBPC_eacb163bd5.jpg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Paulo_Artaxo_Foto_Jardel_Rodrigues_SBPC_eacb163bd5.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Paulo Artaxo explains that the Amazon is integrated into the atmosphere of the planet as a whole &nbsp;(Jardel Rodrigues/SBPC)</figcaption></figure>The phenomenon affects mainly the extreme north of the Amazon, where Flota do Paru is located, but it is an event that has also been registered in urban and more centralized areas, such as Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas state, where Paulo Artaxo and the group of researchers he coordinates found the first evidence of Saharan dust in the region 25 years ago.&nbsp;According to Artaxo, the phenomenon is very important for the fertilization of the biome.In 2015, NASA, the United States space agency, published a study stating that the desert annually sends 22 thousand tons of phosphorus to the Amazon, a nutrient found in commercial fertilizers and essential for the growth of the forest, with strong, tall and resistant trees.&nbsp;It is almost the same amount that the forest produces from the decomposition of fallen trees. According to the agency, this replacement of phosphorus is important, as the heavy rains in the region "wash" nutrients from the soil.The dust which is the richest in phosphorus comes from the Bodélé depression in Chad, which was a lake that dried up a thousand years ago.&nbsp;According to NASA, every year 690,000 trucks of sand cross the Atlantic Ocean towards South and Central America due to the dynamics of the rains. About 28 million tons of that total volume fall into the Amazon Basin.&nbsp;"But not just dust and phosphorus, which is a fertilizer. There are several microorganisms, viruses, bacteria, fungi. We are quantifying the impact of this event on biodiversity, measuring the elemental compositions of the aerosols that reach the forest", says Artaxo.Information on rainfall is preliminary: on average, it drops 52 milligrams per square meter (mg/m2) of iron, 21 mg/m2 of magnesium and 0.97 mg/m2 of phosphorus, partially balancing the volume of nutrients that the Amazon River transports from the forest to the sea. The study is conducted by the University of São Paulo (USP) in collaboration with researchers from China, the United States and Germany.<h2> Forest land connects trees</h2>In addition to receiving the dust of a desert five thousand kilometers away, the Amazon also has the support of the mycorrhizal network to remain robust.&nbsp;It is a cluster of fungi that interacts underground and allow the exchange of nutrients from one plant to another.&nbsp;The system was kindly nicknamed: wood wide web, in reference to world wide web, the original name of the internet, replacing “world” by “wood”.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Maior_arvore_da_Amazonia_foi_localizada_em_setembro_de_2022_na_Flora_do_Paru_no_Para_Foto_Havita_Rigamonti_Imazon_Ideflor_1_a459887c1b.jpg" alt="Maior árvore da Amazônia foi localizada em setembro de 2022 na Flora do Paru, no Pará (Foto_ Havita Rigamonti_Imazon_Ideflor) (1).jpg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Maior_arvore_da_Amazonia_foi_localizada_em_setembro_de_2022_na_Flora_do_Paru_no_Para_Foto_Havita_Rigamonti_Imazon_Ideflor_1_a459887c1b.jpg 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Maior_arvore_da_Amazonia_foi_localizada_em_setembro_de_2022_na_Flora_do_Paru_no_Para_Foto_Havita_Rigamonti_Imazon_Ideflor_1_a459887c1b.jpg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Maior_arvore_da_Amazonia_foi_localizada_em_setembro_de_2022_na_Flora_do_Paru_no_Para_Foto_Havita_Rigamonti_Imazon_Ideflor_1_a459887c1b.jpg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Maior_arvore_da_Amazonia_foi_localizada_em_setembro_de_2022_na_Flora_do_Paru_no_Para_Foto_Havita_Rigamonti_Imazon_Ideflor_1_a459887c1b.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>The sanctuary of giant trees in the Paru Forest has unique characteristics (Havita Rigamonti/Imazon)</figcaption></figure> This happens because the mycorrhizal network actually sends messages from one tree to the other, as if it were connected via Wi-Fi, informing about occurrences in the region, climate, winds, deaths of plants in the surroundings and also pest attacks. Fungi act as defenders and release chemical signals to alert neighboring species. According to scientist and professor of forest ecology at the University of British Columbia, Suzanne Simard, 90% of plants have good relationships with fungi, that is, one depends on the other in order to live.&nbsp;In more dense forests, such as the Amazon, it is possible to observe a fine web on the forest floor, called vegetative mycelium, which largely contributes to sustaining and absorbing nutrients. Simard's discoveries are compiled in the book "Finding the mother tree: discovering the wisdom of the forest". "It's no exaggeration to say that this is a super-fast route for data traffic, bringing together a large population of diverse and dispersed individuals," she said in an interview with the BBC. &nbsp;

Maior árvore da Amazônia foi localizada em setembro de 2022 na Flora do Paru, no Pará (Foto:Havita Rigamonti/Imazon_Ideflor)

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Maior árvore da Amazônia foi localizada em setembro de 2022 na Flora do Paru, no Pará  (Foto:Havita Rigamonti/Imazon_Ideflor)

The conservation area in the state of Pará, is an example of how endemic characteristics make the Amazon region so unique

Parú: a complex ecosystem shaded by giant trees

The state of Pará, responsible for 94% of all açaí harvested in Brazil in 2022, produced more than 1.3 million tons of the fruit last year.&nbsp;The potential of açaí, however, goes beyond that of a food. The more researchers delve into its properties and composition, the more they discover new and sustainable features.&nbsp;Researcher Raphaela Castro, from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), has developed a biofilm from açaí that can replace plastics in several functions.&nbsp;The benefits are many: in addition to taking advantage of an abundant element in the region, the açaí biofilm is biodegradable, that is, it will not remain on the planet for centuries after use, causing pollution. The degradation time of the product elaborated by Raphaela is 180 days."We will still do a lot of analysis for the application of the product, how it can be used in everyday life or in the cosmetics industry. We also need to go deeper into studies of durability. But the initial results are promising. If we need a small amount of biofilm, we were able to produce it in up to 24 hours. The process is relatively quick. Many things are discarded without knowing their real potential. We hope to revert this", says Raphaela, who is studying chemical engineering and is a scientific initiation scholarship holder.Castro also points out that the biofilms found in nature are bacterial. They attach to some surface and create a kind of film, keeping a connection through an extracellular polymeric substance to evolve.They form a layer in a process similar to what fungi do with food.&nbsp;As for the açaí biofilm, produced in the laboratory, the differences consist in the composition of elements, in the temperature and in the adequate time for the formation and use of polyol to acquire the bioplastic structure.&nbsp;Polyol is type of alcohol used to manufacture polyurethane, employed in the production of flexible foams, such as mattresses, for example.Davi do Socorro is a professor at the Chemical Engineering faculty of at the Federal University of Pará and was a supervisor of the project that developed the product.&nbsp;He says that the procedures started with the acquisition of açaí pulp in Belém. The product, then, underwent a drying phase in an oven so that the açaí oil could be extracted using a hydraulic press.Vacuum filtration was also necessary to eliminate some impurities.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Raphaela_Castro_e_David_Brasil_Foto_Thiago_Gomes_28_dbcd486c58.JPG" alt="“Many things are discarded without the awareness of their real potential. We hope to reverse this" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Raphaela_Castro_e_David_Brasil_Foto_Thiago_Gomes_28_dbcd486c58.JPG 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Raphaela_Castro_e_David_Brasil_Foto_Thiago_Gomes_28_dbcd486c58.JPG 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Raphaela_Castro_e_David_Brasil_Foto_Thiago_Gomes_28_dbcd486c58.JPG 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Raphaela_Castro_e_David_Brasil_Foto_Thiago_Gomes_28_dbcd486c58.JPG 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>“Many things are discarded without the awareness of their real potential. We hope to reverse this", says Raphaela Castro (Thiago Gomes/O Liberal)</figcaption></figure>For now, every detail about the production of the açaí biofilm goes through the patent registration process at National Institute of Industrial Property, which can take up to two years to complete."The aspect of the biofilm is promising because it can be used in different ways, from packaging to the cosmetics industry. Just like açaí, the biofilm is versatile. It results from years of work. It's an achievement that may produce many consequences for the Amazon, because it adds value to our biodiversity, expands the possibilities of bioeconomy", says Davi, who is coordinator of the Laboratory of Biosolutions and Bioplastics of the Amazon, and who has also studied the use of other Amazonian inputs, such as andiroba and Brazil nuts.<h2>Açai can be turned into cement</h2>The term "ecological cement" has gained more and more strength around the world, in the wake of concern about the high levels of pollution caused by civil construction.&nbsp;In Brazil, the cement industry was responsible for 29.7% of carbon dioxide emissions from industrial processes in 2012.&nbsp;Globally, 7% of all carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere has the signature of the cement industry, according to data from the Global Concrete and Cement Association.This is because cement, which works as a glue for the granules and sand that make up concrete, is mainly composed by clinker, a product obtained by calcining limestone and clay in an oven at 1,400 degrees Celsius.&nbsp;When burned, limestone releases carbon dioxide. And every ton of cement releases nearly a ton of CO2 into the atmosphere.Numbers have been decreasing year after year, largely due to the use of biomass, a fact that has inspired professor Paulo Sérgio Lima Souza for 20 years.&nbsp;He is a professor at the Federal University of Pará and has a doctorate focused on research on additions of sustainable elements to cement.&nbsp;The idea of ​​using açaí for cement production came after he saw researchers in Rio Grande do Sul trying to make cement with rice husks.&nbsp;They are similar processes: calcination is performed to remove the organic material and the ash is removed to replace the clinker."It's a technique that needs to be carried out with certain criteria, such as a controlled temperature, for example, 500 degrees Celsius. It's not something simple. But it's a very good material when it goes through this well-controlled and rigid processing. You can observe that there is quality when compared with the commercial elements already used", points out Lima.<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Professor_Paulo_Sergio_Foto_Thiago_Gomes_73_3ad2edca73.JPG" alt="20230327LIBAMAZONAÇAÍ - Professor Paulo Sérgio - Foto Thiago Gomes (73).JPG" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Professor_Paulo_Sergio_Foto_Thiago_Gomes_73_3ad2edca73.JPG 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Professor_Paulo_Sergio_Foto_Thiago_Gomes_73_3ad2edca73.JPG 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Professor_Paulo_Sergio_Foto_Thiago_Gomes_73_3ad2edca73.JPG 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Professor_Paulo_Sergio_Foto_Thiago_Gomes_73_3ad2edca73.JPG 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>“The açaí seed transformed into silica can be used in concrete making. If it's an economically viable alternative or not, only time will tell", states Paulo Sérgio Lima Souza</figcaption></figure>The professor points out that the main challenge of the project is to guarantee a high-quality burning, since the açaí seed needs to be burnt for a long time, due to its high heat retention power."We used to have useful ovens at the Civil Engineering Laboratory, but at first we faced problems with the quality of the burning. Later, we got the information that in the city of Castanhal there were already açaí seeds being burnt. There was no strict control either, but the process was extremely clean and free of contaminants. We got these ashes and went on grounding in order to make them more adequate. It is this silica that gives more resistance and durability to concrete", he says.Currently, Paulo seeks to recreate the research group focused on açaí, which was paused during the covid-19 pandemic. His aim is to start studies and tests from scratch.&nbsp;The expectation, according to him, is that the research developed at the institution can lead to a less polluting production by industries."Technically speaking, we think it's possible, as we managed to transform the açaí seed into silica to be used in concrete. If it's an economically viable alternative or not, only time will tell, because we don't have enough açai seeds for large-scale production yet. At the University, we don't make industries, but we point out technical guidelines for the private initiative to turn the ideas functional and robust", he says.<h2>Açai properties can treat injuries</h2>Since she arrived at the physiotherapy college, researcher Áurea Gabriela has been interested in the use of açaí for the treatment of injuries.&nbsp;Initially, she treated intratendinous injections, precisely in the heel.&nbsp;At this time, the literature already demonstrated the positive effects of açaí on injuries, but the injections made Áurea curious: what if it were possible to have a less invasive treatment with açaí?"It was by searching for a more clinical application that we developed the gel. Topical use was very positive and we noticed reduction in the number of inflammatory cells, improvement in the organizational pattern of the tissue and evolution in the orientation of collagen.&nbsp;In addition to these aspects, we observed improvement in body movement functions, such as walking. It is really positive that it can be used in musculoskeletal injuries in the future", says the researcher.So far, the tests are only carried out with laboratory mice. Áurea says it is a meticulous process, which has to be approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Pará, as animals are being used in the experiences.&nbsp;Another alternative is the purchase of açaí extract for the formulation of the gel with a specific concentration of 10%, obtained from chemical and dilution calculations.&nbsp;"We place the mouse on a board and film the animal to see the walking pattern during the most acute period of the injury, between 7 and 14 days", says Áurea, who is already planning a doctorate course in which she intends to go deeper in the biochemical study on the gel.<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Aurea_Gabriela_Mendes_branco_e_a_Prof_Suellen_Moraes_roxo_FOTO_THIAGO_GOMES_17_432271c777.JPG" alt="20230327LIBAMAZONAÇAÍ - Aurea Gabriela Mendes (branco) e a Prof Suellen Moraes -(roxo) FOTO THIAGO GOMES (17).JPG" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Aurea_Gabriela_Mendes_branco_e_a_Prof_Suellen_Moraes_roxo_FOTO_THIAGO_GOMES_17_432271c777.JPG 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Aurea_Gabriela_Mendes_branco_e_a_Prof_Suellen_Moraes_roxo_FOTO_THIAGO_GOMES_17_432271c777.JPG 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Aurea_Gabriela_Mendes_branco_e_a_Prof_Suellen_Moraes_roxo_FOTO_THIAGO_GOMES_17_432271c777.JPG 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_20230327_LIBAMAZONACAI_Aurea_Gabriela_Mendes_branco_e_a_Prof_Suellen_Moraes_roxo_FOTO_THIAGO_GOMES_17_432271c777.JPG 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>“It is really positive that it can be used in musculoskeletal injuries in the future", points out Áurea Gabriela</figcaption></figure>Advisor Suellen Moraes, who works as a professor in the physiotherapy program at the Federal University of Pará, affirms that studies evidencing açaí as a powerful anti-inflammatory are gaining increased relevance."Inside the composition of the fruit, there are some molecules with already well-known, very anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties, such as quercetin. In addition to other flavonoids that act in the body protecting and contributing to biological processes. The aim is to use it for repairing process of tendinous injuries, in the regions of insertion of some muscles, which are called tendinitis, especially those caused by repetitive movement, sports, tendon ruptures. Both in sports practice and in repetitive work, the structures suffer a degeneration process. So, what we seek is to develop therapeutic solutions", says Moraes.According to Suellen, a member of the institution’s Laboratory of Experimental Neuropharmacology, the expectation is to apply the gel in humans in the future, and this will demand more investments.According to her, there is no lack of knowledge nor dedicated people in the region to develop bioproducts with açaí and other raw materials.&nbsp;"We need resources and technology, sectors where the Amazon suffers from a significant deficit in relation to the rest of the country. We have human resources, very qualified researchers. But we need more public calls and funding grants for science. Our studies are local but they can impact world problems", she argues.Áurea agrees that doing research in the Amazon is not easy. But she remains inspired and feels proud to use such an identity element of Amazonian culture in a research that can improve people's lives."Everything is expensive and onerous, from solutions and reagents to biochemical dosage kits. But what moves me is the expectation of taking these results outside the university. We want our work to go beyond publication in scientific journals, we want society to be able to benefit from our research".<h2>Listen:</h2>In the excerpt from the song by João Gomes and Nilson Chaves, the authors talk to the açaí about its saga. &nbsp;The fruit rolls in bowls and is sacrificed by the crushing. It is taken as holy fruit as it is the main food of those who have very little. Some call it açaizeiro and others call it juçara "And your fruit rolls to our bowls You give yourself to sacrifice Holy fruit, martyr fruit You are the gift of being much where many have nothing Some call you açaizeiro Others call you juçara"<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgO5bXXsE70"><div style="position: relative; padding-bottom: 100%; height: 0; padding-bottom: 56.2493%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UgO5bXXsE70" style="position: absolute; width: 100%; height: 100%; top: 0; left: 0;" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></figure>

Castro and Brasil developed biofilm made of açaí (Thiago Gomes)

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That açaí is tasty and can even replace a meal, everyone from Pará knows. But researchers from local universities are developing açaí-derived products that go far beyond cuisine. Uses range from an injury-treatment gel to a fully biodegradable biofilm and even cement.

As versatile as açaí

Several politicians, corporations, researchers and environmentalists believe that the carbon market is the surest bet to combat climate change in the 21st century.&nbsp;It is a mechanism to remunerate companies capable of reducing the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, as well as other gases that potentiate the greenhouse effect.In a state-regulated market, there would be a maximum carbon emissions cap allowed for each company or sector.&nbsp;Companies emitting more carbon than allowed could compensate for the excess by buying carbon credits from companies that emit less gases than the ceiling throughout the production process.Estimates point to extensive economic gains: according to the business consultancy McKinsey &amp; Company, with so many areas of forest, especially in the Amazon, Brazil can generate up to R$ 26 billion per year in carbon credits. Practice-oriented forestry projects may create 1.5 million jobs by 2030.In the Amazon, most carbon credit projects are focused on forest preservation, as deforestation is the main source of carbon emissions in the region.&nbsp;Likewise, the "sequestration" of carbon, aims at the recovery of degraded areas through reforestation processes.&nbsp;However, this market is still not regulated in Brazil. Meanwhile, the alternative is the so-called voluntary market, operated by companies interested in the environmental agenda and without arbitration by public entities.João Daniel Macedo Sá – lawyer and &nbsp;expert in environmental law – recalls that Brazil already has a national policy to combat climate change since 2009, and it’s also a signatory to the Paris Agreement, a global pact to reduce emissions.“We had, in the previous government (of former President Jair Bolsonaro), a certain turbulence in what concerns environmental goals and financing in contrast with other countries, due to the lack of resources allocation in public policies to face the climate crisis. But now I see that Brazil is once again treating the environmental agenda as a priority", evaluates Macedo Sá, who is a professor in the graduate program at the Law School of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA).&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/20230424_ATUCARBONO_Dr_Joao_Daniel_Macedo_Advogado_Foto_Carmem_Helena_120_041f4def55.JPG" alt="20230424ATUCARBONO - Dr João Daniel Macedo, Advogado - Foto Carmem Helena (120).JPG" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_20230424_ATUCARBONO_Dr_Joao_Daniel_Macedo_Advogado_Foto_Carmem_Helena_120_041f4def55.JPG 234w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_20230424_ATUCARBONO_Dr_Joao_Daniel_Macedo_Advogado_Foto_Carmem_Helena_120_041f4def55.JPG 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_20230424_ATUCARBONO_Dr_Joao_Daniel_Macedo_Advogado_Foto_Carmem_Helena_120_041f4def55.JPG 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_20230424_ATUCARBONO_Dr_Joao_Daniel_Macedo_Advogado_Foto_Carmem_Helena_120_041f4def55.JPG 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>"The big challenge is to show that we are able to make the projects and people know that they are paying for something valid", João Daniel Macedo Sá (Carmem Helena/O Liberal)</figcaption></figure>In his view, the challenge now is to approve a well-defined policy, which determines what will remain in or out the ‘regulated market’, since most current projects in the voluntary market are financed by international organizations. He alerts there are several obstacles ahead. Public policies still lack incentives as well as explicit directions from the government.&nbsp;"Moreover, many people do not know how the authenticity of credits works. The big challenge is to show we are able to develop projects and make people aware that they are paying for something valid. This is a little costly, but it has economic return. Both companies and individuals are a little afraid of making investments in something that is not regulated, because nobody knows how long it will be worth, or how. The carbon credit is a financial and environmental asset", he says, also pointing out the generation of profit through carbon credits must also result in taxation.<h2> Political cost</h2>According to Isabela Morbach, founder of CCS Brasil, an organization focused on sustainable development via carbon capture, Brazil is starting to run into losses.&nbsp;She recalls, however, that although there is a positive atmosphere surrounding the issue, the political cost of setting gas emission ceilings for companies can be very high."Despite of being done in a cautious way, going through a transition, a ceiling will be defined. So, there must be an effort from different sectors to avoid such low ceilings for emissions in each industry, for example. But it is good to harp on the same &nbsp;string that having an emissions ceiling does not necessarily define a lower production. It, in fact, defines a higher cost according to the emissions. That is, those who do not produce sustainably will have a more costly production, as they will need to buy credits from carbon. Those who invest in clean production will incur lower costs", she points out.<h2> Experiences around the world can guide Brazil</h2> Isabela Morbach, who holds a PhD in regulation of carbon capture and storage at Imperial College, London, believes that observing international experiences comparatively can work as a compass for Brazil to initiate regulation.&nbsp;According to her, the European carbon market system is interesting and advanced, as it already shows results in terms of reducing emissions, in addition to being structured through very clear governance, that is, with certifications, inspection, penalties and definition of responsible agency.<figure class="image image-style-side image_resized" style="width:44.35%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Isabela_Morbach_Divulgacao_CCS_Brasil_f2c505d1f2.jpeg" alt="Isabela Morbach (Divulgação_CCS Brasil).jpeg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Isabela_Morbach_Divulgacao_CCS_Brasil_f2c505d1f2.jpeg 131w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Isabela_Morbach_Divulgacao_CCS_Brasil_f2c505d1f2.jpeg 421w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>“We will have to be very careful not to lose competitiveness in the international market”, Isabela Morbach</figcaption></figure>"Another lesson to learn is that, as the market can increase production costs at first, we will have to be very careful not to lose competitiveness in the international market. Europe has defined a border tax, as European companies that already had an obligation to reduce emissions were losing space for companies that export to Europe, originating from countries without regulation on the subject that produce cheaper and not as clean. The United States has a local market in California focused on biofuels. It is an interesting example that can be stimulated here as well", she affirms.<h2>Public pressure</h2>João Daniel Macedo Sá recalls that most countries that regulated carbon emissions put public pressure on companies to adapt. However, Brazil already has one of the highest tax burdens in the world, thus worsening the challenge."We are going to impact the industrial park and this may also impact the consumer. It is a good example of what we call the internalization of externalities, because elements that do not seem to be included in the production account will cost us dearly. We know that this can create a domino effect or take companies out of the country. Therefore, it is important to discuss in depth, and broadly, as it is an inevitable and irreversible process".<h2> Prototypes from other countries are used as models</h2>For Cinthia Caetano, vice president of Future Carbon, a specialized company in carbon projects, there are good models implemented in New Zealand, for example, with ‘land use’ holding a central position in the debate, that is what might happen in Brazil.&nbsp;Other countries in Latin America, such as Costa Rica, Peru and Colombia, are already developing experiences."Brazil has incomparable proportions and territorial differences regarding other countries. Brazil, along with Congo and Indonesia will be the great leaders to inspire the surrounding countries, as they are leaders in their respective basins. Fundamentally, we need to include everyone in the debate. When the “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation” program (REDD+) emerged, I think it excluded private actors. Carbon market is perhaps the best tool to include the logic of buying and selling with a counterpart economy that generates sustainability", she argues. &nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Cinthia_Caetano_Divulgacao_Future_Carbon_6804c501e3.png" alt="Cínthia Caetano (Divulgação_Future Carbon).png" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Cinthia_Caetano_Divulgacao_Future_Carbon_6804c501e3.png 119w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Cinthia_Caetano_Divulgacao_Future_Carbon_6804c501e3.png 382w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Cinthia_Caetano_Divulgacao_Future_Carbon_6804c501e3.png 573w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Cinthia_Caetano_Divulgacao_Future_Carbon_6804c501e3.png 764w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>“Agribusiness is still underused from the point of view of the carbon market. There are many solutions based on nature that promote regenerative chains”, Cinthia Caetano</figcaption></figure>Caetano points out that, currently, around 40% of the Brazilian carbon market is focusing on renewable energies and almost 60% on forests. Agribusiness, on the other hand, accounts for a very small portion, less than 1%, but it has enormous potential. "We can develop renewable energy projects in partnership with rural producers. Agribusiness is still underused from the point of view of the carbon market. There are many solutions based on nature that promote regenerative chains. In the area of energy, there are also many innovations, such as green hydrogen, a next market frontier with great possibilities in the Amazon", she says.She states that despite the effervescence moment involving this issue, especially in the National Congress and in the sphere state governments, there are legit concerns about the carbon market, such as the fear that the production of commodities would be stagnated in Brazil. Cinthia claims that it is possible to increase production without deforesting and without polluting the atmosphere even more. "The cost of not changing the way we live and produce will be much higher".<h2>Carbon market demands precaution in the Amazon</h2>With so much money and publicity involved, fears emerge that the carbon market could generate a rush to buy territories in the Amazon.Researcher Brenda Brito, from the Institute for Man and Environment in the Amazon (Imazon), alerts that the search for regional areas where projects will be installed is still disorderly conducted, most of the times.According to her, there are increasing reports of community leaders and indigenous peoples led to sign contracts with unequal advantages in relation to companies."As there is no regulation, we have seen these practices. A community may live in an agroextractivist project within a state government area and negotiate directly with a company or with an intermediary part. We have recently witnessed a public hearing of the Public Prosecution Office on the subject in Portel, Marajó, where harassment of local communities was reported. &nbsp;This fact resulted in the cancellation of several registers of the Rural Environmental Registry, which, as we know, is self-declaratory. There is demand for the carbon market and this can generate income for our population by means of conservation. But, without regulation, I don't see how this could be managed in an equitable way and effectively benefiting those ones who were born here and take care of the forest. We need to build and disseminate more information about how it works, what fair values are, etc", she points out.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Brenda_Brito_Divulgacao_Imazon_3_6bd7a2cd6b.jpg" alt="Brenda Brito (Divulgação_Imazon 3).jpg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Brenda_Brito_Divulgacao_Imazon_3_6bd7a2cd6b.jpg 234w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Brenda_Brito_Divulgacao_Imazon_3_6bd7a2cd6b.jpg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Brenda_Brito_Divulgacao_Imazon_3_6bd7a2cd6b.jpg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Brenda_Brito_Divulgacao_Imazon_3_6bd7a2cd6b.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>“Without regulation, I don't see how this could be done in an equitable way”, Brenda Brito</figcaption></figure> Brito affirms that the logic of several private projects linked to the private sector will not reduce carbon emissions as urgently as the planet demands. The researcher defends the creation of broad multisectoral guidelines defined by the State."There are several methodological problems in carbon projects, literature shows some inefficiency. The Guardian published a series of essays indicating problems that could greatly impact the Amazon. For instance: it is necessary to show that the area is under pressure from deforestation. Then you prospect how that area could be in 10 years from now and sometimes they inflate the projections, which generates more emission reduction credits. It is bound to generate fictitious reductions. Another problem is “leaking”, when the cause of deforestation migrates to another place far from the project of carbon, opening new sites of destruction. Therefore, it is important to think on macro strategies. Just look at the deforestation figures in the Amazon between 2004 and 2012, when we experienced a vertiginous reduction in the number of trees felled and burned. It is the result of a broad strategy, for sure, one of the greatest climate contributions worldwide. It did not generate carbon credits for companies to increase profits, but it generated other benefits that reached the end chain of those producers who preserve, such as the Amazon Fund", she points out.<h2>Inclusion of peoples from the region is essential</h2>Isabela Morbach highlights that there is a race to access and buy areas in the Amazon. According to her, once a corporation invests money to combat deforestation or to reforest an area, this investment needs to be shared with governments, states, municipalities and the surrounding communities."We always have to remember that in addition to the forest itself, the Amazon is home to almost 30 million Brazilians. If a preservation project is made viable, perhaps the place will no longer be exploited economically and we will give up a series of activities that generate income for the forest peoples. I see a movement by the states, including Pará, to create legal structures that force companies to share the benefits of the carbon market. But everything is still in its initial stages", she says.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/projetos_de_restauracao_da_amazo_5e0db22e62.jpg" alt="projetos-de-restauracao-da-amazo.jpg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_projetos_de_restauracao_da_amazo_5e0db22e62.jpg 209w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_projetos_de_restauracao_da_amazo_5e0db22e62.jpg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_projetos_de_restauracao_da_amazo_5e0db22e62.jpg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_projetos_de_restauracao_da_amazo_5e0db22e62.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Carbon credits: market may be worth R$26 billion to the country</figcaption></figure> In Cinthia Caetano's opinion, the way to include Amazonian peoples in the carbon market lies in encouraging the bioeconomy. According to her, creating mechanisms that value the productive chains related to forest products should be a priority."The issue of land occupation in the Amazon has always been complex and we will need the government to define rules and remuneration well. Historically, we had programs to encourage land grabbing in the past. We live in different times and we need to respect the rights of people in the region. It is not an easy topic and it needs to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Our main challenge with a project in the Amazon is to know if the area is correct, documented, with irrefutable property and to guarantee a close relationship with the project in a positive way", she highlights. For Morbach, the Amazon population needs to anticipate and seek leadership."Local professionals and Amazon society need to qualify and prepare for this new moment. We need consultants and professionals who are from the region, studied the subject and know how to contextualize and understand the complexities of the Amazon. We cannot let a lot of people from outside came here to explain to us how to do it. We need to avoid falling into the same mistakes of the past". &nbsp;

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Carbon credits in the Amazon

Mechanism not yet regulated in Brazil is pointed out as one possible solution for reducing the emission of gases that cause the greenhouse effect

Carbon credits: market may be worth R$26 billion to the country

Despite being originally from the Amazon, for many decades cocoa was synonymous with Bahia, a state in the northeastern region of Brazil that led the production of the fruit without competition.&nbsp;In recent years, however, Pará has consolidated itself as the main producer in the country, not only because of the quantity, which, in 2022, reached 50.68% of all the Brazilian production, but also because the state is the largest bank of genetic material of cocoa in the world, with more than two thousand different genotypes.While the average yield of cocoa per hectare is 469 kilos considering the entire Brazilian territory, in Pará, the figures reach 948 kilos, thanks to a convergence of ideal conditions for production in the state.Hélia Moura closely witnessed each step of the growth of cocoa in the Amazon. In 1996, she married a farmer who already worked with fruit production.&nbsp;She left Manaus, Amazonas, where she used to live towards Medicilândia, in southwest Pará.&nbsp;She felt very inspired by her husband, a man she describes as very curious and eager for knowledge, despite being illiterate.&nbsp;Her involvement with the cocoa plantation grew stronger and, in 2006, she decided to study Agronomy at the Federal University of Pará.Today, Hélia is responsible for running the Transamazônica Agroindustrial Cooperative, which, in 2014, launched the Cacauway brand.&nbsp;Cacauway produces chocolate with raw material extracted from municipalities along the BR-230 highway.&nbsp;Medicilândia, alone, is responsible for 30% for the production in Pará – around 70,000 tons of cocoa beans per year.&nbsp;The 40 members of Transamazônica Agroindustrial Cooperative have the capacity to produce 600 thousand tons per year."Some time ago, people thought the cocoa from Pará was not of good quality. This has fallen to the ground. Today, it is synonymous with excellence and the chocolate from Pará is dominating the contests. It is the reflection of a lot of work, because we are looking more and more attentively for the quality of the product, applying processes, testing new things. We have a wide range of varieties that bring a wonderful terroir that only exists here", says the producer.Robson Brogni is also a producer in Medicilândia who manages the Ascurra farm alongside his wife Sarah.&nbsp;In 1985, Sarah's father, Belmiro, already had more than 9,500 cocoa trees planted in his property, which he bought with a lot of sweat, after years saving money as a banana freighter to Belém.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Chocolate_Ascurra_4_882aeca79b.jpeg" alt="Chocolate Ascurra 4.jpeg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Chocolate_Ascurra_4_882aeca79b.jpeg 208w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Chocolate_Ascurra_4_882aeca79b.jpeg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Chocolate_Ascurra_4_882aeca79b.jpeg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Chocolate_Ascurra_4_882aeca79b.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>“Technically speaking, it has already been proven that the great differential of cocoa from Pará is the high concentration of butter”, points out Robson</figcaption></figure>With the support of his wife, Denilze, the business grew and, in 2023, the family's properties total more than 280,000 cocoa trees.Today, they have their own brand of chocolates and specialize in fine almonds awarded throughout Brazil.&nbsp;"Technically speaking, it has already been proven that the great differential of cocoa from Pará is the high concentration of butter, with percentages above 50%. In the Transamazônica region, this percentage approaches 60%. This greatly values ​​our cocoa in terms of quality ", points out Robson.<h2>Production method makes the difference in Pará</h2>According to producer Robson Brogni, fine cocoa requires a special handling protocol from harvest to storage.&nbsp;The counterpart is the design of a product with high added value compared to conventional cocoa, which generates a financial advance that can reach up to 100% more in the final price.Until today, the Executive Committee of the Cocoa Crop Plan, linked to the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, distributes seeds to farmers for the production of nurseries.&nbsp;This practice has received strong incentives over the last 50 years and was responsible for start of the cocoa plantation in the region of the Transamazon Highway.<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Helia_Moura_Producao_de_cacau_4_dcc6032f2b.jpeg" alt="Helia Moura_Produção de cacau 4.jpeg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Helia_Moura_Producao_de_cacau_4_dcc6032f2b.jpeg 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Helia_Moura_Producao_de_cacau_4_dcc6032f2b.jpeg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Helia_Moura_Producao_de_cacau_4_dcc6032f2b.jpeg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Helia_Moura_Producao_de_cacau_4_dcc6032f2b.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>At four years of age, cacao trees begin to bear fruit, but it becomes edible only at the age of seven (Courtesy: Helia Moura)</figcaption></figure>After six months in nursery, they can be taken to the field for commercial planting, with a spacing of three by three meters, in a way that, each hectare holds a thousand plants, considering spaces for branches, where producers and machines pass.At four years old, the cacao trees begin to bear fruit, but they only become economically viable at seven years old.In addition, temporary shading provided by banana trees is necessary, which ends up generating extra income for farmers, as bunches of bananas begin to appear after a year of planting.Another technique, the seminal system, has been in use for 10 years in the region. The seedlings are grafted, that is, genetically modified with different tissues, creating new plants and increasing the yield according to the variety of the species that the producer prefers.&nbsp;"They are similar processes, but with modified DNA. The farmer wants a more profitable variety, with more volume. But, as an industry, we want a sweeter and less acidic variation. All of this is calculated. Many people insist on planting cocoa in open sunlight, but the Amazonian cacao tree lives under the forest. The cacao tree in open sunlight is more productive, but it generates more costs from the point of view of sanitary control than one planted in an agroforestry system. In addition to banana trees, there are many experiences of associated crops, including cocoa with açaí", says producer Hélia Moura.<h2>Sustainability is an ally of producers in the region</h2>Nowadays, Hélia sees the fact that there are other alternatives to the system known as “cabruca” as positive. It was not itinerant and consisted of cutting down the forest so that cocoa could be planted.&nbsp;"Now cocoa has nothing to do with deforestation anymore. That was 50 years ago. Today, cocoa works as a replacement for the forest. Farmers even transform pastures into areas for cocoa cultivation. The scenario has changed", says Hélia, excited with the Easter egg sales, which triple the cooperative's turnover and guarantee a reserve of resources for the months of lower demand<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:75%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Helia_Moura_Producao_de_cacau_d24a727f74.jpeg" alt="Helia Moura_Produção de cacau.jpeg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Helia_Moura_Producao_de_cacau_d24a727f74.jpeg 208w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Helia_Moura_Producao_de_cacau_d24a727f74.jpeg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Helia_Moura_Producao_de_cacau_d24a727f74.jpeg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Helia_Moura_Producao_de_cacau_d24a727f74.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>The Amazonian cocoa tree lives under the forest shade, generating a sweeter and less acidic variation (Courtesy: Helia Moura)</figcaption></figure>Robson Brogni agrees that cocoa plays an important role for the forest preservation. He recalls it is a crop that does not expose the soil and also helps to collect carbon dioxide.&nbsp;"And a large part of the workforce comes from family farming, a kind of working directly attached to sustainability. The main companies that buy cocoa are paying close attention to the sustainable aspect of the producing farms", he says.However, he points out that fluctuations in the cocoa price are challenging.&nbsp;"Cocoa almonds, like all commodities, depend on local and global factors to set up at a price, established by the daily fluctuation of the dollar and the New York stock exchange, that is, the cocoa producer does not determine the sale price of the product, even with the very frequently price raising of raw materials and workforce in recent times", he evaluates.<h2>Brazil begins to fulfill increasing world demand</h2>Brazil is not self-sufficient in terms of cocoa production, thus it is necessary to import raw materials to meet national demand.&nbsp;Therefore, the New York stock exchange is the reference to set prices and pairing with the international market.&nbsp;At the end of 2022, cocoa prices increased, resulting in a raising of 3.04% of contracts expiring in March 2023, so prices reached US$ 2,606 per ton of cocoa almond.&nbsp;This is evidence of the high demand for the product and that, according to economist Caio Santos, was enhanced by a shortage of raw materials in 2022.&nbsp;There was a deficit of 230 thousand tons in the world, that is, humanity is producing much less cocoa than is consumed.Santos points out some factors: the main responsible for this production are African countries where there were productivity problems, related to the lower use of fertilizers, whose prices increased.Ghana, the second largest producer in the world, is experiencing an unprecedented economic crisis. In addition, the world is going through a demand recovery process.<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:40.85%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Caio_Santos_Divulgacao_Stone_X_Editada_94cf969aba.jpg" alt="Caio Santos (Divulgação_StoneX_Editada).jpg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Caio_Santos_Divulgacao_Stone_X_Editada_94cf969aba.jpg 108w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Caio_Santos_Divulgacao_Stone_X_Editada_94cf969aba.jpg 346w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Caio_Santos_Divulgacao_Stone_X_Editada_94cf969aba.jpg 520w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Caio_Santos_Divulgacao_Stone_X_Editada_94cf969aba.jpg 693w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Santos is a cocoa-related risk management consultant for a financial service company (Courtesy/Stone X)</figcaption></figure>"In 10 years, we expect demand to continue expanding, as it is parallel to the demographic growth. There are still many places in the world without chocolate and as urbanization moves on, the demand tends to increase. And since 2020, we've had the pandemic, the war in Ukraine and China was stopped for a long time due to the covid-19. All this results in a very high increase of the cocoa price", he says.Santos is a cocoa-related risk management consultant for a financial service company.According to Caio, these factors could open doors for cocoa from the Amazon. Brazil is the eighth largest cocoa producer in the world.&nbsp;In comparison, Ivory Coast [Côte d'Ivoire] produces ten times more than the entire Brazilian territory.Brazil, however, is considered as an advantageous region for the expansion of cocoa production, due to the much better conditions compared to the African countries, which are responsible for 70% of world production.&nbsp;This is because the Amazon has ideal conditions for production. In addition, production conditions in Africa are very precarious and there are reports of child labor use and illegal deforestation there."The world wants to reduce this dependence on Africa, as companies are pressured to fight against it. In Brazil, as there is much better structure than in African countries, it is supposed that production can grow in a more sustainable way, with better control of deforestation, proper treatment on the land, and greater control of social issues through legislation and inspection. There is huge international interest and it keeps raising", he says.<h2>Amazon cocoa reaches international heights</h2>When he created the Chocolat Festival in 2009, in Bahia, Marco Lessa felt that the potential of Brazilian cocoa deserved more attention and prestige.&nbsp;At the time, Bahia was the main producer of cocoa in Brazil and was facing a severe crisis due to the witches' broom, a parasitic pest that devastated a large part of the planted area in the state and dropped production from 400,000 to 90,000 tons per year."Our goal was to design a platform for everyone to get to know cocoa, to encourage the verticalization of production and add value, promoting tourism also around production, presenting cocoa as a cultural value of our identity", he says.Since then, the festival has grown and gained more and more international interest.In 2013, the festival landed in Pará and, in 2022, an edition was held in Altamira.&nbsp;An international edition, with the aim of introducing Brazilian cocoa to Europe, was held in Portugal.Since the beginning of the festival, more than 300 chocolate brands have already been created in Brazil. Interest in seeds from the Amazon is constantly growing, according to Lessa.<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Marco_Lessa_5_da8502dbd4.jpeg" alt="Marco Lessa 5.jpeg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Marco_Lessa_5_da8502dbd4.jpeg 208w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Marco_Lessa_5_da8502dbd4.jpeg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Marco_Lessa_5_da8502dbd4.jpeg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Marco_Lessa_5_da8502dbd4.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>&nbsp;Marco Lessa felt that the potential of Brazilian cocoa deserved more attention and prestige (Personal archive)</figcaption></figure>"The Amazon has a very strong marketing appeal, but printing the word “Amazon” on the package is not enough. Cocoa helps to keep the forest standing and there is production by indigenous and riverside peoples. It's a social aspect that the world needs to learn, understand and value. We have unique characteristics in the Trans-Amazon floodplain cocoa, with a very unique flavor. The characteristics of the biome give Amazon cocoa a unique flavor. Cocoa has been domesticated for 5,000 years and it is produced as an agricultural crop for 300 years, but in just a decade, with the support of universities, governments, the press, we promoted a transformation in the production and industrialization of cocoa in the region. The numbers doubled in Pará, with more than 50 brands of chocolates produced", he highlights.For Hélia Moura, witnessing everything that cocoa from the Amazon has become in recent years is a reason for pride.&nbsp;"Cocoa represents life. It is the families’ income, they feel motivated to stay in the countryside, acting like real guardians of the forest. Cocoa has taken us to horizons we’ve never imagined reaching. And we are just getting started".

Helia Moura is proud of how important cocoa from the Amazon became in the last years (personal archive)

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By becoming the main producer in the country, Pará stands out not only for the volume of production, but also for the rich bank of genetic material of the fruit, with more than two thousand different genotypes in the Amazon

Cocoa from Pará conquers the world

A giant fish, symbol of the Amazon fresh waters, pirarucu can reach three meters and exceed 300 kilos.&nbsp;But, if it is up to the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), very soon it will be available in a much more compact version on supermarket shelves.&nbsp;The institution has developed the canned pirarucu fillet, which is now in the final testing phase. According to researcher Alessandra Ferraiolo, some advantages may lead the product to stand out in the market: the species (Arapaima gigas) shows a high growth rate, good adaptation to raising conditions, muscle yield and meat quality, light color, firm texture, smooth taste, in addition to the absence of intramuscular bones and low fat content.&nbsp;Pirarucu also possesses high nutritional value (1.5% lipids, 1% mineral content 1 and 19% proteins), sanitary quality, good sensory acceptance and a longer shelf life.<blockquote>"It is a convenience product, ready for consumption, and does not require the freezing chain for storage, distribution and commercialization. Pirarucu also allows for differentiated cuts, such as medallions. These characteristics make it possible to use the species as an alternative raw material for the canning process in the fish industry, in a market niche of high quality products and high added value", says Ferraiolo.</blockquote>She reports the idea of ​​developing canned pirarucu fillets originated from a project aimed at &nbsp;implementing and validating technologies for pirarucu farming in riverside communities.&nbsp;The objective was to diversify the existing canned fish products on the market, add value and encourage consumption in order to promote the production chain of the species.&nbsp;In the opinion of the head general of Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Walkymário Paulo Lemos, this is a golden opportunity to strengthen the bioeconomy of the Amazon region around an abundant and endemic resource, since many management areas are in riverside communities. Lemos points out that the necessary logistics for pirarucu to reach the domestic context of &nbsp;people from outside the Amazon is expensive and complex, therefore canning would be an asset to overcome these barriers."We asked ourselves why such a meager number of species are offered in canned form. And we thought it would be very positive to have canned fish from the Amazon, as it would allow other people to consume pirarucu much more easily. In Brazil, we only have an abundant supply of canned sardines and tuna, and, eventually, salmon. In other words, there is a gap in the market and I don't see a better and tastier option than pirarucu to fill it. We can generate income for the native people of the Amazon using fish native to the region," he argues.<h2> World interest in fish from the Amazon is notable</h2> In the opinion of Francisco Medeiros, president of &nbsp;Brazilian Fish Farming Association (Peixe BR), the determinant factor for the success or failure of canned pirarucu is the price.&nbsp;He also believes that the impact of the so-called "Amazon brand" and the market niche aimed at conscious consumers focused on supporting small producers and environmentally responsible initiatives can also boost the prestige of the product."We have to improve productivity and competitiveness, and this is subject to research carried out at Embrapa. One of the main products of managed pirarucu is its salty blanket, still sold with low sanitary, economic and organoleptic value. But it is a very noble product to be sold anyway, as in the most cases in Belém. The Amazonians are the ones who buy it, not the rest of the world. But the more research is done, the more products can be developed and the more value is added", he highlights.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Pirarucus_Embrapa_Jefferson_Christofelleti_7b82280462.jpg" alt="Pirarucus (Embrapa_Jefferson Christofelleti).jpg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Pirarucus_Embrapa_Jefferson_Christofelleti_7b82280462.jpg 208w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Pirarucus_Embrapa_Jefferson_Christofelleti_7b82280462.jpg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Pirarucus_Embrapa_Jefferson_Christofelleti_7b82280462.jpg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Pirarucus_Embrapa_Jefferson_Christofelleti_7b82280462.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>"It is a convenience product, ready for consumption, which does not require the freezing chain for storage, distribution and marketing", Alessandra Ferraiolo, researcher</figcaption></figure> For Cassandra Lobato, from the International Business Center of the Federation of Industries of Pará, the world's interest in fish from the Amazon is notable and this visibility tends to increase.&nbsp;In the last 10 years alone, the increase in exports reached 68%, with the United States, Hong Kong and China featuring as main partners.&nbsp;In 2022, while economy recovered, Pará earned US$78 million from the sale of fish to the foreign market, an increase of 1.19% compared to the 2021 result. "The United States doesn't buy as much China, but it is a country with a very wide range of tastes and interests. That is the chance for the Amazonian fishes differential features and exoticism to be noticed. Fish contributes a lot to the diversification of the trade balance in Pará. &nbsp;We already have an established export culture of fish, so this is one more product to strengthen it. We have an intense and continuous work to promote the Amazonian fish in international fairs, help in sanitary adaptations, packaging and marketing. The horizon is promising", she points out.<h2> STUDY</h2> Embrapa evaluated both captive and community-managed fish. Fillets from different parts of its body were used with the aim of investigating whether they all respond positively and equitably to the canning process or whether adaptations would be necessary.&nbsp;Filleted fish were placed in a 3% brine solution, a salt-saturated water used to preserve and enhance flavor.&nbsp;There were also sterilization processes and removal of oxygen, which eliminates excess air vapor and avoids health problems.&nbsp;The canned pirarucu was subjected to sensory analysis and meat acceptance tests carried out with blindfolded volunteers.&nbsp;The canned product of farmed pirarucu was preferred over that made with fish from natural capture. Farmed fish excelled in texture, flavor and overall impression attributes."The conclusion was that the flavor was very well accepted and the fish maintained all its organoleptic characteristics", says Walkymário. The next studies will focus on the analysis of the shelf life and the expectation is that the period during which the product may be kept for sale will be long.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Manejo_comunitario_de_pirarucu_Embrapa_Ronaldo_Rosas_2_c70a6f49f8.jpg" alt="Manejo comunitário de pirarucu (Embrapa_Ronaldo Rosas 2).jpg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Manejo_comunitario_de_pirarucu_Embrapa_Ronaldo_Rosas_2_c70a6f49f8.jpg 234w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Manejo_comunitario_de_pirarucu_Embrapa_Ronaldo_Rosas_2_c70a6f49f8.jpg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Manejo_comunitario_de_pirarucu_Embrapa_Ronaldo_Rosas_2_c70a6f49f8.jpg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Manejo_comunitario_de_pirarucu_Embrapa_Ronaldo_Rosas_2_c70a6f49f8.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>It's a commerce that is increasingly expanding and I don't see any possibility of canned pirarucu not working out", Koji Arima, Partner-owner of Paima Pescados</figcaption></figure>Researches have cataloged other market advantages due to zootechnical characteristics. Pirarucu, for example, is a fish that has a very expressive weight gain during a one-year period - up to 12 kilos -, especially under proper management conditions.&nbsp;This increases the fillet meat availability. In terms of economic advantages, research by Embrapa indicates that pirarucu is twice as profitable as tambaqui and up to 40 times more profitable than buffaloes, cattle and sheep.&nbsp;"And it is an eye-catching meat to look at, due to its white color. We have already started to negotiate with companies about it, in order to sign partnership contracts in the future. Our expectation is that the employed technology will take this innovation to the market and that consumers will enjoy the product", he highlights.<h2> Canned pirarucu is promising, says producer</h2>&nbsp;The positive results of Embrapa's research encourage farmed pirarucu producers. This is the case of Koji Arima, partner-owner of Paima Pescados, located in Benevides.&nbsp;Currently, the company mainly supplies the local market, but Arima is gradually looking to expand its business beyond the borders of Pará.&nbsp;Initially, he produced tambaquis, but the cost-benefit of the production made him change his focus.&nbsp;Today, he coordinates the production of 14 tanks, each one containing between 200 and 250 pirarucu fish.&nbsp;They are kept in geomembrane tanks, in six-meter diameter pools, using a method known as densification."It is a rustic, prehistoric animal that has survived well over time. Farming it is easier, as it is a fish that breathes both through the lungs and through the respiratory gills. So, it does not need very specific oxygen treatment, but we are always changing the water to eliminate impurities. But the fact of not having to worry about water oxygenation is an advantage,' he says.Ajima believes that canned pirarucu is promising because it is something new.&nbsp;He currently works with the slaughter of animals of 10-kilogram in average, a stage he describes as the ideal point for tenderness and protein quality of the meat.&nbsp;Today, Paima company also produces pirarucu leather bags, with the aim of using 100% of the fish."It is an initiative that goes in the same direction as the development of canned fish, as we want to verticalize production more and more. We started to manufacture still a small production, cutting and dyeing is done right here in the property. It is possible to make reasonable profit using previously discarded product. If it has good quality and origin, pirarucu is really a world of possibilities. It's a commerce that is increasingly expanding and I don't see any possibility of canned pirarucu not working out", he points out.The director of Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, Walkymário Paulo Lemos, is looking forward to the studies to be concluded and companies to take the products to supermarket shelves.&nbsp;“We bet high on pirarucu, but we can expand investments to other species. The world is discussing strategic global agendas that are very inclusive concerning the Amazon region. We have plentiful biological richness, but this is not resulting in social income for our population. This technology is friendly to the involvement of local populations in the process of farming pirarucu and can become a great example of our bioeconomic potential, with science being a vector, a partner of this new reality. It seems to me a good indication of what the world is looking for and Pará has a chance to be in the front line."<h2> Canned food dates back to the year 1795</h2>It was during the Napoleonic wars and Franc e's growing need to store food in a more durable and hygienic way that then-Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte offered 12,000 francs to anyone who could create a new food preservation process.&nbsp;Food canning technology was developed in 1795 by French cook Nicolas Appert, who initially used bottles for the process.&nbsp;His name is eternalized in the method, which is known as appertization. He didn't die rich, despite the success of his products, which soon took over the world. In 1810, British trader Peter Durand patented his own method focused only on cans, thus creating the modern food canning process.According to the president of Peixe BR, Brazil is capable of and should expand the canned fish market.&nbsp;He believes that the development of canned pirarucu proves that any food can be sold in cans, as long as there is investment in research to make the products viable.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Pesca_do_Pirarucu_Embrapa_Vinicius_Braga_d2be3eb840.jpeg" alt="Pesca do Pirarucu (Embrapa_Vinicius Braga).jpeg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Pesca_do_Pirarucu_Embrapa_Vinicius_Braga_d2be3eb840.jpeg 104w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Pesca_do_Pirarucu_Embrapa_Vinicius_Braga_d2be3eb840.jpeg 332w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Pesca_do_Pirarucu_Embrapa_Vinicius_Braga_d2be3eb840.jpeg 499w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Pesca_do_Pirarucu_Embrapa_Vinicius_Braga_d2be3eb840.jpeg 665w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Canned food dates back to the year 1795 (Vinicius Braga/Embrapa)</figcaption></figure>"In Belém, fishing boats arrive daily at Ver-o-Peso, with a huge amount of fish of low commercial value, which could be sold in cans. Pirarucu is an exceptional fish, but it is expensive. The initiative is good because it opens doors for other canned food options to be developed. I think this trend can work out, then, it’s probably going to reach more popular kinds of fish", evaluates Francisco Medeiros.Medeiros recalls that, ten years ago, there was a boom in the pirarucu farming system in the state of Rondônia, in northern Brazil, which reached the production of nine thousand tons a year.&nbsp;This increase in cultivation spread throughout the Amazon region, leading to improvements in the pirarucu farming system and becoming an example of successful sustainable fishing worldwide.&nbsp;Whereas the production of farmed pirarucu increases, in a controlled environment and feeding, the production of managed pirarucu, which depends only on fishing line and hook, reduces. But the production cost of farmed fish is higher, and can reach R$ 12 per kilo. On the other hand, managed fish, in the harvest period, costs between R$ 4 and R$ 6 on average."Farmed pirarucu cannot compete with managed pirarucu. We are in favor of management because it is an important sustainability action. In the medium and long term, we see an increase in the supply of managed pirarucu. The consumer is still not willing to pay twice as much for farmed fish, they want to buy it cheaper. Therefore, the production based on farming is still focused on market niches", he says.

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One of the symbols of the Amazon, pirarucu, can exceed three meters in length and weigh over 300 kilos. Embrapa researchers are in the final testing phase of a more compact version of this species, which will fit on supermarket shelves: the canned pirarucu

A giant will fit in a can

Beloved in the popular imagination of the Amazon people, river dolphins [botos] will be object of a study at the Federal Rural University of the Amazon (Ufra) that seeks to better understand the organism of river dolphins and the impact of the interactions with humans on the health of these aquatic mammals in the municipalities of Mocajuba and Cametá in Pará.&nbsp;One species which stands as protagonist of the investigation is the Araguaian river dolphin [Boto do Araguaia - Inia araguaiaensis] – a cetacean recently described in 2014.&nbsp;These mammals inhabit the region of the lower Tocantins River, produce 237 different sounds to communicate and are the third species of river dolphins cataloged in the Amazon.Researcher Layane Maia started her investigation with river dolphins in 2015 and has closely followed the growing interest in the animals.&nbsp;She has also witnessed the intensification of tourism in Mocajuba promoted by them.&nbsp;Now, Layane is developing a doctorate research focused on the health of the species.According to the researcher, her main scientific interest is the hormonal profile of river dolphins, to analyze their metabolic processes.The goal is to check their stress levels, whether there are periods of the day or month when they are likely to be more agitated and what is the relationship between this stress and the sounds they produce, and what each sound signal may represent.&nbsp;<blockquote>"They have a very large vocal repertoire, an indication that there is a very diverse social complexity, with a lot of intelligence, similar to those of the orcas", she points out.</blockquote>The study will last 36 months and is currently in the stage of testing and standardization of protocols and methodologies.&nbsp;The project will also analyze diseases and pathogen risks, as there are doubts about how well the animals' health is ensured during interactions with humans, considering both humans and river dolphins may transmit diseases to each other."There are well-grounded researches about whales, but not yet about river dolphins. We believe that we are going to observe influences depending on more or less visitations. As the animals are in direct context of interaction with humans, we are going to check the issues of water quality and also of pathogens in the intestines, blood and breathing tract of the animals. It will be a thorough health study, important for the preservation of the species", she says.<h2>Study is unprecedented and challenging</h2>Layane evaluates the operation as ambitious. First, because river dolphins are restless beings and taking them out of the water for blood testing will not be an easy task.&nbsp;Second, because scientists will need to examine the animals' spray, that is, their breathing. In river dolphins, breathing occurs through the spiracle, a small hole in the head of the animal that has a function similar to that of the nose.&nbsp;The researchers will need to momentarily cover this hole with a cylindrical container to collect the droplets exhaled at the time of breathing.&nbsp;The third challenge is to create specific methodological procedures, since this is an unprecedented study and without previous literature to ‘teach you the ropes’."We don't even have an estimate of the number of freshwater river dolphins in the Araguaia. Before 2014, we thought that only the pink river dolphin existed here. So, the classification of the species is still vulnerable, and we have few studies", she adds.Professor Frederico Ozanan is also part of the Institute for Biology and Conservation of Aquatic Mammals in the Amazon (BioMA) where Layane works.&nbsp;The institute is an initiative that has gone deeper and deeper into the study of Amazonian river dolphins.For him, cataloging the physiological parameters and organisms functionality of endemic species is important for the world to know that the Amazonian people, themselves, care about the region's ecosystem and that they are fighting to preserve it by scientific means.&nbsp;He agrees that the originality of the study represents a big challenge, but he is confident."They are docile animals and used to humans, but we will need to contain them a bit. This is not easy. We are still studying how all this will work out. It is a risk for those who are handling them and for the animals themselves, as they will be removed from the water. The laboratory work will be easier. There are many people, and many people will be around at the collection site, as it will take place in the center of Mocajuba. It is not possible to say that there is no risk. We have already managed other studies on river dolphins, but not in the same context", recalls Professor Ozanan, who belongs to a team of ten researchers linked to the project, which counts on the support of the Federal University of Alagoas and the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Pesquisadores_e_botos_Ascom_Ufra_166ddd9af8.jpeg" alt="Pesquisadores e botos_Ascom Ufra.jpeg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Pesquisadores_e_botos_Ascom_Ufra_166ddd9af8.jpeg 234w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Pesquisadores_e_botos_Ascom_Ufra_166ddd9af8.jpeg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Pesquisadores_e_botos_Ascom_Ufra_166ddd9af8.jpeg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Pesquisadores_e_botos_Ascom_Ufra_166ddd9af8.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Research investigates secrets of the intelligence and health of the species that charms the region and its visitors (Ascom/Ufra)</figcaption></figure>Angélica Rodrigues, who is also a researcher at BioMA, participated in the first research group on river dolphins in the region, back in 2006. She is happy to see the work she helped to start up growing and gaining momentum."In the beginning, we didn't have any research that told the natural history, occurrence and ecology of the species. That is, people saw the dolphins but there was nothing systematically produced about them. The main obstacle is financial support, so in our group we help each other with both the research and also with fundraising. The North region still has little visibility when it comes to scientific research", affirms Angelica.<h2>Hydroelectric dams and predatory fishing are obstacles to the survival of the species</h2>River dolphins have always been pointed out as endangered species and this scenario is not different with the Araguaian river dolphins.&nbsp;This fragility is explained by the several sources of danger linked to their habitat, the rivers. The number one factor is represented by hydroelectric dams.&nbsp;According to the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel), there are 221 hydroelectric plants operating in the Amazon.&nbsp;There are 27 classified as large, 102 as medium and small and 92 as microgenerators. Another 35 dams are under construction or on the way to construction, including in the Araguaia-Tocantins basin, where the newly discovered river dolphins live.&nbsp;"This creates a risk of geographic isolation, unfortunately. Imagine that: there is the construction of a dam where the animals will no longer be able to move along that stretch of the river, in which they used to have free access. It affects the ecosystem", says Layane Maia.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Researchers_Gabriel_Melo_e_Layane_Maia_have_big_expectations_for_the_study_Layane_Maia_ae3a2802ae.jpeg" alt="Researchers Gabriel Melo e Layane Maia have big expectations for the study (Layane Maia)" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Researchers_Gabriel_Melo_e_Layane_Maia_have_big_expectations_for_the_study_Layane_Maia_ae3a2802ae.jpeg 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Researchers_Gabriel_Melo_e_Layane_Maia_have_big_expectations_for_the_study_Layane_Maia_ae3a2802ae.jpeg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Researchers_Gabriel_Melo_e_Layane_Maia_have_big_expectations_for_the_study_Layane_Maia_ae3a2802ae.jpeg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Researchers_Gabriel_Melo_e_Layane_Maia_have_big_expectations_for_the_study_Layane_Maia_ae3a2802ae.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Layane Maia and Gabriel Melo are excited about the study (Personal file)</figcaption></figure>Conflicts with fishermen also add to the list. The river dolphins have powerful mobility skills and are remarkably fast and dexterous.&nbsp;This is because they do not possess a fused cervical vertebra, a characteristic that gives them great neck and head mobility, something that other dolphins and cetaceans are deprived of.&nbsp;Normally, the Araguaian river dolphins feed themselves in flooded places, such as the igapó forests, right in the middle of the aquatic roots.&nbsp;But, when the fisherman throws the net and the animal perceives the effortless opportunity of getting food, it swims hard towards the fishing equipment, bites it, turns its neck and tears the net.&nbsp;"That is, loss for the fisherman. This competition between fisherman and river dolphins is something that we need to mediate with caution", says Maia.In addition, river dolphin meat is used as bait for fishing picaratinga in the Amazon River basin, an activity that has already led to an estimated killing of 300 to 4,000 river dolphins per year, according to the National Institute for Research in the Amazon (Inpa).&nbsp;Currently, fishing for this species, also known as “douradinha” fish, is prohibited until at least July 2, 2023.&nbsp;Institutions that promote protection of river dolphins are fighting to postpone the expiration date of the law, established in 2015 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply.&nbsp;Fishing for this species is also prohibited in Colombia.<h2>Myths and legends</h2>The folklore that surrounds the image of “botos” is also a challenge for the animals' survival.&nbsp;The legend that they come out of the river and transform into charming men in white clothes and persuasive talk is still powerful in small towns in the interior of the Amazon region.&nbsp;The alleged magical form that the animal disguises itself and the belief that they will impregnate the girls who live along the river may cause fear and negative interactions with humans, resulting in aggression.&nbsp;According to researcher Layane Maia, reports like that are common.&nbsp;"So, all this is added: the “boto” tears the net apart, it's naughty, it emerges out of the river and shapeshifts as a man, it has human capacity and intelligence. It's very fast. There are some of its organs used in “pajelança” rituals and sometimes, if the “boto” is vulnerable, it is killed. In Cametá, there are many river dolphins with signs of aggression", she reports.Ricardo Calazans, researcher in charge for the Mirante do Boto space, in Mocajuba, says that many fishermen do not respect the river dolphins, but that they are a minority.&nbsp;According to him, the killing of dolphins is much more common in the state of Amazonas, which has more riverside regions far from cities.&nbsp;Calazans says that many residents often alert him when they notice that a “boto” is injured."Here, it is very common people saying that they've danced with the boto, that they have a daughter with the boto, that the boto took a niece to a party. Still, I'd say that 90% of riverine people respect and take care of the boto", he says.<h2>River dolphin tour enhances ecological tourism in Mocajuba</h2>Created in 2016, Mirante do Boto is the hit of tourism in Mocajuba, a municipality in the northeast of Pará.&nbsp;They are 17 dolphins, from young to adults, that go every day to swim, play and eat near the Municipal Market of Mocajuba.&nbsp;Due to such success, the space became an official tourist place promoted by the city hall, under the responsibility of Ricardo Calazans.&nbsp;The researcher wrote a final graduation paper work focused on the river dolphins in Mocajuba, his hometown.&nbsp;Today, he is dedicated to research the habits of cetaceans and managing the place that receives up to a thousand people a week during the Amazonian summer.&nbsp;In the rainy season, the visiting flow drops to 200 people.The river dolphins arrive around six in the morning and, at noon, they leave for the waters furthest from human contact.&nbsp;Each group of visitors interacts 10 to 15 minutes with the animals, to prevent them from becoming stressed. Tourists also feed the river dolphins.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Ricardo_Calazans_com_os_botos_1_876a5a7422.jpeg" alt="Ricardo Calazans says he loves the " srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Ricardo_Calazans_com_os_botos_1_876a5a7422.jpeg 178w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Ricardo_Calazans_com_os_botos_1_876a5a7422.jpeg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Ricardo_Calazans_com_os_botos_1_876a5a7422.jpeg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Ricardo_Calazans_com_os_botos_1_876a5a7422.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Ricardo takes care of the botos in Mocajuba, which receive up to a thousand visits a week (Personal file)</figcaption></figure>"We have to be very careful, because the food given are small portions of fish sold in the street market stands. But they don't eat all kinds of fish. We have to inspect everything beforehand, to double check if it's the ideal fish, if it has bones. They eat mapará, tucunaré and filhote. In addition to supervising the fish given, we make a previous presentation sharing some guidelines", he says.All river dolphins have their own names and Calazans guarantees that he recognizes each one from a far distance.&nbsp;"The 17 river dolphins never show up together. We've already noticed that the fewer visitors we have, the more they show up. Some are a bit wild. But we have a daily average of 5 to 7 dolphins swimming around the market every day", he says.Ricardo says he is excited about the research about the health of these animals.&nbsp;According to the researcher, working at Mirante has changed his life and is a reason for happiness and pride.&nbsp;"I had a friend and his father used to sell fish at the market. When I was a child, I noticed that he would always go there, grab a little fish and give it to the “boto”. As soon as I started to study at the university, I told my professor about the idea of researching the river dolphins in my city. Since then, I started to visit the place and always check out the conditions of the river dolphins, if they were fine, take care of them voluntarily. So, the city mayor hired me. I created the page on Instagram [@botosdemocajuba] and we have now more than 30,000 followers. It was an incredible thing. They are little “botos” that I love from the bottom of my heart, I fight for them and I do anything for them", he says.Currently, Ricardo has the support of a veterinarian who monitors the health of the animals on a weekly basis.&nbsp;According to him, most of the scratches and bites that appear on the river dolphins are the result of fights among themselves.&nbsp;"Usually, there are just superficial scratches. People are invited to visit the Mirante, it's all free, but “you can't be too careful”. Here, we guide the interaction step by step. And we always ask people to preserve them. This phenomenon of the river dolphins moving towards human contact is very special and only occurs in two places in the world: here and in Manaus. So, we have to take care of them and do everything the right way", he says.For researcher Frederico Ozanan, from Ufra, one of the great achievements of the research project will be the tourist organization of the interaction.&nbsp;"Based on the conclusions, we will be able to better control how many people per day will interact with them and how, besides nutritional control of the amount of food given to the animals. We will be able to help the city hall and environmental agencies to structure, in a safer way, the visits", he points out.

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Portrayed in 2014, aquatic mammals are a hit among tourists who visit Mocajuba, in Northeastern Pará. Now, they are the object of a study conducted by the Federal Rural University of the Amazon, which will analyze the impacts of human interaction, with the aim of protecting them.

The Araguaian river dolphins

The Brazilian Amazon is one of the world's main zones of wild animals trafficking, a broad crime so immersed and hidden in the entrails of the forest that it is even difficult to measure its range. The most comprehensive and recent study on the subject points out that, annually, about 38 million animals are affected by hunting and illegal trading throughout Brazil.The data come from a report that analyzed the trafficking of wild animals in Brazil between 2012 and 2019.In this period, 160 species were trafficked in the Brazilian Amazon: 38% were fish (for food or ornamental purposes), 34% birds (for food, crafts or captivity), 15% mammals (for food, captivity or fur), 12% reptiles (for feeding, captivity, collections), with less than 1% unidentified amphibians and less than 1% unidentified butterflies. When evaluating the trafficking frequency by species, that is, excluding single seizures (isolated actions), the number drops to 72, 53% of which are fish, 18% mammals, 15% birds and 14% reptiles.The survey was produced by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), along with the non-governmental organizations Traffic and International Union for Conservation of Nature. According to the study, captures of jaguars increased by 200% from 2012 to 2018.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/floresta_amazonica_foto_arquivo_o_liberal_1_8f19cbea1c.jpg" alt="floresta amazonica - foto arquivo o liberal (1).jpg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_floresta_amazonica_foto_arquivo_o_liberal_1_8f19cbea1c.jpg 208w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_floresta_amazonica_foto_arquivo_o_liberal_1_8f19cbea1c.jpg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_floresta_amazonica_foto_arquivo_o_liberal_1_8f19cbea1c.jpg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_floresta_amazonica_foto_arquivo_o_liberal_1_8f19cbea1c.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>"At the end of the chain, collecting these animals, are the vulnerable families, with little network of protection and support from the State. The big challenge is to make this population aware" Renato Madsen&nbsp;, deputy from the Federal Police</figcaption></figure>The current trade accelerated the disappearance of 1,173 species facing extinction in Brazil in a worldwide market that reaches R$ 115 billion a year, according to estimates by the Global Environment Facility.&nbsp;The report also points out that the relationship between wild fauna and the local population in the Amazon is influenced by the relatively recent occupation of the region, the close ties with indigenous peoples and other traditional communities, the vastness of the region, the accessibility made mostly by rivers and the high levels of poverty. Alex Lacerda de Souza, surrogate superintendent of the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) in Pará, points out that animal trafficking involves several purposes, ranging from the trafficking of living beings, to become pets, to the religious or medicinal practices using parts of the dead animals bodies.&nbsp;"Here we have a very specific example of the use of snake fat for rheumatic diseases treatment, even without scientific proof. It also occurs with poraquê fish and the sexual organs of botos [river dolphins], used in rituals. These are very specific situations in the Amazon", he says. He recalls that adopting wild species as pets is also customary in the region, especially parrots, macaws, tortoises and coatis. There is also a strong demand for certain meats for food, such as those from turtles, capybaras and deer, sold at fairs in cities in the interior of the state of Pará.<h2>Territorial extension makes inspection complex</h2>The territorial extension of the Amazon region, with more than five million square kilometers, is an obstacle to the fight against animal trafficking, since monitoring such a large territory requires a large number of employees from the inspection bodies.&nbsp;"Today, our main obstacle is the lack of personnel. The number of employees in the environmental agencies has decreased a lot in recent years. The region is huge, complex, with different means of transport, rivers and forests. There are many planes flying under the radar. Planes not only carry out illegal mining, they also transport wild animals on the same routes. On rivers, for example, it is common for ferries to bring turtles in the hold. We cannot effectively control this completely", admits Alex Lacerda.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Alex_Lacerda_e_superintendente_substituto_do_Ibama_39_879c7f2af9.JPG" alt="Alex Lacerda é superintendente substituto do Ibama (39).JPG" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Alex_Lacerda_e_superintendente_substituto_do_Ibama_39_879c7f2af9.JPG 234w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Alex_Lacerda_e_superintendente_substituto_do_Ibama_39_879c7f2af9.JPG 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Alex_Lacerda_e_superintendente_substituto_do_Ibama_39_879c7f2af9.JPG 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Alex_Lacerda_e_superintendente_substituto_do_Ibama_39_879c7f2af9.JPG 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>“Stress can lead wild animals to death”, Alex Lacerda de Souza (Cristino Martins/O Liberal)</figcaption></figure>He estimates that for every animal that gets to a free fair alive, another ten die during the capture and transport process. This is because captures usually involve traps that cause fractures in the animals, while their transportation is usually done ‘by the back door’, with tied and doped animals, frequently with alcoholic beverages."It's a series of mistreatments. Not to mention that stress can also lead wild animals to death. We've already surprised a trafficker who pierced the animal's eyes with a hot needle, who &nbsp;he drugged with brandy, transported inside PVC tubes in the background of suitcases, at high temperatures. The animals struggle. These things are done in a natural way. Generally, what we catch in the region is the first middleman. At the initial point, there is someone from the rural area who captures the animal", he explains.<h2>TRAFFIC ROUTES</h2>The existence of an initial point of trafficking is related to the fact that a considerable part of these animals is destined for the Southeast and Northeast regions of Brazil, with many of them leaving the country on international routes.&nbsp;Lacerda points to the free market in Abaetetuba as a place known for selling alligator and capybara meat, as well as the fairs in some municipalities along the Transamazônica highway. Belém is the departure point for animals trafficked out of the state. In addition, the Amazonian borders dividing South American countries are also trafficking routes, as they are in the middle of dense forests sparsely populated and supervised. According to the USAID report, there is growing evidence that, in some parts of the border of Brazil and other Amazonian countries, especially in the triple border of Brazil, Colombia and Peru, animal trafficking goes hand in hand with drug smuggling and other illicit assets, commanded by criminal organizations that operate and profit in both sectors.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/floresta_amazonica_foto_arquivo_o_liberal_2_dafd9b396c.jpg" alt="floresta amazonica - foto arquivo o liberal (2).jpg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_floresta_amazonica_foto_arquivo_o_liberal_2_dafd9b396c.jpg 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_floresta_amazonica_foto_arquivo_o_liberal_2_dafd9b396c.jpg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_floresta_amazonica_foto_arquivo_o_liberal_2_dafd9b396c.jpg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_floresta_amazonica_foto_arquivo_o_liberal_2_dafd9b396c.jpg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>The rivers are also widely used for trafficking (O Liberal)</figcaption></figure>The rivers are also widely used for trafficking, in particular the Purus River, with a focus on turtles and fish for consumption, Negro River, a trafficking route for ornamental fish for the international market, and Madeira River."We also face attempts to circumvent inspection systems. We have a big problem with curiós [Oryzoborus angolensis] and bicudos [Oryzoborus maximiliani] here in Pará, as the purchase of animals that were born in captivity is legal. The tracking rings used to be sent with the animals' identity according to what traders reported in the system. That's when we noticed that there was a very high percentage of birds always laying four eggs, which was strange to us. Since 2018, these tracking rings have stopped being sent directly and Ibama started to perform a local supervision, monitoring the process of placing the ring. After that determination, we had a 90% drop in orders. In other words, they were 'heating up' animals taken from nature", says Lacerda.<h2>Federal Police creates the Amazon board</h2>Deputy Renato Madsen, from the Federal Police, recalls that the agency created, at the beginning of this year, the Board of the Amazon and Environment with the purpose of tightening the siege against the most diverse crimes in the region. He claims that animal trafficking has evolved, with criminals making illegal practices even more sophisticated as repression increases. According to Madsen, more and more, criminals try to give the appearance of legality to animals, defrauding documentation, licenses and transport guides."When an issue is raised from the status of “division” or “coordination” to that of “board”, it means a new moment of increased attention to the region has come. Operations are intensifying and this is important, because if the operation is against mining or deforestation, it also directly impacts on the habitat of the local fauna. Illegal actions are evolving, so are the investigations and our way of preventing them", he points out.Besides mammals and fish, the Federal Police is also concerned with small animals, especially insects, due to biopiracy. Moreover, insects are easier to pass unnoticed in inspections. Madsen recalls that criminal groups never fail to take advantage of opportunities to profit more and this fact explains the large number of individuals related to drug trafficking who are also involved in the trafficking of animals. "In places where there are many vulnerable populations, these criminals are seen as employment and income providers. Transnational organized crime appears legal and, under the mask of entrepreneurship, attracts people. Then, they do all sorts of collecting and smuggling, from gold to wild animals. Between the state of Amazonas and Peru, there is frequent occurrence of illegal fishing that goes along with illegal logging", he says.He recalls that destinations are different: while most of the birds are trafficked for the national market, insects and fish are more desired by the international market, especially exotic fish, which are sent to the Asian market. In Deputy Madsen’s opinion, structuring law enforcement departments is a big challenge, just as it is to solve social vulnerabilities."At the end of the chain, collecting these animals, are the vulnerable families, with little network of protection and support from the State. The big challenge is to make this population aware", he says, also advocating for a clearer and tougher legislation, with more severe penalties for crimes related to animal trafficking.<h2>Trafficked animals need to be rehabilitated</h2>Alex Lacerda, from Ibama, recalls that the destination of these animals is always a challenge, as a successful operation needs to ensure that rescued animals receive adequate treatment and, eventually, be reintroduced to nature."We are registering areas for release, but the animals need to be readapted before going to nature. A parrot, for example, has its wings cut. So, recomposition of the feathers or surgeries are necessary. It takes them from six to ten months to be able to fly again", he says.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/20230502_ATULIBAMAZONTRAFICODEANIMAIS_FOTO_IVAN_DUARTE_61_1d5976fe79.JPG" alt="20230502ATULIBAMAZONTRAFICODEANIMAIS - FOTO - IVAN DUARTE (61).JPG" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_20230502_ATULIBAMAZONTRAFICODEANIMAIS_FOTO_IVAN_DUARTE_61_1d5976fe79.JPG 234w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_20230502_ATULIBAMAZONTRAFICODEANIMAIS_FOTO_IVAN_DUARTE_61_1d5976fe79.JPG 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_20230502_ATULIBAMAZONTRAFICODEANIMAIS_FOTO_IVAN_DUARTE_61_1d5976fe79.JPG 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_20230502_ATULIBAMAZONTRAFICODEANIMAIS_FOTO_IVAN_DUARTE_61_1d5976fe79.JPG 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>“As they are trapped, tied by the little paws, we treat many problems of strangulation and amputation here. Sometimes, also resulting in euthanasia in very serious cases”, Ana Silvia Ribeiro, veterinarian (Ivan Duarte/O Liberal)</figcaption></figure> Since 2012, the Federal Rural University already had a department dedicated to wild animals as part of the residency program of the faculty of veterinary medicine. The experience resulted in the creation, in 2021, of the Center for Sorting and Rehabilitation of Wild Animals, the first in the north region of Brazil. In the center, animals sent from several municipalities in Pará are delivered by environmental agencies and treated. More than 50% of the cases are related to birds, including birds of prey, says the center's coordinator, Professor Ana Silvia Ribeiro. "Traffickers capture many bird cubs, from endemic species to baby parrots. Usually, the animals have a learning and adaptation period in nature, but in captivity they get sick, they have bone lesions and liver problems due to poor diet. And, as they are trapped, tied by the little paws, we treat many problems of strangulation and amputation here. Sometimes, also resulting in euthanasia in very serious cases. Not to mention psychological consequences, as they are afraid of the contact with humans. Another consequence of trafficking is to make it impossible for the animal to return to nature, since it is very expensive to rehabilitate this animal biologically. They hardly ever return to nature, as they spend their whole lives in a small cage. Birds are like athletes; they need to practice flying. We see very aggressive parrots, which die from stress, they self-mutilate, all because of their resistance to treatment and human contact", says the veterinarian.Among mammals, the ones that are more frequently treated are sloths, coatis, anteaters, lagomorphs and exotic rodents, such as guinea pigs.&nbsp;<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/20230502_ATULIBAMAZONTRAFICODEANIMAIS_FOTO_IVAN_DUARTE_44_88a2816938.JPG" alt="20230502ATULIBAMAZONTRAFICODEANIMAIS - FOTO - IVAN DUARTE (44).JPG" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_20230502_ATULIBAMAZONTRAFICODEANIMAIS_FOTO_IVAN_DUARTE_44_88a2816938.JPG 234w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_20230502_ATULIBAMAZONTRAFICODEANIMAIS_FOTO_IVAN_DUARTE_44_88a2816938.JPG 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_20230502_ATULIBAMAZONTRAFICODEANIMAIS_FOTO_IVAN_DUARTE_44_88a2816938.JPG 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_20230502_ATULIBAMAZONTRAFICODEANIMAIS_FOTO_IVAN_DUARTE_44_88a2816938.JPG 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Matheus Felix, resident veterinarian (Ivan Duarte/O Liberal)</figcaption></figure>Ribeiro also alerts about another problem with animal trafficking: many animals carry viruses and bacteria, from scabies to more serious problems.&nbsp;She reports that the Center has already received a monkey that got the herpes virus from a human and died. Reverse contamination is also common: many people who eat turtles, muçuãs [Kinosternon scorpioides] and other chelonians suffer from salmonellosis."Animals get sick in these trafficking captive places and this can impact the health of those who handle or buy them. It is enough evidence that we need to discuss this topic deeper. Since childhood, it is important to talk about environmental education and the importance of a harmonious connection between men, animals and species. Animal trafficking is harmful for everyone".Major targets of animal trafficking in the AmazonFish trafficked for consumption:&nbsp; 83% - Pirarucu 9% - Tambaqui 7% - Piracatinga 1% - Aruanã-prateadoOrnamental fish: 38% - Tetra-cardeal or tetra-neon (Paracheirodon axelrodi) 5% - Cascudo-zebra (Hypancistrus zebra) 3% - Limpa-vidro (Otocinclus affinis) 2% - Cabeça de fogo (Hemigrammus bleheri) Meat: 45% - Capybara 30% - Tapir 16% - Paca 3% - QueixadaChelonians: 31% - Small river turtles of unidentified species 29% - Tartatura-da-Amazônia 27% - Tracajá 7% - Pitiú

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Animal trafficking impacts 160 species in the region – a market that generates more than R$ 115 billion a year – and is intertwined with other illegal activities, such as mining, drug trafficking and deforestation

Animal trafficking: an open wound in the Amazon

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Previously relegated to animal feed, tucumã has reached a new level. In use as raw material for biocosmetics and as an aid to reduce deforestation in the Amazon. How? By means of cooperativism

Tucumã: "plague of the woods" becomes a source of income

Established in 1992, The World Water Day – celebrated on the March 22nd – is an attempt to bring awareness to humanity regarding the responsible use of water resources.It’s not by chance: in the Amazon, for example, the abundance of water is as great as its waste. In the North of Brazil, where seven of the nine states of the Legal Amazon are located, the waste rate jumped from 46.5% in 2014 to 55.5% in 2018, according to data from the National Sanitation Information System.&nbsp;It means that for every 10 liters of water distributed by supplying companies, whether they be State or private, only 4.5 liters actually reach the taps, while the rest is left behind due to structural problems of basic sanitation. This percentage is much higher than the national average of 38.5%. Data from 2021 and provided by Ministry of Integration and Regional Development show that only 60% of the inhabitants of the Northern region of Brazil have full access to drinking water.&nbsp;The national average reaches 84.2%, while in the South and Southeast regions, the supply rate exceeds 91%.&nbsp;According to Carlos Alexandre Bordalo, geographer and doctor in Sustainable Development, these figures establish a paradox.&nbsp;In his opinion, poor management of supply services in such a rich region regarding fresh and potable water accentuates social vulnerabilities.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:47.15%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Carlos_Alexandre_Bordalo_87868987cb.jpeg" alt="Carlos Alexandre Bordalo.jpeg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Carlos_Alexandre_Bordalo_87868987cb.jpeg 128w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Carlos_Alexandre_Bordalo_87868987cb.jpeg 412w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Carlos_Alexandre_Bordalo_87868987cb.jpeg 617w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Poor management of supply services maximize social vulnerabilities, says Carlos Alexandre Bordalo</figcaption></figure>"Data from various reports on water availability indicate cities in the Amazon with less access to drinking water than cities in the Northeast of Brazil, for example. In some municipalities in Amazonas and Amapá, water waste levels reach 70%. That means, there is little concern about investing in infrastructure in these municipalities, so that water reaches everyone", argues the professor from the Faculty of Geography and Cartography at the Federal University of Pará. Bordalo also points out that there are different levels of water scarcity: in addition to water scarcity, which is not having access to running water at home, many cities in the Amazon suffer from relative scarcity, which is not having access to water 24 hours a day.&nbsp;"We think that this is an inland problem, but it is a common situation in urban areas, such as Belém, Ananindeua, Marituba and Santarém. And there is still a shortage of quality water, when it does not reach potability standards", it says. The researcher points out several bottlenecks: there is a lack of robust investments in poorer regions and the applicability of the National Basic Sanitation Policy, established in 2007, is still precarious.According to Bordalo, it is necessary to demand better governance over water resources in the Amazon.&nbsp;He recalls that, every year, data from the Trata Brasil Institute always classify cities in the Amazon among the worst when it comes to basic sanitation. In 2022, for example, at the top of the list were cities from the region: Macapá, in Amapá, appears first, followed by Porto Velho, Santarém, Rio Branco, Belém and Ananindeua.&nbsp;<blockquote>"It is a disappointing and shameful paradox for the Brazilian Amazon. Water is a right, not a favour", emphasizes Bordalo.</blockquote><h2> Merchandise</h2> The water element exists in nature for billions of years, but thinking of ​​water, primarily, as a product that should be sold is a human invention and relatively recent, but it has lasted at least for 500 years.The Industrial Revolution, in the 18th century, accelerated the process causing water to enter the capitalist production system for good and to become a resource with value, but also without any kind of control in relation to its own finitude. According to researcher Nírvia Ravena, it took time for humanity to understand that water and its use are part of a complex and interdependent system, which involves climate, forests and the species that inhabit the Earth.&nbsp;She points out that the concept of water as a finite resource was more evident in countries of the East and on the African continent, where scarcity was more common.&nbsp;"Until the 1970s, in the United States, it was an absolutely invisible problem, even from an institutional point of view. But academic studies on the subject gradually gained strength, as well as the environmental movement. &nbsp;According to Ravena, who holds a PhD in Political Science and is a professor at the Nucleus of High Amazonian Studies at the Federal University of Pará, this context shed light on the use of water, on agriculture, on the issue of conscious consumption, and the problem started to be viewed more seriously due to the impacts of climate change.<figure class="image"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Whats_App_Image_2023_03_17_at_11_58_23_33ff9ef06c.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2023-03-17 at 11.58.23.jpeg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Whats_App_Image_2023_03_17_at_11_58_23_33ff9ef06c.jpeg 235w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Whats_App_Image_2023_03_17_at_11_58_23_33ff9ef06c.jpeg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Whats_App_Image_2023_03_17_at_11_58_23_33ff9ef06c.jpeg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Whats_App_Image_2023_03_17_at_11_58_23_33ff9ef06c.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Many riverside communities experience lack of drinking water</figcaption></figure> She believes, however, that the Amazon should be better contemplated in this debate, since it is a key factor in the planet's global balance system, especially when the issue is ‘water’ and rainfall distribution.&nbsp;The subject, however, only gains strength when the news shows that the Southeast region of Brazil is going through a water crisis.&nbsp;"The origins of these crises may be natural, but there are also unnatural crises, caused by agricultural and industrial activities. The dependence on the Amazon region to generate electricity for the entire country was responsible for an accentuated scenario of water vulnerability, which affected the population of Lago de Tucuruí in 2014. In summary, even though the Amazon is the depository of the largest volume of fresh water on the planet, the governance of the water resources in the region has been flawed. Regional differences are, therefore, highlighted with the Southeast region making wasteful use of these resources, while the Amazon region produces hydroelectric energy submissive to the needs of the rest of the country, thus facing vulnerabilities", she asserts.<h2> Regional Agencies</h2> Ravena also points out that Brazil made a mistake in respect to water regulation: according to her, the creation of the National Water Agency overcentralized the management of Brazilian water resources in Brasília.&nbsp;According to the researcher, the ideal would be for each river basin to have its own agency for closer management and connection with the people who depend on the water in each region.&nbsp;She recalls that the population, especially native and riverside peoples, must be co-producers of public policies.&nbsp;She also considers that the interests of private capital are always a priority in the formation of laws and this encourages predatory behavior in relation to water and the forest. "I believe that the resumption of this discussion by the basin agencies would be very important. On the other hand, I do not believe a strategic and efficient planning would be possible, if we do not listen to the traditional populations. Without this dialogue, it will be very difficult to avoid the intensification of the frequent of crises The quality of the freshwater volume is already compromised. There are already quilombolas in Acará without access to water, dozens of regions of the Amazon suffering from polluted water. It is a scenario that needs immediate reversal", says Ravena.<h2> Regenerating urban rivers is an urgent challenge</h2> The Amazon is a large, sparcely populated and undeveloped region, where there are diverse environmental and topographic characteristics.&nbsp;This scenario affects the water quality, according to Sávio Ferreira, a researcher at the National Institute for Research in the Amazon.&nbsp;He adverts that different rivers have very different waters. The black water in Rio Negro contains a lot of organic matter and humid substances, almost distilled and scarce in salts.&nbsp;The water in Solimões River, contains a lot of sediment, but is almost neutral and full of nutrients and substance.&nbsp;There is also the water of Tapajós River, much more acidic than the others, but super nutritious.&nbsp;"There are different kinds of river water, but, on average, our water maintains good characteristics when coming from the rivers. The main problem in the Amazon is that there is a large part of the population using underground water here, with our urban courses contaminated", he says.<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:71.21%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Whats_App_Image_2023_03_17_at_11_58_22_93d5a4411f.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2023-03-17 at 11.58.22.jpeg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Whats_App_Image_2023_03_17_at_11_58_22_93d5a4411f.jpeg 233w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Whats_App_Image_2023_03_17_at_11_58_22_93d5a4411f.jpeg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Whats_App_Image_2023_03_17_at_11_58_22_93d5a4411f.jpeg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Whats_App_Image_2023_03_17_at_11_58_22_93d5a4411f.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Most populous Amazonian cities, such as Belém, evolved with their backs tuned to the rivers (Tarso Sarraf)</figcaption></figure> Ferreira explains that most cities are developed due to the rivers, however, in the Amazon, the large urban masses developed turning their backs to them.&nbsp;In Manaus, for example, many people used urban rivers as part of their daily lives, whether for services, transportation, leisure or consumption.&nbsp;The arrival of the Tax-Free Zone increased disorderly urban growth, so while the city expanded the urban rivers became progressively more polluted until they became open sewers. The situation is similar in Belém. "Sanitation here is not enough to fulfill the demand. The water courses need to be restored to their original conditions to serve the population. There is plenty of successful cases around the world, such as in South Korea or even the Thames River, in London. Urban rivers with their original features restored, that now, even have fish. We know that the cost is very high, but society needs to consider water courses in cities as benefits, not as open sewers. Everything was being degraded and revitalization is one of the great challenges to fight the water crisis and preserve water", says Ferreira<h2> Hydroelectric power plants</h2> Journalist Thiago Medaglia is the director of Ambiental Media, a project that combines journalism and science and that conceived the Impact Index on Amazonian Waters.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:27.38%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/foto_de_rosto_5d155310cf.jpg" alt="foto de rosto.jpg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_foto_de_rosto_5d155310cf.jpg 104w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_foto_de_rosto_5d155310cf.jpg 333w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_foto_de_rosto_5d155310cf.jpg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_foto_de_rosto_5d155310cf.jpg 667w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>Thiago Medaglia points out that 20% of the micro-basins in the Amazon suffer an impact classified as high</figcaption></figure>According to data from the project, out of the 11,216 micro-basins in the Amazon, 2,299 (20%) have an impact considered as high.&nbsp;And there are hydroelectric plants in the five most impacted ones.&nbsp;Those regions are also often linked to prospecting and mining operations.&nbsp;There are rising reports from fishermen about the gradually decreasing supply of fish for consumption and commerce, which affects the food security of riverside people and their subsistence resources.&nbsp;According to the same reference index, of the 1,146 micro-basins with high, very high or extreme impact, 478 also suffer the impacts of mining activity (21%).&nbsp;"When the data are overlapped, we realize how much they are interconnected. There is nothing more impactful for a river and for the surrounding community than a large dam", says Medaglia.&nbsp;<h2> Rain is the solution to large-scale reuse</h2> In 2007, Ronaldo Mendes encountered a rainwater collecting cistern in Ilha Grande, near the municipality of Barcarena, in Pará.&nbsp;It was a concrete cistern, placed on the ground and supplied directly from a roof. The water accumulated there was used by several families on the island and even by a school.&nbsp;Curiosity about that solution was tattooed in his memory and interest in the subject only grew higher over the years.&nbsp;Now, besides being a professor at the Environment Center at the Federal University of Pará, Ronaldo is also chair of the Brazilian Association for Rainwater Capture and Management, an entity dedicated to encouraging the reuse of water. Mendes joined other academic researchers to create the Rainwater Reusing in the Amazon Group, which became gradually closer to the community, promoting improvements in cisterns based on research on materials, structure and water quality. The research group also installed a cistern in Murutucu Island.<img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/Whats_App_Image_2023_03_16_at_15_10_02_6d28c40479.jpeg" alt="WhatsApp Image 2023-03-16 at 15.10.02.jpeg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_Whats_App_Image_2023_03_16_at_15_10_02_6d28c40479.jpeg 208w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_Whats_App_Image_2023_03_16_at_15_10_02_6d28c40479.jpeg 500w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/medium_Whats_App_Image_2023_03_16_at_15_10_02_6d28c40479.jpeg 750w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/large_Whats_App_Image_2023_03_16_at_15_10_02_6d28c40479.jpeg 1000w," sizes="100vw">"Many people here in the Amazon do not have drinking water available. And rainwater is easy to turn into drinking water. At the time, we recommended filtering and disinfecting it, using chlorine and boiling it. From that moment on, we discovered that it could solve the problem of millions of people in the Amazon, since most regions have a lot of rainfall throughout the year. This could help some regions that are drier, such as those in western Pará, because water can be stored for the less rainy months, that already occurs in the Brazilian Northeast on a large scale, where some municipalities reach 10 months of access to water via cistern", he highlights. Ronaldo lists several benefits ensuing from that method, since rainwater can be used in various domestic activities.&nbsp;In addition, it prevents riverside people from going to rivers carrying water and also replaces the installation of pumps in the river.&nbsp;Communities also save money because they buy less water. However, even if there is plenty of advantages, incentives are lacking.&nbsp;He argues that governments should come together to invest in a broad program to build cisterns in the Amazon.&nbsp;Civil society has contributed every way it can and there are successful projects throughout the Amazon, such as Sanear Amazônia, which has already benefited 2,800 families, and the Cisterna Escolar project, in Abaetetuba, Pará, which installed cisterns in 72 urban and rural schools. "The Federal Rural University of the Amazon also has a project in Ilha das Onças and the Mamirauá Institute also works providing cisterns in the Amazon. These are isolated experiments that need to be expanded with government help. It is a great example of social technology, not focusing on profiting using the water, instead, the focus is on social well-being", says the researcher. &nbsp;

In the North region, only 60% of the inhabitants have full access to drinking water (Tarso Sarraf)

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In the region of giant rivers, the abundance of water is as intense as its waste. Researchers point out ways to manage this precious resource.

The water paradox in the Amazon

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From the spells of the forest to the frenzy of cities: literary production carries strong signs of the region's socio-political and economic constitution process

A social history of Amazonian literature

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A model that combines soil health care, biodiversity promotion and food quality was one of the frequent issues at COP 27 and has been a reality in the region for decades. Though, it needs more investments to reach a larger number of small and medium producers in the region.


Regenerative agriculture can evolve in the Amazon

The Amazon is the largest tropical forest in the world and plays an important role in regulating the global climate. However, deforestation contributes to the alteration of rainfall cycles, causing the intensification of the dry season, which increases the extent of native vegetation affected by forest fires. The continuous growth of fires in Boca do Acre (AM) went from 66%, in 2012, the year of approval of the new Forest Code, to 88% in 2019. The information is from research held by scientists from the National Center for Monitoring and Alerts of Natural Disasters (CEMADEN), in partnership with other national and international institutions, and published on Tuesday (20) in the journal "Fire".The research analyzed satellite data of burned areas between the years 2003 and 2019, in a new deforestation frontier, in the Southwest of Amazonas. After cross-referencing the data, the scientists considered information about climate, land cover, rural properties and protected areas. "The goal of the study was to provide a comprehensive assessment of the spatial extent and patterns of burned areas, analyzing what, where, and how much has changed, to be able to understand the fire process in the study region," explains researcher Liana Anderson, one of the study's authors. In the period studied, the annual area affected by fire varied from 33 km² and peaked at 681 km² in 2019.<blockquote>The deforestation trend in the region also increased from 15% in 2012 to 91.60% in 2019</blockquote>The study also sought to understand the process of wildfires and the main factors that influence them. "We observed the importance of protection areas, such as conservation units and indigenous lands, because these serve as barriers for the fire not to enter the most preserved regions of the Amazon," points out research assistant Débora Dutra, who led the study. On the other hand, the areas of pasture and agriculture near highways, such as BR-317, and the routes used to transport wood from deforestation cause changes in these barriers, leaving the forest more vulnerable to forest fires.&nbsp;"Deforestation has a relationship with fire, because the opening of new areas increasingly exposes the forest," points out Liana Anderson. According to the study, the deforestation trend in the region increased from 15% in 2012 to 91.60% in 2019. It was also observed the advance in deforestation and fire in areas of public forests not yet designated, indicating the urgent need for public policies to ensure the conservation of these areas.According to the researchers, the prospect for the coming years is a significant increase in fire outbreaks in the region due to the increase in deforestation and the process of land grabbing, observed in the study from the registration of rural properties in areas of public forests in which deforestation processes and forest fires have occurred. &nbsp;"If we don't have public policies and control actions against illegal activities, such as unauthorized logging and deforestation, we can expect this area to become critical both for the increase in conflicts and the loss of ecosystem services," emphasizes Anderson.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://abori.com.br/amazonia/incendios-florestais-aumentaram-no-sudoeste-da-amazonia-apos-novo-codigo-florestal/">Source: Agência Bori</a>

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The information is from research held by scientists from the National Center for Monitoring and Alerts of Natural Disasters, in partnership with other national and international institutions

Forest fires have increased in the southwestern Amazon after the new Forest Code

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People from different regions of the country choose to pursue a career in the Amazon, studying and helping to preserve the biome. Local experts highlight the importance of collaboration, always respecting the region and its inhabitants


Biodiversity that enchants and retains professionals

<figure class="image image_resized image-style-side" style="width:50%;"><img src="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/1672950653_18831b_espia_o_trem_comunidade_lago_preto_1_0c9462ea4e.jpg" alt="1672950653_18831b_espia_o_trem__comunidade_lago_preto_1.jpg" srcset="https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/thumbnail_1672950653_18831b_espia_o_trem_comunidade_lago_preto_1_0c9462ea4e.jpg 245w,https://amazon-vx.s3.amazonaws.com/small_1672950653_18831b_espia_o_trem_comunidade_lago_preto_1_0c9462ea4e.jpg 500w," sizes="100vw"><figcaption>“Espia o Trem” promotes safety actions in Juruti (Photo Alcoa)</figcaption></figure>Citizenship, sustainability, and safety are founding elements of Alcoa's culture and core strategy as a mining and ore company in the Amazon. Among the actions carried out in Juruti county, a city located in western Pará, the mining company invests in programs aimed at preserving the environment, the health &amp; safety of the workers, and the surrounding community, in addition to good coexistence with mine operations.Aiming to raise everyone's awareness on maintaining the mine's railroad traffic safety, in 2009 the Alcoa Foundation created the Espia o Trem (Look the train) program, naming it after this expression that became popular among residents due to the coming and going of the wagons, and which aims at harmonious coexistence between the activities of the railroad and of the region’s residents. Between June and December 2022, Espia o Trem reached 125 families in 22 communities and 5 settlements.The program’s activities take place culturally and educationally, using theatrical interactions, storytelling sessions, and film screenings. All of this is to ensure there is a safe coexistence of all populations that relate to the railroad with it. The message is also taken to teachers and students in schools and associations in the county, guiding communities on preventive care that should be adopted by those who live close to the railroad.Looking at the rivers’ standpoint, the mining company created the Vou Passando Pelo Rio (I’m passing through the river) program, which speaks to the riverside residents of the county about the necessary precautions regarding the safety of small boats that travel along the river in areas close to the Alcoa port pier. The actions include educational blitzes, lectures, and the distribution of guidance materials for the region’s residents. In 2022, approximately 11 communities in the direct influence area received the program's activities.&nbsp; &nbsp;Another subject cherished by Alcoa is the Amazonian fauna. The Animais Eu Protejo (Animals I Protect) project helped over 300 animals that were taken care of and returned to nature. The campaign’s goal is to prevent incidents with animals and provide veterinary assistance to those who are endangered or injured. After being rescued, they are taken to the Centro de Reabilitação de Animais Silvestres – CRAS (Wildlife Rehabilitation Center), which has a set structure at the Alcoa mine, with professionals and equipment available 24 hours a day.<blockquote>We visited several communities: around the railroad, in the influence area of the port pier, in the floodplains, and on dry land. We contemplated a comprehensive amount of people, whether in urban or rural areas, and this was a rewarding work, which we intend to expand in 2023”, explains Sabrina Batista, Environmental educator at Alcoa's Department of Biodiversity. &nbsp;</blockquote>The donation of plant seedlings, led by Alcoa employees, involves many people, since the preparation of ornamental, fruitful, and forestry seedlings. Communities, county organizations, and local institutions are mobilized in the distributions, which, this year, resulted in the donation of more than 28 thousand of them throughout the county. &nbsp;

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Actions bring messages of citizenship, sustainability, and safety to the entire county

Environmental education and good relations with the Amazon community are priorities for Alcoa Juruti

Amazon turns attention to Chinese market

Amazon: a scenario conducive to the study of mosquitoes

Oil exploration in the Amazon: between progress and sustainability