What we hope for
If we can convey that the original natural state is of greater value to the people in the long term than current income from livestock and plantations, the dramatic negative developments in this area of outstanding natural beauty could slow down or even stop. A school to help spread contemporary ideas, holistic thinking and environmental awareness would be particularly helpful here. The best method of teaching is always the living example. Asphalt will soon be coming close to the valley. Countless examples of Brazilian urbanization demonstrate what will happen: the uncontrolled explosion of tourism with its one-sided focus on fast money that has no time for nature, our "mother", with whom we live and on whom we depend. Environmental awareness in the form of a natural respect for the earth exists sadly only in a minority.
A key objective of this project is to buy as much land as we can to create a buffer zone in favour of sustainable tourism. In addition, by active reforestation projects and ecological management we can create a holistic retreat and regeneration space for people and animals. The involvement of the valley dwellers in the initiative offers an alternative employment, which creates better quality of life. The project is therefore met with broad approval from the conservation authority IBAMA and the local authorities. Like everywhere else in South America competent authorities are missing and the means to exercise effective controls over the park and the adjacent conservation areas are too limited. We therefore provide a kind of Ranger function on this side of the park.