Brazil protects three million hectares of Amazon forests

Posted on December, 23 2004

Efforts by WWF in Brazil has helped create three million hectares of protected areas in the Amazon.

Brasilia, Brazil - The Brazilian State of Amazonas, by far the largest state in the Brazilian Amazon with some of its most intact forest and diverse landscapes, has announced the creation of a mosaic of protected areas totalling over three million hectacres in the southern part of the state.

WWF carried out technical and scientific studies that contributed to the design of the protected areas, provided material support for the development of a biodiversity conservation strategy, and also funded the public consultations vital to the process.

"WWF congratulates the state of Amazonas for taking this crucial step in shaping a future that respects both the environment and the needs of its people," said Guillermo Castilleja, WWF's Vice-President for Latin America and the Caribbean. "WWF is pleased to have worked closely with the state government and other partners to shape this vision and bring it to fruition."

The Apui mosaic (see map) covers a territory that is slightly less than the size of Belgium. It consists of nine inter-connected conservation areas that fulfill various management objectives and afford different levels of protection — two state parks emphasizing nature protection, four state forests focusing on sustainable forest management, and three extractive and sustainable use reserves that provide options for traditional people and resource users to practice sustainable harvesting.

The measure is intended to protect viable portions of the biological diversity of the region. At the same time, it will help contain the unregulated advance of the agricultural frontier and the illegal invasion of public land in the region, thus helping to bring under control the deforestation that would otherwise occur.

According to Amazonas State Governor Eduardo Braga, the creation of these protected areas "is a commitment by the state to the conservation of biodiversity and the improvement of the quality of life of our people who depend on the forest."

The Amazon basin is one of the most environmentally important places on Earth containing the largest intact tropical rainforest, harbouring the richest variety of life, and generating more freshwater than anywhere else. It is also suffering the greatest deforestation. Over 2.5 million hectacres — more than half the size of Switzerland — has been lost annually for the past three consecutive years. The mounting toll of this unprecedented loss of forests cannot continue indefinitely without risking dramatic changes to the entire Amazonian ecosystem.

"Due to its size and the high degree of conservation of its vegetation, Amazonas State is vital to our efforts to protect significant and representative parts of the Brazilian Amazon's biodiversity," said Denise Hamú, WWF-Brazil's CEO.

"WWF hopes to continue collaborating with Amazonas State, not only in the creation but also the implementation of the recently created protected areas."

Notes:
The Apui Mosaic — covering a total of 3,044,975ha — consists of: Guariba State Park (72,296ha); Sucunduri State Park (1,006,350ha); Bararati Sustainable Development Reserve (153,083ha); Aripuanã Sustainable Development Reserve (260,380ha) Guariba Extractive Reserve (180,904ha); Sucunduri State Forest (545,163ha) Aripuanã State Forest (369,337ha); Apuí State Forest (286,161ha); and the Manicoré State Forest (171,300ha).

For further information:
Gina Vasquez, Communications Officer
WWF-Brazil
E-Mail: regina@wwf.org.br

An aerial view of the Rio Negro Forest Reserve in Amazonas, Brazil. The Amazonas government has announced the addition of three million hectares of protected areas in the region.