Posted on March, 26 1999
The WWF campaign seeks to inform, raise awareness and mobilize different groups of Brazilian society. It will encourage Brazilians to stand up for national parks and federal reserves and thus help to improve their implementation and make them less vulnerable. The first step was taken on March 8, when WWF-Brazil presented its report to the public. The report showed that Brazilian national parks and other federal reserves with the highest degree of protection are at risk. The campaign will last until Environment Week in June 2000. "The purpose of this campaign is to make Brazilians discover and value their national parks and reserves, which are not only beautiful but also essential to our future", says Garo Batmanian, WWF-Brazil's Executive Director.
The launching of the campaign involved a presentation of the ads especially created by the Brazilian advertising agency Full Jazz, on a pro bono basis. The ads will be offered to newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations willing to support the campaign by donating publicity space. The campaign will also distribute materials about the Brazilian national parks and reserves, designed to educate and inform the public about actions that can be taken to help improve the current situation.
The campaign will also be on the Internet and can be accessed through WWF Brazil's web site (http://www.wwf.org.br). With a few clicks one can learn about the latest news on the campaign, find out how to participate, and denounce environmental crimes related to the parks and reserves. Most importantly of all, one can send messages to Brazilian congressmen, urging them to pass a new legislative act on National Protected Areas (SNUC). This act is a fundamental measure to improve the current difficult situation of the existing parks and reserves.
A partnership with the educational cable channel TV Futura was announced during the launching of the event and includes a "thematic day" on protected areas, to be broadcast on Environment Day -June the 5th, as well as several other programs. The thematic day is a 24 hour-long broadcast focusing on a single theme. Several other environmental education actions are planned, including lectures and exhibitions in schools throughout the country.
In order to engage WWF members and other volunteers in mobilization activities there will be a direct marketing campaign, in partnership with the publicity agency Salem, also on a pro bono basis.
Mobilization of specific groups, especially "message multipliers", is scheduled for the second semester and will involve various activities focusing on national parks, such as a travelling photography exhibition; a national photography contest for young people a national essay contest for college students; and regional workshops to discuss the campaign's topic and related matters. The production and distribution of 5,000 educational kits consisting of a handbook, a video, a sticker and a poster-map is also on the agenda. People will be encouraged to participate in associations of "park supporters". Where no such associations exist the campaign will assist in their creation, in order to help civil society to get organized for the benefit of the parks and reserves.
The last part of the campaign, which will take place in 2000, is the dissemination of lessons learned and the assessment of achieved results. Reports on successful experiences in the implementation of parks will be published, as well as papers selected through contests, among others. Events will take place to reward contest winners and evaluate the results, with public acknowledgement of partners and sponsors.
For more information please contact:
Ulisses Lacava (cell phone +55-61-914-5532) or Ana Claudia Barbosa, Regina Vasquez and Mauro Giuntini (images) at WWF-Brazil, phone number +55-61-2482899