Atlantic Forest Conservation in Brazil
The 2010 Latin American National Geographic Buffett Award was given to Vitor Osmar Becker and his wife Clemira Ordonez Souza, of the Instituto Uiracu in Brazil. The couple created the Serra Bonita Reserve Complex, using their savings and retirement benefits to purchase nearly 5,000 acres of threatened Atlantic Forest in Bahia, Brazil.
Becker and Souza then created the non–profit, non–government Instituto Uiracu which continues to expand the reserve and coordinate efforts to study and restore this threatened ecosystem. The name, Istituto Uiracu, is taken from the local word for the harpy eagle (Harpia Harpyja). This once common bird is now functionally extinct within the Brazilian Atlantic forest. Becker and Souza hope that the restoration and protection of the Serra Bonita mountain range might result in the return of the harpy eagle and other native wildlife.
The Serra Bonita mountain range, part of the Atlantic Forest, is known for its tremendous biodiversity. Preliminary surveys have found 458 species of tree, more than 680 species of plants, 400 species of birds, 5,000 species of butterflies and moths and 75 species of wild bees. Many of the plants and animals in this area are new to science.
Four primate species are found in Serra Bonita, including the endangered golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) and the critically endangered yellow-breasted capuchin (Cebus xanthosternos). Two other primates, the brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba) and the critically endangered northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus), have become locally extinct. Instituto Uiracu hopes to reintroduce both back into the area when enough land is protected to ensure their survival.
Becker and Souza have gone well beyond just buying land to be managed as a conservation trust, or Private Natural Heritage Reserve, as it is known under Brazilian law. In the longer term they are working to bring the more than 18,000 acres that make up the entire Serra Bonita mountain range into the Serra Bonita Reserve Complex. They have developed environmental education programs focused on improving community-based natural resource conservation in the area and developing sustainable food production and income producing projects for the people of the area.
Instituto Uiracu also supports a team of park rangers, hired from the local community, who protect the conservation land from illegal logging, poaching and forest fires. Restoration of some of the former plantations they have acquired is another important aspect of their natural resource management work.
The organization is spearheading research into the plants and animals of the Serra Bonita mountain range, many of which are endemic and little studied. To enhance this work, a research station and lodge have been built so that visiting scientists can stay and work within the Serra Bonita Reserve.
The most obvious need for the Instituto Uiracu is funding to allow them to purchase more land. Through their Adopt an Acre of the Serra Bonita Reserve program, Becker and Souza use the interest on money donated to purchase land. The capital remains as an ongoing investment, ensuring the future of Instituto Uiracu. Other donations are used to provide salaries, equipment and uniforms for the park rangers. The Instituto also encourages interested parties to contact them regarding volunteering on their projects.
National Geographic Buffett Awards are given annually for Leadership in Latin American and African Conservation. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation provides funding for the 25,000USD prizes, which are given in recognition of work that improves natural resource management, enable winners to continue and potentially expand their work.