The foundation for the Guaraquecaba
Climate Action Project is the 17,000-acre preserve created
through the purchase of several large buffalo ranches. The water
buffalo were removed from the ranches. The avoided deforestation
of those portions of the ranches yet to be cleared, along with
the assisted reforestation of the cleared pastures, will
eventually restore this section of the ecosystem. Over 500,000
trees of 90 different native species will be replanted into
regeneration "islands," providing seed sources for the
natural recovery of the remainder of the cleared areas. The
preserve is being patrolled against illegal activities such as
logging, heart-of-palm harvesting, hunting and clearing. Patrols
are carried out by vehicle, boat, on horseback and on foot.
Infrastructure will be built to accommodate guards, researchers
and possible future, non-destructive ecotourism.
The preserve itself consists of
mountains, valleys, coastal lowlands, rivers, marshes
and
mangroves. The preserve has been given the name Serra do
Itaqui Natural Reserve, after the local mountain range.
Mammals that likely exist there include jaguar, ocelot, coati,
monkeys, tapir and agouti. The crocodile-like caiman inhabits
the waterways. Many beautifully-colored birds such as
black-and-white hawk-eagle, red-tailed parrot, black jacobin
hummingbird, red-breasted toucan, vermilion flycatcher,
bare-throated bellbird, azure jay, red-necked and green-headed
tanagers, black-headed berryeater and roseate spoonbill can be
found in the preserve.
