Brasília - Yesterday (12), the Ministry of Environment (MMA), in conjunction with the United Nations Education, Science, and Culture Organization (Unesco) and the non-governmental organizations Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, and the WWF Brazil, launched the Biodiversity Conservation Program for World Natural Patrimony Sites in Brazil. The partnership will guarantee US$ 4.5 million in investments to strengthen environmental preservation in these areas.

Altogether, there are seven such sites in the country, but only five of them will receive attention in the initial phase of the program: Jaú National Park (AM), Iguaçu National Park (PR), 25 Atlantic Rain Forest conservation units in reserves in the Southeast (SP and PR), 8 protected areas on the Discovery Coast (BA and ES), and 4 areas in the Pantanal (MT and MS).

The program will permit local populations to participate in training courses to work as guides and consultants in the conservation of the reserves. It will also stimulate tourism, attracting investments to these communities. "We had many conservation units that were created without a standard of community involvement. This caused many conflicts," said the Executive Secretary of the MMA, Cláudio Langoni. In his view, one of the big challenges of the project will be to raise the consciousness of these populations.

Langoni informed that the MMA is studying the creation of new conservation units between now and the end of the year. According to him, the main focus should be on areas to combat deforestation in the Amazon.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Marina Domingos
Translator: David Silberstein
08/13/2004