Sustainable development reserve (Brazil)


A sustainable development reserve in Brazil is a type of protected area inhabited by a traditional population that seeks to preserve nature while maintaining and improving the life of the population through sustainable development.

Background

The concept of Sustainable Development Reserves originated in the Projeto Mamirauá launched in the early 1990s by the Sociedade Civil Mamirauá.
The project followed the principle of management based on scientific research and controlled use of natural resources.
The local population participates actively in the planning process and in responsible for managing and monitoring the area.
Key aspects are that the strategy can adapt to changes in the market, private property is maintained, plans are implemented to improve living conditions, and the local people partner with government agencies and NGOs to develop proposals for sustainable use.
The Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve was established in 1996, the first such reserve in Brazil.
The adjacent Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve was established in 1998 after the successful implementation of the Mamirauá reserve, and was fully supported by the local people.
They already recognized the importance of preserving the vegetation and animals that they depend upon for their livelihood.
The new category of protected area was included in the National Protected Areas System, which defined types of protected area of Brazil in 2000.

Structure

A Sustainable Development Reserve holds traditional populations that live by sustainable exploitation of natural resources, developed over generations and adapted to the local ecology, and that protect nature and maintain biological diversity.
The goals are to preserve nature while preserving and improving the quality of life of the traditional populations, and to advance scientific knowledge and understanding of traditional techniques for managing the environment.
The land in an RDS is in the public domain, and may be expropriated.
Land use is regulated according to Law 9985 article 23 and in specific regulations.
A board of directors is chaired by the administrative agency and includes representatives of public bodies, civil society organizations and traditional populations living in the area.
A management plan is created by the administrative agency, which recognises the dynamic balance between conservation goals and the size of the population.
Natural ecosystems may be exploited sustainably, and cultivation of introduced species is allowed, subject to the management plan.
The plan defines areas where the ecology is fully protected, buffer zones, zones of sustainable use and ecological corridors.
Public visits to the RDS are allowed and encouraged where compatible with local interests and the management plan.
Scientific research and education with focus on conservation of nature are also encouraged.

Selected reserves

Conservation UnitLevelStateArea CreatedBiome
AlcobaçaStatePará36,1282002
AmanãStateAmazonas2,350,0001998Amazon
AripuanãStateAmazonas224,2912005Amazon
AventureiroStateRio de Janeiro1,3122014Coastal Marine
BararatiStateAmazonas113,6062005Amazon
Barra do UnaStateSão Paulo1,4872006Coastal Marine
Barreiro/AnhemasStateSão Paulo3,1752008Atlantic Forest
CanumãStateAmazonas22,3552005Amazon
Concha D'OstraStateEspírito Santo9532003Atlantic Forest
CujubimStateAmazonas2,450,3802003Amazon
DespraiadoStateSão Paulo3,9532006Atlantic Forest
Igapó-AçuStateAmazonas397,5572009Amazon
ItapanhapimaStateSão Paulo1,2432008Atlantic Forest
Itatupã-BaquiáFederalPará64,7352005
JumaStateAmazonas589,6112006Amazon
LavrasStateSão Paulo8902008Atlantic Forest
MamirauáStateAmazonas1,124,0001990Amazon
MatupiriStateAmazonas179,0832009Amazon
Nascentes GeraizeirasFederalMinas Gerais38,1772014Cerrado
Piagaçu-PurusStateAmazonas1,008,1672003Amazon
PinheirinhosStateSão Paulo1,5312008Atlantic Forest
Pucuruí-ArarãoStatePará29,0492002
Puranga ConquistaStateAmazonas76,9362014Amazon
Quilombos de Barra do TurvoStateSão Paulo5,8262008Atlantic Forest
Rio AmapáStateAmazonas216,1092005Amazon
Rio IratapuruStateAmapá806,1841997
Rio MadeiraStateAmazonas283,1172006Amazon
Rio NegroStateAmazonas103,0862008Amazon
TupéMunicipalAmazonas11,9302005Amazon
UacariStateAmazonas632,9492005Amazon
UatumãStateAmazonas424,4302004Amazon
UrariáMunicipalAmazonas59,1372001Amazon