Guaraqueçaba-BR: maio 2013

We would like to introduce you one of the most important forest rain remaining in Brazil, considered reserve of biosphere by UNESCO - Guaraqueçaba.

We're looking for partnership with foreigners institutions to develop social projects on this area.

We need your support to sponsor the social developing and helping the native people to live in this region without destroying the environmental.

We invite YOU to get to know this fantastic place in Brazil and maybe we could establish a partnership to develop some project here.

Guaraqueçaba - Located in the coastal area of Paraná 10 meters above sea level, it has the largest remnant of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest in Brazil. It encompasses an area of 1.915,95 Km2 (315.241 hectare) and holds 4 units of conservation with 7.871 inhabitants in 2012.

Originally, there were several Indian nations in this region. Hence, during the Portuguese settlement, Indians were gradually exterminated from our coastal areas, leaving their heritage that still remains among the local population. Caiçaras are a living example of this fusion between Indians and settlers.

This area was settled by the Portuguese in 1545. It was the first settlement in the state of Paraná. Around the year of 1638. Many miners and fortune-hunters came to explore the rivers looking for gold. Soon after the Jesuits came, they established a religious and agricultural settlement in the Superagui region. The first local community was then established. But only during the last century, when a chapel was built in the hill of Quitumbê, other buildings were constructed forming a small village. Later on it was taken over by the municipality of Paranaguá. In 1947 its autonomy was restored and Guaraqueçaba was recognized as an independent municipality.

There are two main economic activities in these communities: fishing that involves the whole community and agriculture, restricted to familiar maintenance. Besides, they still combine collecting, extractive activities and handicrafts.

The association of fish and yucca flour is one of the most general aspects of caiçaras’ diet, divided in these days between the need for money expressed by the intense relation with urban culture and fear of losing their group’s identity as simple fishermen living in preserved areas.

Guaraqueçaba is comprised mainly by the Dense Ombrophilous Forest (68.6% of total area) and secondary forests (9.1%), indicating a forested landscape matrix; anthropogenic and bare soil areas (0.8%) and the Pasture/Grasslands class (4.2%) were less representative. Slopes were less fragmented and more preserved (96.3% of Dense Ombrophilous Forest and secondary forest) than lowlands (71.3%), suggesting that restoration initiatives in the lowlands must be stimulated in this region. We concluded that most of the region sustains well-conserved ecosystems, highlighting the importance of Paraná northern coast for the biodiversity maintenance of the Atlantic Forest.

The landscape analysis of Guaraqueçaba, showed that the region is dominated by forests (83% of the total area), indicating that the matrix may be considered forested and in a good state of conservation. Differences in land use between lowlands and slopes suggest that management initiatives, such as forest restoration, must be encouraged in most fragmented lowland areas.

The Dense Ombrophilous Forest (68.6% of the total area) and secondary forests (9.5%) were the most representative classes in Guaraqueçaba. Several studies have demonstrated high species richness in areas of primary and secondary forests in the region. Old growth forests are important source of seeds and shelter for animals in the coastal Atlantic Forest. On the other hand, although secondary forests are a limited habitat for some species, some studies have demonstrated that a large number of specialist species can be found in plantations and secondary forests in Atlantic Forest landscapes. Mangroves (5.3% of the total area) are well conserved in Guaraqueçaba region. It is possible that these mangroves are one of the most important fragments in Paraná State, highlighting the significance of its preservation.

Pastures and grasslands (4.2%) and disturbed and bare soil areas (1%) are less representative in Guaraqueçaba. Buffalo farms were common in the region in the 1970s and 1980s. After that, the cattle breeding was abandoned and a large part of the region became protected area.Thus, conservation initiatives should take this into consideration for guaranteeing ecosystem resilience.

Slopes and lowlands are very distinctive landscapes in Guaraqueçaba. Slopes not only comprise a larger proportion of the area (67%), but they are also more forested (Dense Ombrophilous Forest and secondary forest) and better preserved than lowlands (96.3 and 71.3% of the compartment area, respectively). The great elevation in the sea mountain range was one important barrier to anthropization in Atlantic Forest, where the largest remaining fragments are found.