|
English
Who we are
IESB- The Institute for Social and Environmental Studies in Southern
Bahia is a non-profit and non-governmental organization, that
conducts research, field projects, and other activities aimed at
conserving the Atlantic Coastal Forest. It was founded in 1994 by a
group of researchers, educators, and students involved with
socio-environmental issues in the southern region of the State of
Bahia..
Our mission
To conserve biodiversity, promoting the sustainable use of natural
resources and the improvement of living conditions for rural
communities located in the Atlantic Forest.
What we do
IESB main lines of action are:
conducting ecological studies of important plant and animal species;
strengthening rural associations and developing sustainable
agricultural practices; providing incentives for the creation and
management of private reserves; monitoring of forest cover;
delivering environmental education in rural schools; and promoting
public policies that favor local conservation and development
processes.
Where we work
1-Una Biological Reserve
The Biological Reserve of Una is one of the best preserved areas of
Southern Bahia. The reserve’s 11.400 hectares of forest harbor
several threatened animal species, such as the golden-headed lion
tamarin, the yellow-breasted capuchin monkey, and the maned
three-toed sloth. The forest remnants surrounding the reserve, which
are linked to it through cacao plantations and other forest patches,
play an important role in the conservation of this area by forming
habitat corridors.
2 - Una Ecopark (Ecoparque de Una)
The Una Ecopark is a Private Natural Heritage Reserve (Reserva
Particular do Patrimônio Natural - RPPN) that belongs to IESB. It is
located near the city of Una, 45 km South of the city of Ilheus. It
offers visitors the opportunity to experience direct contact with
nature in an interactive and dynamic way, sensitizing them to the
need to conserve natural resources. IESB owns three other reserves:
Nova Angélica Reserve, in Una; Capitão Reserve, in Itacaré; and
Serra das Lontras Reserve, in Arataca. Together, IESB’s reserves
protect 2.100 hectares of forest.
3 - Conduru Ridge State Park
The Conduru Ridge State Park protects forest that is among the world’s
very richest in botanic diversity in the world, with over 450 tree
species in a single hectare. Despite its conservation importance,
the park suffers from timber extraction and hunting.
4- Serra das Lontras Mountain Complex
Lontras Ridge is of great biological importance, since it shelters
one of the last remnants of montane Atlantic Forest. This region
contains several endemic bird species, many recently discovered, and
primate species, such as the yellow-breasted capuchin monkey and the
golden-headed lion tamarin.
How we work
Since its founding, IESB has been
working at the interface between conservation and development,
emphasizing the inclusion of local people and communities in the
search for shared solutions. Our initiatives are always directed
towards reinforcing participatory and cooperative processes, helping
build local competence and stimulating sustainable development.
Actions, Projects and Partners
In 1994, research and extension
projects were initiated with the goal of tackling ecological
feasibility maintenance problems which were plaguing the Una
Biological Reserve, which until then, was considered to be the
key-area in order to preserve regional biodiversity. From the
diagnosis results, important fragments were identified outside of
the conservation unit, although contained within the unit, clearly
showing the need to involve rural communities in conservation
efforts. Thus, IESB began to establish partnerships with rural
producers, with action aimed at environmental education and
dissemination of sustainable agricultural systems, including the
recovery of degraded areas.
IESB also initiated, in 1996, a public policy follow-up program, in
the areas of Agrarian Reform, Tourism and Infra-Structure, along
with support from the Ford Foundation and USAID. This program began
the follow-up of the paving of Highway BA –001 (Ilhéus-Itacaré
section), which cut through important sections of forest in the
North of Una. As a way to mitigate the impact caused by the highway,
the creation of the Serra do Conduru State Park was proposed, in the
year of 1997, which presently has 9,000 ha of area preserved. At the
same time, IESB paid close attention to the unfolding of agrarian
matters, discussing with all segments involved, and thereby avoiding
new settlements in forested areas in the Rebio-Una region, as well
as a new settlement in the Conduru Park area, through negotiations,
the settlers agreed to being transferred to an area less forested
and with better infra-structure for agricultural development.
In 1998, IESB had its proposal approved by Probio/MMA, in order to
develop fauna and flora research in the Southern region of Bahia,
while implementing the Biodiversity Corridor in the Costa do
Descobrimento. In order to make this research more effective, an
extensive partnership was created involving universities (Unicamp,
UFMG and UESC), governmental departments (DDF and CRA), research
centers (CABS, NYBG, UCSB), multilateral co-operation agencies (DECRG/World
Bank) and non-governmental organizations (CI Brasil and SOS Mata
Atlântica).
In the year of 2000, IESB began a partnership with BirdLife
International in order to come up with studies for the region of
Serras das Lontras and Javí, areas which are also found along the
buffer zone of the Una Biological Reserve, where during the last
decade, new species of birds were recorded. Nowadays, IESB
participates of an effort to create a public protected area in this
region.
Since 2001 IESB has coordinated the Biosphere Reserve State
Committee, as part of the Man and Biosphere Program/UNESCO. The
Committee is formed by representatives from the private, scientific
and governmental sectors from16 Bahian institutions, and
representatives from three Regional Sub-Committees formed by twelve
local NGOs and GOs representatives. The Committee is responsible to
implement the Biosphere Reserve in Bahia State and has been
officially recognized by the Environmental Ministry as the
institution responsible to administrate the Atlantic Forest Corridor
Project as part of the Tropical Forest Preservation Pilot Program
supported by the G7.
Since 2002, IESB has been working with the Conservancy to conserve,
restore and manage preserves in Southern Bahia coastal ecoregion.
With the goal of protecting and restoring the spectacular Atlantic
Forest of Southern Bahia, the Conservancy raised and facilitated a
donation given by 3M Foundation to purchase 2 farms in key
biodiversity sites in the region. These farms became private
reserves which has a permanent protection status, and is owned and
managed by IESB, receiving financial assistance and support from TNC
until today.
IESB’s activities have expanded but have always maintained focused
on the conservation of forest ecosystems and the landscape, in
general. Always intervening in an encompassing fashion, IESB
constantly proposes public policies, develops environmental analysis
methodologies and tools, fosters the implementation of economic
alternatives for exploiting renewable natural resources and aids in
building the capacity of local people, through partnerships with
rural communities, research institutions, NGOs, private sector,
universities and government agencies.
While developing its activities, IESB has received support from
various institutions, such as: The Nature Conservancy, BirdLife
International, Europe Union, USAID, Ford Foundation, Conservation
International, WWF, Program for the Protection and Promotion of
Sustainable Use of Brazilian Biodiversity (PROBIO-MMA), Brazilian
Biodiversity Fund (FUNBIO), Durrel Wildlife Preservation Trust,
Santa Cruz State University (UESC), Environmental Resource Center (CRA),
Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural
Resources (IBAMA), Forest Development Department (DDF), Executive
Commission of the Plano da Lavoura Cacaueira (CEPLAC), Marsterfoods
USA, Citigroup Foundation, O Boticário Foundation for the Protection
of Nature (FBPN), BirdLife International, Ministry of the
Environment (MMA), International Education Institute of Brazil (IEB),
Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF), Gambá - Environmentalist Group of
Bahia and the SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation.
IESB’s administration is composed of the General Assembly,
Deliberative Council, Executive Secretary, Technical Coordination,
Administrative Management and Financial Management. Presently, it is
composed of a team of 45 members, with 18 graduate-level
professionals, including seven master and two doctorate degrees.
These are professionals from diverse fields such as agronomy, forest
engineering, biology, economy, law, geography and sociology.
All of IESB’s activities are developed in an integrated and
interdisciplinary way comprising the following Areas:
Sustainable Communities
Partnerships with rural producers
located around the Una Biological Reserve have fostered the organic
production of agroforest systems and the recovery of degraded areas;
Geoprocessing and Environmental
Monitoring
Develops monitoring of land occupation
and use through remote sensing and geographical information systems
(SIG);
Protected Areas and Ecotourism
Supports the dissemination, creation
and management of Private Reserves (RPPN), both the management and
operation of display projects concerning ecotourism which takes in
the RPPN Una Ecopark, besides all the participative management in
the Atlantic Forest Central Corridor;
Environmental Education and
Communication
Capacity building for professors and
dissemination of environmental information around the Una Biological
Reserve and APA Itacaré – Serra Grande; Editing and publication of
the APA Journal, in order to disseminate environmental information
which is distributed in the APA Itacaré - Serra Grande Region and
the elaboration of promotional material concerning conservation and
sustainable development;
Conservation Public Policies
Support in order to implement
financial compensation systems for conservation in the State of
Bahia; Participation in the creation and implementation of Municipal
Environmental Councils of Una and Ilhéus; Analysis of public
policies with a potential impact on the Mata Atlântica Forest,
concerning Agrarian Reform, Tourism and Rural Credit.
Biodiversity
Development of studies concerning the
fauna and flora of the Mata Atlântica Forest in the South of Bahia,
analyzing the effects of fragmentation in the communities’
structures.
|
