Reforestation of the Atlantic Forest, FASHION and the ARTS
Reforestation of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil - Serra da Beleza
Agro-Restoration Project in partnership with Emater Rio - official environmental agency for the state of Rio de Janeiro
Dalbergia Brazil Project
Rustic nursery, made from our own bamboo and recycled wood.
Endangered Species Propagation Project
Sitio Santo Adolfo
Estrada de Santa Isabel 9211
Município de Valença
Estado do Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Objectives of The Dalbergia Brazil Project
Propagation of endangered species from the Atlantic Forest on a large scale.
Dalbergia nigra 'Jacaranda da Bahia' / 'Brazilian Rosewood' .
Dalbergia nigra 'Jacaranda da Bahia' / 'Brazilian Rosewood' planted by Alair less than one year ago.
The Location
Aerial view of the farm., which is 11 1/2 hectares. The colour coded areas relate to our Agro Reforestation project drawn for us by Emater Rio.
Serra da Beleza: Sítio Beleza da Serra owned by Arnaldo Gonzaga.
The right of the image shows a section of the Atlantic Forest covering five acres which have been pledged to our project’s Environmental Education by Arnaldo. The students and their teachers can have full access.
Serra da Beleza, officially listed by INEA as an area of natural beauty and environmental preservation.
This concept is extended to a radius of 15 kilometres which includes Sítio Santo Adolfo, the location of our Dalbergia Brazil project.
Santo Adolfo Restauration of the Native Forest. We planted 1,200 pioneer trees in this area.
Dicksonia sellowiana 'Samambaia Açú'; an endangered species from the Atlantic Forest.
Serra da Beleza, a monument of natural beauty, listed officially as an area of environmental conservation.
Euterpe edulis 'Palmito Jussara', endangered species from the Atlantic Forest.
Potential areas of propagation at the farm
Area 1.
Semi shade.
Adjacent to a brook that runs along the right-hand side of the farm house which has easy access to irrigation.
Location of our existing rustic nursery made from our own bamboo and recycled wood.
Potential shaded area for the first stages of propagation.
Potential shaded area for the first stages of propagation.
Potential shaded area for the first stages of propagation.
The brook that runs along the farm house has easy access for irrigation and is located along the farm house with native tropical plant borders.
Palmito Jussara grown for us by the Guarani Indians amidst Heliconia psittacorum 'Helicônia Amarela', Anthurium andraenum 'Anthurium', Strelitzia reginae 'Estrelizia - Bird of paradise', Timbauchina granulosa 'Quaresmeira'.
Area 2.
Potential sunny area for the second stage of the propagation process.
There is a smaller brook running along this part of the Bananeiral and a much larger one right at the bottom. We drained this marshy area five years ago in order to plant Banana Prata 'Banana prata Maravilha' sourced for us by Embrapa at Bahia.
Sunny propagation area amidst the Bananeiral.
Sunny propagation area - the Bananeiral.
Dalbergia nigra 'Jacaranda da Bahia' / 'Brazilian Rosewood', planted in the area above the bananeiral.
Alair standing on the rustic bridge that leads to the Cottage, the hub for environmental education. In the background is a large native tree Erythrina Vernacular and large native trees,Erythrina verna 'Mulungú', Persea americana 'Avocado', the Bananeiral, Enterolobium contorstisliquum (Vell.) Morong 'Timbaúva' and Cucurbita pepo 'Pumpkin'.
Sunny area for stage two of the propagation process amidst the banana plantation. There is a brook to the left and a larger stream at the bottom of the marshy area. It is no longer too wet as we drained it with the help of Guinho.
Environmental workshops with local schools
The educational aspect: interaction and participation of the local community is a key element of the project.
After a successful meeting with the directors of three local schools, we have three that have come on board our Environmental Education Project:
Conservatoria
Colégio Estadual Alfredo Gomes
Escola Municipal Maria Medianeira
Santa Isabel
Colégio Estadual Doutor Guilherme Milward
Pedro Carlos
Workshops on Environmental Education
A new partner of our project is INEA - Instituto Estadual do Ambiente, the official environmental organisation of the State of Rio de Janeiro which has an ongoing environmental education project with five local schools. The cottage will become the headquarters of their workshops.
Santa Isabel.
Locomotive - Conservatoria.
Colégio Estadual Alfredo Gomes Conservatoria.
Escola Municipal Maria Medianeira.
Colégio Estadual Doutor Guilherme Milward at Santa Isabel.
Ongoing Agro Reforestation project in partnership with Emater Rio.
We are entering the fifth year of our project which started in 2019 with the planting of hundreds of Euterpe edulis 'Palmito Jussara ' along the borders of five brooks grown for us by the Indios Guarani in Angra dos Reis.
Farm Cottage Educational Hub
Project Director Cristina Carneiro de Mendonça restored this cottage over a three year period with the support of family and friends, using local artisans for the interior decorating. Her original vision has come to fruition; a partner with Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. Professor Leles will hold environmental workshop studies here, with pupils from three local schools. Our involvement with the local community is an integral part of our collaboration with Kew Gardens.
Farm Cottage Educational Hub.
Farm cottage amidst exuberant native trees. INEA - Instituto Estadual do Ambiente official department of the State of Rio de Janeiro has an ongoing project with five local schools and wishes to join forces with us. They do not have access to workshop premises; the Cottage will be available as part of their program and our project with Kew Gardens.
Restored Farm Cottage Hub for Environmental Education with pupils from 3 local schools: Santa Isabel, Pedro Carlos - Conservatoria.
Educational Hub of the project restored farm cottage, showing traditional hammocks and herb garden.
Project Director Cristina Carneiro de Mendonça in the Educational Hub hammock.
Dining room that will double as a lecture room.
One of the bedrooms.
The kitchen.
Launch party to celebrate the inauguration of the cottage.
Three generations of a family. Claudineia, her son Dudu with his grandfather Senhor Batista - a very talented local artisan.
Our Team
Marcia Lage
Journalist, landscape designer
Plantswoman with courses on permaculture and environmental restoration Major hands-on volunteer in our Agro Reforestation project entering its fifth year Marcia created our first nursery to propagate native species from the Atlantic Forest.
Professor Paulo Sérgio Leles
Forester, Master of Science of Forestry, PHD
Expertise to be shared with our project :
Environmental education - workshops at the restored Farm Cottage - Groups of 12/15 students from local schools.
Dalbergia nigra propagation project.
Hands on collaboration of students from UFRRJ under his tutelage.
Amanda Reis Karoly
Biologist with 10 years experience.
Amanda was the major collaborator over the last five in our partnership with Conexão Mata Atlantica, heading the donation of many species of rare native and pioneer native trees for our project.
Studied at Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro.
In the 1990’ s he worked for a number of years in the City of Rio de Janeiro and Nova Iguaçu on the Restoration and Reforestation of 503 hectares he owns and manages. Renato propagates and markets native trees and ornamentals in Viveiro de Valença.
Renato supplied thousands of native trees for our project Their vulgar and scientific names are listed in our website.
Mariana Ribeiro Vieira
Master in Forestry
Studied at Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro and a Post graduate of Finatec, Mariana has expertise in restoration of forests:
Environmental education
Agro Reforestation
Propagation of Native species.
Alair Pereira
Farm manager
Farm manager with us for the last twenty years, Alair was in charge of planting thousands of native trees with his team under the professional tutelage and hands on collaboration of Marcia Lage.
Alair manages the farm the banana plantation and provides follow up care of the native trees.
Guinho
Contributor to the project
Trustworthy hard working collaborator of the Agro Reforestation project at Santo Adolfo over the last five years, Guinho is able and willing to work full time under Marcia Lage and Alair, the farm manager.
Guinho lives in Pedro Carlos which is 4 klm away so arrives by bus at 7am and leaves at 4 or 5 pm.
Arnaldo Gonzaga
Restaurateur
Cattle rancher and dairy farmer at Sitio Beleza da Serra at Serra da Beleza, Arnaldo has embraced our project and will be giving full access to five acres of Atlantic Forest at his property.
Arnaldo will supply fresh milk and cheese from his farm to students attending our Environmental Educational workshops.
