New Accommodation Facilities for Students and Researchers
In August 2026, renovation work was completed on the accommodation facilities at the headquarters of the Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu (REGUA), which host researchers and students from universities and academic outreach programmes. The refurbishment has provided improved facilities, offering greater comfort, functionality and flexibility for visitors.
Photos 1, 2 and 3: Accommodation facilities at the beginning of the renovation work in 2025. REGUA Archive © / Photo 4: Completed accommodation refurbishment in 2026. REGUA Archive ©
Renovation work began in August 2025, with the aim of enlarging the bedrooms, increasing the number of bathrooms, improving the internal layout, creating a new communal area and installing a concrete roof slab to enhance thermal comfort.
The building forms part of the original Fazenda do Carmo estate, constructed in the 1910s by Wilmar Werner, the great-grandfather of Nicholas John Locke, REGUA's current director. Following the establishment of REGUA as a Civil Society Organisation (CSO) in 2001, the facilities initially accommodated birdwatchers and subsequently welcomed students from public universities conducting scientific research and field studies on the Atlantic Forest.
The period of refurbishment between 2025 and 2026 marked an important milestone in REGUA's commitment to supporting scientific research. The renovation was made possible through funding from the Fundação Grupo Boticário and Banco TRE, under the Semeando Saberes project, an initiative supporting projects across Brazil that seek to transform the way people perceive and engage with the world.
Photos 1 and 2: Accommodation facilities at the beginning of the renovation work in 2025. REGUA Archive © / Photo 3: Paving work around the accommodation facilities. REGUA Archive © / Photo 4: Main house living room following completion of the painting work. REGUA Archive ©
In August 2026, participants in the University Students' Course, organised as part of the Projeto Replântica, became the first guests to use the refurbished facilities. The accommodation now features freshly painted interiors, modernised bathrooms, more spacious bedrooms, a new communal area, paved walkways and front verandas, a newly installed concrete roof slab and improved internet connectivity.
REGUA extends its sincere gratitude to the Fundação Grupo Boticário and Banco TRE for their invaluable support. Their contribution reinforces the importance of scientific research and strengthens ongoing efforts to conserve and protect the Atlantic Forest, ensuring that the Reserve continues to provide a welcoming and well-equipped environment for future generations of students and researchers.
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