REGUA Holds Fourth Replântica Project Course in 2025.

Between 2 and 11 July 2025, the fourth course of the year under the Replântica Project was held at the headquarters of the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA), located in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The training brought together women from across the municipality of Cachoeiras de Macacu, with a focus on forest restoration.

Photos: REGUA Archives ©

Designed to promote both technical and practical knowledge in ecological restoration, the course offered a series of workshops and hands-on activities aimed at strengthening the skills of the participants. Among the highlights was the biojewellery workshop, led by Professors Fátima Pinha and Mônica Carvalho. This activity, unprecedented in the Replântica curriculum, taught participants how to reuse ungerminated forest seeds by transforming them into handcrafted jewellery — a sustainable practice with potential for income generation.

Photos: REGUA Archives ©

The programme also included classes on agroforestry systems. Participants visited the Maloca Florestal property, where they had the opportunity to observe, in practice, both a well-established agroforestry system and another in its early development, enabling a deeper understanding of the topic.

Following the field visit, the participants engaged in the implementation of an agroforestry system (SAF) within REGUA itself, in an area designated for practical activities. This site will serve as a training ground for future courses offered through the project.

Another significant component of the course was the taboa fibre handicraft workshop, led by local artisan Marta Silva, a resident of Cachoeiras de Macacu. The activity fostered the appreciation of traditional knowledge and highlighted the value of locally sourced, sustainable materials.

Additionally, participants were introduced to planting techniques, seed identification and collection, and practical strategies for the restoration of degraded areas.

Over the course of five days, the training programme not only facilitated the exchange of technical knowledge but also reinforced the important role of women in environmental conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.

Photos: REGUA Archives ©

The initiative is part of the Replântica Project, promoted by the Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT) at the TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences in Germany, in partnership with REGUA and the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ).