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By Lee Dingain Environmentalist and nature photographer Juran Santos has long been capturing images of animals in the Atlantic Forest and began visiting REGUA regularly six years ago to record and monitor wildlife at the reserve, setting up camera traps along various trails assisted by Keepers of the Wild Ranger Rildo da Rosa Oliveira. Camera traps are ideal for observing wildlife with minimal disturbance and provide rare insights into the behaviour of species that are only very rarely seen. Puma, Margay, Ocelot, Southern Tamandua, Tayra, Crab-eating Fox, and Northern Three-striped Opossum are among the highly elusive mammals recorded by Juran’s camera traps at REGUA to date, with secretive forest-floor birds like Solitary Tinamou, including family parties and mating pairs; foraging flocks of Spot-winged Wood-Quail, and the Rufous-breasted Leaftosser also captured on video. Nothing, however, had prepared Juran and Rildo for what the camera trap video files downloaded last week revealed—REGUA’s first-ever Maned Wolf. The largest canid found in South America, this ‘fox on stilts’ is easily recognized by its incredibly long black legs—an adaptation to its grassland habitat—long reddish-brown fur, large ears, white-tipped tail, and black mane on its neck and back from which it gets its name. The Maned Wolf is associated with hot and dry open habitats such as grasslands with shrub and open canopy woodland in Brazil’s interior (Cerrado) and Paraguay (Chaco) and strongly avoids forested habitats with a closed canopy. They are rarely found in the humid forested slope of the Serra dos Órgãos mountains where REGUA is located, so the appearance of this individual in the dense rainforest at REGUA is a great surprise. So what brought it here? Loss of their habitat to agriculture, retaliatory killing for depredation on livestock, poaching for zoos and collections, trophy hunting, and infectious diseases spread by domestic dogs are all threats to this species. Maned Wolves are forced to travel farther afield for food and water, and habitat fragmentation by roads and increased road traffic has led to many being killed by vehicles throughout their range. The individual recorded at REGUA may have been passing through in search of its preferred grassland habitat, or perhaps it has expanded its foraging area. Either way, the protected forest of the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve provides a refuge for this magnificent animal as well as all other species captured by Juran on camera trap.

On Monday January 22nd, REGUA in partnership with SOS Mata Atlântica, promoted a tree planting event at Solar da REGUA with Globo staff members. In 2021, Solar da Regua, a 119 hectare property was acquired by REGUA as part of its land purchase strategy for conserving and restoring the Guapiacu watershed. This was made possible with the support of Saving Nature and friends of REGUA. In this area, there is a diversity of more than 115 different Atlantic Forest tree saplings. All saplings are produced at REGUA’s nursery. Rede Globo’s communication and sustainability teams felt inspired by Renascer Brazilian soap opera which addresses the symbiosis between man and nature. The team had the chance to appreciate the majestic Jequitibá tree at Parque Estadual dos Três Picos and to plant a native Atlantic Forest sapling at REGUA. In spite of the rain, it was a very successful and rewarding experience!

Last Wednesday (20/03), the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve held an internal workshop called Flavors of the Land, in celebration of World Meatless Day. The initiative raised awareness among the team regarding the topic and also showed in practice that it is possible to eat well in a healthier way. The workshop was taught by chef Lisangela Otilia, who has been dedicated to producing vegan and inclusive food for 10 years.. The term “inclusive diet” refers to the suitability of food for people with dietary restrictions, various allergies or who do not consume some ingredients by choice. Her passion for developing healthy foods came arose after her father's illness, who suffered from diabetes. Since then, she has increasingly specialized in how to develop a quality inclusive diet, using local ingredients accessible to all audiences. "Living in the countryside and having to adapt to regional products, that is the ideal food style," she said. World Meat Free Day is an initiative that seeks to raise awareness of the environmental, ethical and health impacts associated with the consumption of products of animal origin. Celebrated annually in several countries around the world, this day encourages people to try meat-free meals and consider vegetarian and vegan alternatives in their diet. Environmental impact: Meat production has a significant environmental impact, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, excessive water use and pollution. Reporting: Jefferson Alves

On the 2nd March, the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve held the first Baby Nature meeting dedicated to pregnant women of this year. The event, with future moms, took place on a Saturday morning full of special activities that develop the connection and bonds with nature. Several health speakers attended the event highlighting the importance of establishing direct bonds with the environment for a healthy pregnancy. "Recognizing how important nature is and not dissociating it from humans. I find it very important to talk about techniques of what to do or not during pregnancy in a space like REGUA, in the midst of nature," said the gynecologist and voluntary obstetrician, Sidnei Lagôas. The Baby Nature program began in August 2022 and aims to strengthen the child's bond with nature. Six meetings are held during the year, the first for pregnant women, the second for children 1 and 2 years old, the third for 3 -year -olds, the fourth for 4 -year -olds, the fifth for 5 -year -olds and the sixth for 6 year old children. Photos: Márcio Mendes

In this carnival, we were present in some popular leisure locations around REGUA, with the purpose of sensitizing both tourists, the people that frequent our rivers and waterfalls about the importance of collecting their own garbage after enjoying our crystal clear waters. This inniciative aimed at the conservation of natural resources, allowing their rational and sustainable use, thus ensuring its availability for future generations. In total approximately 500 garbage bags of 50 liters each were distributed to the visitors of the resorts. We are much gratful for the warm reception and affection demonstrated by all.

Starting in 2021, the partnership between WWF Brazil and REGUA continues to be very successful. In this new phase, 25 hectares of forest were planted at REGUA's property "Solar da REGUA", an area acquired with the support of Saving Nature and friends. Around 40 thousand seedlings of native Atlantic Forest species were planted in this area. “It hasn’t been a year since we started planting and we already have specimens of this size,” said Aline Damasceno de Azevedo, REGUA’s forestry engineer, showing a Guapuruvu tree measuring more than two meters in height. These first species have their seeds propagated by the wind, as the animals have not yet arrived. “We expect the forest to be colonized first by birds, and then small mammals, such as rodents. As the forest area develops, it is expected that larger animals will also appear, such as the tapirs themselves, which were reintroduced by REFAUNA project under the auspices of REGUA and Project Guapiaçu. Different forest restoration techniques were used in this area, including native Atlantic Forest sapling planting, supplementary planting, and seeding dispersal (the latter was done in partnership with the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ). ESSENTIAL. Considering the partnership between WWF Brazil and REGUA, key to the fullfilement of REGUA's mission which is to recover and protect the biodiversity of the Guapiaçu River Basin, Alexander Copello, consultant who manages the project, spoke about how the forest restoration work enables the creation of forest corridors, known as ecological corridors, a strategy to rescue the biodiversity of a given degraded region. - These partnerships are essential, from acquiring the area to connecting forest fragments, and creating biodiversity corridors, to then carrying out restoration activities. This demands financial and human resources, which is why partnerships are so important. Specifically here at Solar da REGUA, we have this technical-financial partnership with WWF Brazil, which is essential. Without these partnerships, resources cannot be allocated to carry out the restoration project – declared Alexsander. LEGACY. Highlighting that the great legacy after the reforestation of the area will be enjoyed by the entire society (with the recharge of the region's water bodies and the guarantee of water supply for human consumption), the manager believes that, given the excellent results achieved, the partnership between WWF Brasil and REGUA has the potential to establish itself for a long time (the current contract ends in March 2025). - REGUA has 23 years of technical reputation and we have verified, during technical visits from partners, the success of our projects and initiatives. REGUA has achieved this result, and the institution hopes that this partnership will continue to perpetuate its activities - concluded Alexsander. ECONOMIC IMPACT. The REGUA Solar Farm reforestation project directly employs 10 people, eight of these workers living in the Guapiaçu region, which generates income in the region and the distribution of this income in the local economy. In addition to the other projects carried out by REGUA, the total number of workers in the Reserve reaches 50 people, with the majority being residents of the entity's surroundings. Article published by Jornal Estado em Notícias

Veronika Perková, Journalist & Host of the podcast Nature Solutionaries sits down with Micaela Locke, REGUA’s  Research and Communications Coordinator to talk about her family’s dedication to Brazil’s “other” rainforest. When Micaela Locke, a young Brazilian conservationist, speaks about her work at Guapiaçu Nature Reserve, she is radiant. No wonder. It’s rare to come across such a nice conservation story. Her family’s property, which could have been turned into a condominium or a factory back in the 1990s, has instead become a vibrant 11,000-hectare nature reserve buzzing with wildlife. In this interview, Micaela Locke talks about protecting biodiversity in the Atlantic Forest in Brazil and creating a corridor for wildlife by planting trees sourced from seeds the surrounding rainforest. Welcome, Micaela! While the Amazon is the largest and best-known rainforest in Latin America, the Atlantic Forest rarely makes it into the headlines of international news. And yet, it’s incredibly important for global biodiversity conservation. Can you briefly describe why it is so unique? The Atlantic Forest is among the biologically richest and most diverse forests in the world with high levels of fauna and flora, which is found nowhere else on the planet. Its mosaic of different ecosystems ranges from humid, dry and coastal forests to mangroves. The forest is home to around 20,000 species of plants and 2,100 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish. Some of the region’s most iconic animals, such as pumas, ocelots, tapirs and woolly spider monkeys, live in the Atlantic Forest. This incredible biodiversity is under threat because it’s estimated that less than 16% of the forest cover remains today. How can we best protect what’s left and prevent further degradation? Thanks to the Atlantic Forest National Law created in 2006 and the creation of parks, illegal logging and poaching have decreased throughout the country. People know that if they cut a tree, they will be prosecuted. So I believe the best solution is to turn the remaining forests into parks, which is already happening across Brazil. In the state of Rio de Janeiro, around 30% of the original forest cover (1 million hectares) is already legally protected by the Atlantic Forest National Law. REGUA protects over 11,000 hectares of the Atlantic Forest in the Guapiaçu watershed. How did you manage to create such a big protected area? It all began with my great grandfather, who moved from Germany to Rio de Janeiro state in 1895. He established his business (a silk factory) in Petropolis and bought land in the Guapiaçu watershed.  The third generation understood the relevance of protecting the remaining forest within the property and decided to create a private nature reserve in the late 1990’s. What an interesting story! Since then REGUA has been protecting the forest and its biodiversity by expanding the nature reserve through land acquisition and partnership agreements, right? Yes. In 2002, we increased the size of the reserve to 2,000 hectares. That’s where we created the offices, lodge and housing for visitors. Thanks to partners, such as SavingNature, we’ve been buying more land every year. We now own 8,000 hectares and additional 3,000 hectares through partnership agreements. What is your goal? How much do you want to expand the reserve? We want to double the size of REGUA in the Guapiaçu watershed. This area is important for three reasons: It safeguards a vital watershed for 2.5 million residents of eastern Metropolitan Rio de Janeiro city, builds habitat for biodiversity, and sequesters carbon dioxide to fight climate change. Is it easy to buy land? It has become easier over the years, because people trust REGUA’s conservation work. We often have people coming to our office to offer their properties for sale.  We usually buy land on slopes not suitable for farming or eroded hills and grasslands degraded from cattle grazing and areas that were burned for crops in the past. Check out the full interview: https://savingnature.com/2023/11/20/planting-trees-and-hope-in-the-atlantic-forest-of-brazil/

On November 24, in partnership with Professor Aroldo Ferreira Lopes Machado from the Agronomy Institute of UFRRJ, REGUA, together with the Municipal Council for Rural Development (CMDR), organized a training session for rural producers from different communities in the municipality of Cachoeiras de Macacu. Representatives from the communities of Vecchi, Serra Queimada, Faraó, São José da Boa Morte, and the Rural Workers and Producers and Family Farming Unions were present. Representatives from the Workers' Health Surveillance Department (from the Municipal Health Department), students from the Postgraduate Program in Plant Science at UFRRJ, and REGUA collaborators were also present. Representing the municipal government were the Municipal Secretary of Agriculture, José Marcos de Gois, and agricultural engineer Beatriz Cordeiro Alcântara Cunha. It was a moment of great information exchange, where many doubts and concerns from rural workers in our region and neighboring regions could be heard and clarified by professionals and researchers specializing in agronomy.

https://brasil.mongabay.com/2023/04/restauracao-transforma-pastagens-em-refugio-de-vida-selvagem-na-mata-atlantica/

On November 4, the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA) launched a documentary called Stars of the Land. This production tells the stories of local residents over 70 years old from the localities surrounding the institution. The main objective was to rescue the local culture, emphasizing the relationship between people and the environment together with the sense of belonging. The debut event was attended by residents of neighboring communities; children, young people and adults came together to watch stories of overcoming, learning, pain and joy. It was an afternoon marked by emotional moments. The documentary is available on the official YouTube channel and here on the website. Event supporters: City Hall of Cachoeiras de Macacu, Macacu Cine, Aquilo que Eu Faço and Lets Fly. This was an initiative of the "Sou(L)" program, which has the general objective of promoting quality of life and the harmonious integration of human beings with nature. This program is dedicated to fostering a deeper and more conscious connection between the local community and the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve, through planting activities, training, courses and events aimed at the surrounding community, seeking to achieve a sustainable balance between human development and environmental preservation.

The Southern Muriqui ( Brachyteles arachnoides ) is the largest primate in the Americas, found only in the Atlantic Forest, in the Serra do Mar of Paraná, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and a small area of ​​Minas Gerais states. Its population has been declining in recent years due to the fragmentation of forests and predatory hunting. This species is classified under the "critically threatened" category by the IUCN red list. This year, in May, we started the Muriqui Monitoring Program, held here at REGUA/PETP, with the active participation of the Rildo da Rosa ranger and the employee Gabriel Teixeira, along with the researchers of the Caminhos da Mata Atlantica iniciative with the support of the ASA - Institute of Socio - Environmental Action. The objective is to find and map the Muriqui populations within this territory using mainly the active search method.

Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) will be funding REGUA's socio-environmental education initiatives in 2024 which include the Young Ranger, Baby and Nature, School Visitation and the Community Outreach Programmes. On August 2nd, Mr Yoshiteru Kawai, Executive Vice-President Director of Mitsubishi Corporation Brasil S.A. (MCB) and General Manager of the Rio Branch of MCB, Mr Atsushi Sakurai, Managing Director of the Coordination Department of MCB and Mrs Saori Matsubara, Manager of the Coordination Department of MCB came to REGUA to meet the team, as well as the Young rangers and local members of the Japanese agricultural community in REGUA's vicinity. A Momerandum Of Understading (MOU) was signed in between REGUA and MC. It was a memorable event! We also had the Funchal and Papucaia Japonese Kaikan (club) members attending this lovely event. They talked about the history of their colony in Cachoeiras de Macacu municipality and were delighted to meet MC representatives. We are also very happy to have signed a MOU between REGUA and Cachoeiras de Macacu Municipal Education Department. It is an honor to have MC sponsoring REGUA's socio-environmenatl programme which aims at contributing to the on-going process of promoting fairer and ecologically balanced societies.