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On the last Saturday of October, the 25th, the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve hosted the Roots that Lead  event, aimed at women participating in the Replântica Project training courses in 2024 and 2025. The gathering sought to strengthen the women’s network established in 2024 and to empower women within the field of forest restoration. Photo: Márcio Mendes. The event brought together more than 80 participants and was a source of great joy for the entire organising team. Several activities took place throughout the day, including a bio-jewellery workshop with Professor Fátima Piña-Rodrigues from the Federal University of São Carlos, and artisan and designer Monica Carvalho. There was also a discussion circle, affectionately named Among Them , which welcomed leading figures from the forest restoration sector, such as the Partnership and Project Coordinator at Sinal do Vale Institute, Katie Weintraub; fisherwoman and Mangrove Planting Coordinator at the Mangezal Fluminense Cooperative, Eugênia Maria dos Santos; Professor Claudia Moster from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro; and forest engineer Aline Damasceno. These women formed a panel, sharing their experiences and insights in forest restoration, inspiring and encouraging other women to follow this path and demonstrating that there is room for everyone. Photo: Márcio Mendes The event concluded with the planting of a seedling of Eugenia guapiassuana , a species named by researchers in honour of the Guapiaçu region, in the municipality of Cachoeiras de Macacu, where it was first identified by Messias Gomes da Silva, a staff member at the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA).

Over the course of one month, every Wednesday and Friday from 20 August to 8 October, young people from communities surrounding the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve, located in Cachoeiras de Macacu, Rio de Janeiro State, as well as from urban areas of the municipality, took part at REGUA in the sixth and final course of the Replântica Project in 2025. Photo: REGUA collection © The course aimed to promote both theoretical and practical knowledge in forest restoration and entrepreneurship, as the age group included young participants between 17 and 26 years old — the so-called “Generation Z”. The programme featured several guest speakers from the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), who addressed topics such as Financial Education, Planting, Seedling Production, Ecopsychology, among many other subjects that guided the students on a meaningful learning journey. Photos: REGUA collection © The programme also included the participation of SEBRAE  from Cachoeiras de Macacu, represented by Maria José , who spoke to the young participants about entrepreneurship today. Professionals such as Vitor Marigo  (Nature Photography), João Nogueira  and Jefferson Alves  (Marketing in Nature), Tarcísio Cunha  (Ecotourism and Trail Demarcation), and the team from REGUA’s Environmental Education Department — represented by Leandro França , Sara Gomes , and Yasmim Xavier  — also contributed to enriching the learning experience across diverse areas. Photos: REGUA collection © With the aim of providing a broader view of the world, the young participants also took part in field trips. At the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) , Seropédica campus, they were able to experience first-hand the daily life of a public university, visiting its facilities, accommodation, and even having lunch alongside university students. At Recanto Nosso Cantinho , in Serra Queimada, Cachoeiras de Macacu, the owners José Ricardo do Couto  and Simone Coelho  complemented the Ecotourism lesson by demonstrating how an ordinary place can be transformed into a source of income. At the REGUA Lodge , a class led by university professor Paulo Leles  enhanced the learning on ecological restoration , with a practical observation of a plantation established three years ago and its progress, followed by seedling planting activities using specimens selected by the students during their Seedling Production lesson. The participants also engaged in hands-on learning during a class with professor Cláudia Moster  on Watershed and Water Source Management  at the Guapiaçu River. To consolidate the experience, a visit to the REGUA Waterfall  inspired a profound reflection on the importance of conserving our forests. The initiative is part of the Replântica Project , promoted by the Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT)  of the Cologne University of Applied Sciences (Germany) , in partnership with REGUA  and the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) .

On 27 and 28 September 2025, the second edition of the Nativas Brasil National Meeting  took place in Joanópolis and Bragança Paulista, in the countryside of São Paulo State. The event brought together nursery professionals and producers of native seeds and seedlings from across Brazil, with the aim of exchanging experiences and knowledge to strengthen the network of members and promote ecological restoration and sustainable development throughout the country. Photo: atlasflorestal The Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA) was represented by Forest Engineer Aline Damasceno , Environmental Engineer Carlos Henrique Botelho , and Forestry Engineering Assistant Jessé Bragança . The meeting featured live lectures by leading figures in forest restoration, including the renowned Brazilian agronomist and botanist Harri Lorenzi , author of numerous scientific articles and books on plants, and founder of the Plantarum Institute. The programme also included group activities and technical visits to nurseries. Photos: REGUA Collection ©

On 4 October, the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA) hosted the final Bebê Natureza  gathering of 2025, dedicated especially to six-year-old children. The last Saturday morning of the year with the little ones was filled with special activities and direct contact with nature. REGUA collection © Several speakers from the fields of health and education took part in the event, highlighting the essential role that nature plays in promoting healthy growth during early childhood. REGUA collection © The Bebê Natureza  programme began in August 2022 with the aim of strengthening the bond between children and the natural world. Six gatherings are held throughout the year: the first for expectant mothers, the second for children aged one and two, the third for three-year-olds, the fourth for four-year-olds, the fifth for five-year-olds, and the sixth for six-year-olds.

In early September 2025, the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA), located in Cachoeiras de Macacu, Rio de Janeiro, welcomed a new pair of lowland tapirs ( Tapirus terrestris ). The animals came from the Trijunção Wildlife Centre, a breeding and release facility for wild species in the state of Bahia, on the border with Minas Gerais and Goiás. The reintroduction was carried out by the Refauna Project, which has been leading efforts to restore tapir populations in the Atlantic Forest. The team captured images of the moment the animals were released — a symbolic milestone for the recovery of the species in Rio de Janeiro’s forests. Photo taken by Flávia Zagury. Tapirs had been extinct in the state for more than a century, mainly due to hunting and habitat loss. The last confirmed record of the species in Rio dates back to 1914, in Serra dos Órgãos National Park. The reintroduction programme began in 2017 under the leadership of Refauna, and since then, eight tapir calves have been born within the reserve — a remarkable indicator of success. This achievement has been made possible thanks to the collaboration of partner organisations such as Asa Socioambiental and the Guapiaçu Project, both of which play a key role in biodiversity conservation in the region. “It is a great joy for us at REGUA to contribute to the reintroduction of this incredible species into the Mosaico Fluminense,” said Raquel Locke, the reserve’s vice-president, in a statement on social media. The newly arrived tapirs are currently undergoing an acclimatisation phase, during which they are being carefully monitored and prepared for their eventual release into the wild areas of REGUA. Photos taken by the Refauna Project.

From 4 to 8 August, the fifth course of 2025 under the Replântica Project, focusing on forest restoration, was held at the headquarters of the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA), in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The course brought together university students from various institutions across the state. Photo: REGUA Archive © With the aim of providing both technical and, above all, practical knowledge on ecological restoration, the course offered a series of activities designed to train the participants. The students experienced five intensive days of hands-on learning in areas that REGUA has been restoring. They highlighted the class on Watershed and Water Source Management, delivered by Professor Claudia Moster of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, as one of their favourites. During this session, they carried out an activity to estimate the flow rate of the Guapiaçu River at one of its points. Photos: REGUA Archive © The programme also included classes on Agroforestry Systems, Landscape Ecology, Ecosystem Services, Silvicultural Techniques, Fauna Monitoring, Forest Inventory, Atlantic Forest Restoration, and many other topics. This initiative is part of the Replântica Project, promoted by the Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT) at the Cologne University of Applied Sciences (Germany), in partnership with REGUA and the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ).

The Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve welcomed Ecology student Benjamin Morris, who stayed from 8 June to 30 July to complete his Ecology degree at Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom. REGUA Archive © " I really enjoyed my time at REGUA and it was so much better than I had been told it was and I'd only heard good things about it before arriving. I would highly recommend it to anyone who I considering going and I'm already making plans to come back ." In a written e-mail shared with REGUA, Benjamin described his experience. During his stay, he was able to explore the trails around the headquarters and accompany groups of researchers and visitors to REGUA, observing a wide variety of bird species such as the White-bearded Manakin ( Manacus manacus ), Black-cheeked Gnateater ( Conopophaga melanops ), Gray-headed Tody-Flycatcher ( Todirostrum poliocephalum ), Chestnut-backed Antshrike ( Thamnophilus palliatus ), White-barred Piculet ( Picumnus cirratus ), Green-headed Tanager ( Tangara seledon ), among many others. Photos of Benjamin Morris archived for REGUA use © Like Benjamin, many other students and researchers have found in REGUA an ideal environment for the completion of their studies. The Reserve offers not only valuable new experiences that enrich academic training but also opportunities to deepen knowledge of local biodiversity.

At the end of August 2025, the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve in Rio de Janeiro State reported the birth of its eighth lowland tapir calf. The milestone was announced by Refauna, the project leading the reintroduction of the species in the region, which released a short video recorded by camera traps installed in the upper areas of the Reserve. Camera trap images from the Refauna Project recording the new lowland tapir calf © The footage was captured by camera traps installed by the Refauna Project along trails in the upper areas of the Reserve. The new calf, born to “Jasmim” and “Valente”, belongs to the second generation of tapirs to be born in the State of Rio de Janeiro, more than 100 years after the species had become locally extinct. Jasmim, originally from Guarulhos Zoo, has adapted remarkably well to her new environment, having already given birth to four calves since her reintroduction in 2020. “The birth of a second generation of tapirs in the wild is a significant achievement for the project. It demonstrates that the reintroduced animals have successfully adapted to the forests of Rio de Janeiro, that their offspring have thrived, and that they are now reproducing. This shows the population is becoming established and is likely to remain viable in the long term,” said Maron Galliez, President of the Refauna Project. The Refauna Project, in partnership with the Guapiaçu Project and supported by Petrobras, continues to work for the conservation of the species, contributing to the restoration of the Atlantic Forest and highlighting the importance of protecting biodiversity. Camera trap images from the Refauna Project recording the new lowland tapir calf ©

Foto: David Geale © In April, REGUA had the pleasure of welcoming, for the third time, a small group of three butterfly enthusiasts led by David Geale. The visitors explored the Reserve’s trails and the Cunha Forest fragment, located 1.5 km from REGUA, with the purpose of observing, identifying, and photographing the wide variety of butterfly species inhabiting the Atlantic Forest ecosystem. Over the course of just three days, while surveying the wetlands and other forest fragments, the group recorded approximately 100 species, including a new record for the Reserve, originally described in Guyana: Lirra limaea  (Hewitson, 1868). This brings the list of species in easily accessible areas of the Reserve to an impressive 466 — or 516, when including the local grass skippers. Photo: David Geale © The visit underscores REGUA’s potential as a destination for scientific ecotourism and biodiversity observation, particularly in the field of entomology. By combining conservation, research, and nature tourism, the Reserve continues to strengthen its role in safeguarding the Atlantic Forest within the Guapiaçu River Basin.

Foto: Acervo REGUA © On 17 July 2025, forest rangers Maurício and Messias, representatives of the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA), took part in the 5th Symposium on Ecological Restoration of the State of Rio de Janeiro.  The event, aimed at the academic and technical community, annually brings together researchers, nursery managers, students, technicians, and other professionals involved in ecological restoration throughout the state. As part of the programme, the REGUA representatives participated in a roundtable discussion entitled “Café + Prosa” , which sought to highlight the experiences of individuals directly engaged in restoration work. In an environment of dialogue and exchange, Maurício and Messias shared their personal and professional journeys, revealing the deep connection they have cultivated with the forest through years of dedicated fieldwork. Photo: REGUA Archives © The session was marked by moments of profound learning and emotion. By recounting the challenges faced and milestones achieved in the process of restoring the Atlantic Forest, the rangers emphasised the vital importance of empirical knowledge and practical experience in shaping effective environmental recovery strategies. Their participation in the symposium underscored the need to integrate both technical and traditional knowledge, and to recognise the value of those who contribute daily to the protection and regeneration of ecosystems. In addition to enriching the discussion with their accounts, Maurício and Messias were acknowledged by the audience as key figures in the foundational work that sustains ecological restoration efforts in the Guapiaçu River Basin.

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) .

Between 25 and 28 June and on 4 July 2025, the third course of the Replântica Project  was conducted, with a focus on forest restoration . The training took place at the headquarters of the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA) , located in the state of Rio de Janeiro, and brought together rural landowners from the municipality of Cachoeiras de Macacu . Photo: REGUA Archives © The course featured a number of guest speakers who enriched the sessions by sharing their technical expertise and practical experience related to the topics addressed. The initiative is promoted by the Institute for Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT)  of the TH Köln – University of Applied Sciences , Germany, in partnership with the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA)  and the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ) . The course aimed to build capacity and strengthen the efforts of individuals directly engaged in environmental protection and ecosystem restoration , contributing to the promotion of more sustainable practices in rural landscapes .