Save the Earth’s most biodiverse forest! - promote sustainable organic cocoa growth and make chocolate
     Itacaré and Janaina Nature Reserve          August 16 - August 31, 2010

Volunteer project: The Reserva Natural Janaina is a private area of virgin rain forest, protected under the Brazilian federal laws The Reserve is located within the Atlantic Forest Bioma, one of the world’s more biodiverse locations. Sadly, 92% of it has now lost in deforestation. Since the year 2000, UNESCO recognizes the Atlantic Forest of the state of Bahia as a worldwide biodiversity conservation priority. The Atlantic Forest Bioma is also considered a “Hot Spot”, meaning at least 1,500 indigenous species of vascular plants have already been lost (70% of the original number).

Volunteers will join the efforts of an enterprise for sustainable development that manages the Reserve area, develops permacultural paths, and stimulates production for fair trade circuits. Approximately 10 hectares inside of the reserve are dedicated to Permaculture, particularly cocoa. This area is designed as an educational model, displaying permanent economic development for local communities.

Local management of cocoa processing is part of a long-term project that aims to retain the production value of sustainable agricultural products. Cocoa is one of few cultivated plants that can thrive in the shadow of a primary forest. With this in mind, many poor, local people continue to slash and burn forests, even consciously removing the last habitat of certain primate species. These people will only become concerned with forest upkeep if they can see a practical way to improve their future lifestyle without risking its preservation. For this, organic farming must be presented as a lasting alternative.

As of August 2008, various environmental organizations began mapping the DNA of the Reserva Natural Janaina cocoa, to counter the danger of the increasing global spread of GMO cocoa clones. Unfortunately, the cocoa germ cannot be stored in a traditional seed form (semi-dried and placed at low temperature). Since the cocoa germ can only be sustained on living trees, the future of organic cocoa depends on the availability of a large scale of different germplasms, necessary for the growth of strong, disease-resistant plants. The importance of producing a quality, organic plant that is suited to local climates cannot be undermined.

This project envisions a range of environmental activities for the volunteers. It also provides a wonderful opportunity for observation and study of forest life. Volunteers will work on-site from Monday to Friday, for 6 hours a day. The project work is divided into several stages: cocoa tree cataloguing, reforestation with native species to expand the buffer areas of the reserve, Permaculture, fire monitoring and surveillance against prohibited hunting. Participants will also assist in the production of artisanal chocolate through all its phases: collecting cabosse cocoa, almond fermentation, natural sun drying, roasting and finally manual processing. The final product will be organic chocolate.

Special requirements: Please send a clearly stated motivation and previous experience with your application.
The volunteers must be in excellent physical condition because of the humidity, the temperatures, and the thermal gap. Luggage must consist of only a backpack that is easy to transport on shoulder. Its weight must not surpass 15 kg.

Free time: The free weekends will be spent in the nearby village of Itacare. This fishing village of unrivalled tropical beauty boasts a forest which flows into the sea, beautiful waves and an old port for cocoa shipping. In fact, the area is called “Costa do Cacao”, whose capital Ilheus forms the setting in the novels of the famous Brazilian author Jorge Amado. Today, Itacaré is also a tourist town, and it hosts the World female surfing championships each year.

Language: The official language of the project is English. Some elementary knowledge of Portuguese may be helpful and pleasing, since it is usually the only language the locals speak. However, an operator will always be present to facilitate translation.

Accommodation: Sleeping will be in a basic wooden house, in hammocks. Tents will be accepted if a volunteer chooses to bring one. Significant temperature changes occur at night, sometimes reaching a low of 14°C (57 degrees Fahrenheit).
Meals are strictly vegetarian, consisting of locally produced rice, beans, eggs, fruits and vegetables.
Weekend transfers from the Reserve to the Itacare village (and vice versa) will involve walking through the jungle for two and a half hours until reaching Rio de Contas. The trip will continue either by boat down the river or by bus.

Location: The Reserva Natural Janaina is 10 km from Itacaré and about 300 km south of Salvador de Bahia.
The catchment area of Janaina Nature Reserve holds the absolute world record for biodiversity of trees - 454 different species per hectare, 53% of which do not exist in any other part of the planet. The Peruvian Amazon, in second place, lags behind considerably, numbering 300 species. Twenty-six species of primates live in the Atlantic Forest, 21 of which are unique to the location. Brazil places third worldwide for its incredible variety of birds. The opportunities for birdwatching in the Reserva Natural Janaina itself are extraordinary. In 2007, Professor Amorim, world-renowned botanist and research coordinator of the New York Botanical Garden, claimed that the Reserva Natural Janaina is a conservation priority in the Mata Atlantica Bioma.

Terminal: The nearest international airport is Salvador de Bahia

Age range: 19 and over

Extra fee: 350 Euro
The extra fee is intended to support the hosting organization who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival on the project.
 

 

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