Rio da Prata: Redefining tourism in Brazil's Mid-west
Located in the Bonito region of Brazil's Mid-west, Rio da Prata offers a unique ecotourism experience. It is a critical innovation in an area where large-scale tourism arose relatively recently and has often been in tension both with traditional agriculture and with principles of good land stewardship. At Rio da Prata, visitors hike through the protected forests to the source of a crystal-clear river, where they snorkel in waters so clear, they could be called aquarium-like…if only your aquarium had lots of meter-long dorado swimming in it. The river, whose complete basin is now protected by a Private Natural Heritage Reserve, is full of rare fish and plants. The property, which was once ...
Sobre ti
Información de contacto
Title
Mr.
First name
Eduardo
Last name
Coelho
Your job title
Head Director
Name of your organization
Japacanim Ecoturismo Ltda
Organization type
Business
Annual budget/currency
Annual Budget/Currency
Mailing address
Rua Sergipe, 659
Telephone number
55 67 33213351
Postal/Zip Code
79020160
Country
Brasil
Email address
Alternative email address
tu idea
Esta será la dirección usada para marcar tu participación en el mapa.
Street Address
Rod. BR 267 km 512 S/nº Zona Rural
City
Jardim
State/Province
Mato Grosso do Sul
Postal/Zip Code
79240000
Country
Brasil
Geotourism Challenge Addressed by Entrant
Quality of tourist experience and educational benefit to tourists , Quality of benefit to residents for the destination , Quality of tourism management by destination leadership , Quality of stewardship of the destination.
Organization size
Small (1 to 100 employees)
Indicate sector in which you principally work
Tourism-related business
Year innovation began
1995
Place your video embed code here from YouTube, Google Video and other video sharing websites. How to embed a video from YouTube.
Indicate sector in which you principally work
Nature, Adventure, Education, General tourism.
Name Your Project
Rio da Prata: Redefining tourism in Brazil's Mid-west
Describe Your Idea
Located in the Bonito region of Brazil's Mid-west, Rio da Prata offers a unique ecotourism experience. It is a critical innovation in an area where large-scale tourism arose relatively recently and has often been in tension both with traditional agriculture and with principles of good land stewardship. At Rio da Prata, visitors hike through the protected forests to the source of a crystal-clear river, where they snorkel in waters so clear, they could be called aquarium-like…if only your aquarium had lots of meter-long dorado swimming in it. The river, whose complete basin is now protected by a Private Natural Heritage Reserve, is full of rare fish and plants. The property, which was once ...
BID/FOMIN
Si perteneces a un pais de Latinoamerica y el Caribe tienes la oportunidad de presentar tu iniciativa para acceder a fondos para innovaciones en turismo sostenible del BID/FOMIN (para mayor informacion leer la seccion sobre la oportunidad BID/FOMIN en la pagina principal del Desafio).
No deseo postularme.
Si perteneces a un pais de Latinoamerica y el Caribe tienes la oportunidad de presentar tu iniciativa para acceder a fondos para innovaciones en turismo sostenible del BID/FOMIN (para mayor informacion leer la seccion sobre la oportunidad BID/FOMIN en la pagina principal del Desafio).
Consumidores (viajeros), Mayoristas, Agentes detallistas, Operadores de Turismo, Prestatarios de servicios turísticos, Prestatarios de servicios no turísticos (proveedores), Atractivos naturales y culturales.
Indica cuales de estas tematicas cubre tu innovacion (elige todas aquellas opciones que apliquen)
Innovación y diversificación en el desarrollo de productos turísticos, Profesionalización, buenas prácticas y certificación de servicios turísticos sostenibles, Estrategias y herramientas innovadoras para la promoción y puesta en mercado de destinos y productos en turismo sostenible y geoturismo..
Innovación
What is the goal of your innovation? Please describe in one sentence the kind of impact, change, or reform your approach is intended to achieve.
Pioneering sustainable tourism where it’s sorely needed and stimulating environmental awareness in visitors and locals in a setting that combines a working cattle ranch with stunning natural beauty.
Please write an overview of your project. Include how your approach supports or embodies geotourism or destination stewardship. This text will appear when people scroll over the icon for your entry on the map located on the competition homepage.
Located in the Bonito region of Brazil's Mid-west, Rio da Prata offers a unique ecotourism experience. It is a critical innovation in an area where large-scale tourism arose relatively recently and has often been in tension both with traditional agriculture and with principles of good land stewardship. At Rio da Prata, visitors hike through the protected forests to the source of a crystal-clear river, where they snorkel in waters so clear, they could be called aquarium-like…if only your aquarium had lots of meter-long dorado swimming in it. The river, whose complete basin is now protected by a Private Natural Heritage Reserve, is full of rare fish and plants. The property, which was once only a cattle farm, also offers horseback riding, scuba diving and birdwatching. Our central message is that cattle raising (the traditional livelihood of the region), ecotourism and environmental conservation can be combined in harmony. To date, scientific work within the property has identified 809 species, including three species unknown to science (one rodent and two fish), highlighting the area’s relevance for biodiversity conservation. Rio da Prata's example has already motivated others in the area to re-address their activities in an environmentally sustainable way, positively affecting the entire region.
Explain in detail why your approach is innovative
Cattle farming has been the way-of-life in this area for centuries, unfortunately, the traditional model is very destructive to nature. The first thing the present owners did after acquiring the land was to reverse the disastrous effects of the previous model by planting trees, building fences and separating an area for the cattle, who had previously been drinking straight from the river. Since the beginning of the tourist operation in 1995, a set of key guidelines for sustainability were put in place to ensure the farm could develop and continue to thrive with nature as its number-one priority. Every aspect of Rio da Prata’s functioning is eco-conscious. Rio da Prata valorizes regional culture, hiring only local workers, serving traditional cuisine, and selling regional crafts and art. Meals are prepared using organic products grown on site. What is left over is recycled or taken to the worm-farm to be turned into compost and used to fertilize the vegetable garden and fruit trees. Traditional desserts and cheeses are made using milk from the cows which happily co-exist with the tourism operation; demonstrating that the traditional lifestyle of cattle raising can be done in an ecologically-friendly way while still achieving good economic results.
Impacto
Describe the degree of success you have had to date. How do you measure, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the impact on sustainability or enhancement of local culture, environment, heritage, or aesthetics? How has it transformed or contributed to the power of place or demonstrated the sustainability of tourism? How does your approach minimize negative impacts?
Our ecologic and economic success run parallel. Our statistics show that the numbers of visitors and revenue continues to grow every year, and satellite images demonstrate that our natural forests and plantlife are flourishing as well. Since 1995, the number of tourists on the farm has gone from 1,790 to 21,416 annually. Rio da Prata has had a huge effect in terms of supporting and enhancing the regional culture.
Rio da Prata has had a remarkable contribution on the increase of life quality in local community through job creation (the property employs 23 fixed workers, whereas a traditional cattle ranch the same size will usually hire 2 to 4 employees), professional qualification and also by propagation of good environmental practices. An increase in the educational and technical level of the region’s communities has been noticed, motivated by new demands imposed by the ecotourism market.
The degenerative effects that often accompany the tourism trade have been avoided by strict rules that ensure minimal impact. Fishing, hunting, logging and the raising of domestic animals are forbidden. The area is constantly monitored, thus reducing the risk of degradation or erosion on trails. The results of such work shows that the environmental quality is being maintained.
In what ways are local residents actively involved in your work, including participation and community input? How has the community responded to or benefited from your approach?
Rio da Prata functions using the following guidelines: local workmanship; valorization of local cultural and social aspects; sale of handcraft produced by regional artists; collaboration with other businesses to improve the destination as a whole. Rio da Prata strives to incorporate the community in its efforts to preserve the natural beauty of the region. They created a project called “Learning and planting at the Reserve” where students from local public schools are invited to the farm. Using seedlings from their own extensive, native nursery, Rio da Prata provides the students with the equipment and information necessary to reforest an area of the farm.
How does your program promote traveler enthusiasm, satisfaction, and engagement with the locale?
Rio da Prata provides the whole package. Aside from the unique and spectacular experience of ecotourism, it provides the visitor with an understanding of the region that they will carry with them after they leave. The hike to the springhead, accompanied by a local guide, allows tourists contact with the area's biodiversity, an experience that will hopefully increase the incentive to protect nature, not only in this area but in general. Chances to buy local crafts and eat traditional food are also ways of valorizing local culture. At the main house, tourists can read more about the region's history and characteristics. Tourists can also visit the native nursery, the worm farm, the vegetable garden, the orchards and the silvopastoral system.
Describe how your work helps travelers and local residents better understand the value of the area's cultural and natural heritage, and educates them on local environmental issues.
The Bonito region is experiencing an enormous tourism boom. Unfortunately, environmental regulations are few and though there are many outfitters in the area to choose from, Rio da Prata is the pioneer in sustainable, responsible ecotourism in the area. Influenced by the success of a sustainable model that combines cattle farming with ecotourism, one that shows that taking care of the environment can also be profitable, other tourist outfitters and ranchers in the area are following suit and adopting eco-friendly models. These influence is very important while there is still time to protect the natural beauty of the region. Our farm provides all of its employees and visitors with ecological training and information. Eduardo Coelho, the owner of the farm, has also created and continues to head many organizations that combine the forces of the local communities and farmers in the preservation of the region.
Esta presentación se trata de
Sustenibilidad
How is your initiative currently financed? If available, provide information on your finances and organization that could help others. Please list: Annual budget, annual revenue generated, size of part-time, full-time and volunteer staff.
Rio da Prata farm is financed with the owner's own financial resources.
Annual budget for 2008: 1,799,368.65
Revenue in 2008: 728,276.9
Number of employees: 23
Every vacation period, the farm receives 2 biology interns and 2 tourism interns.
Part of the profits are used to promote local NGOs, class associations, scientific research and staff training.
Is your initiative financially and organizationally sustainable? If not, what is required to make it so? Is there a potential demand for your innovation?
Yes. The demand for this innovation is regional. Other farms on the area now see ecotourism as a potential business that adds up with cattle raising.
What are the main barriers you encounter in managing, implementing, or replicating your innovation? What barriers keep your program from having greater impact?
Cattle farming has been the way-of-life in this area for centuries, and as in most places, the traditional model was very destructive to nature. Cows walk in streams, eroding banks, destroying delicate fish redds in gravel bottoms, and also overgraze the vegetation that lines banks removing shade and raising water temperatures. But cows bring money, and money brings power. Cattle ranching also brings jobs, so the region is deeply hooked on ranching. Geotourism, because it recognizes these economic and political realities, can work as a kind of methadone program for cattle ranchers, giving them comparable economic benefits without the terrible side effects. But it takes long-term thinking to make it work, and it takes successful models that show how the region’s long-standing economic heritage can be practically combined with tourism that allows local people to take pride in and care for the land that they love very deeply (if sometimes a bit recklessly).
What is your plan to expand or further develop your approach? Please indicate where/how you would like to grow or enhance your innovation, or have others do so.
Our plan is to expand our land holdings in the region to protect a greater area. And also continue to increase our visitation numbers.
Tourism activities and environmental actions are disseminated by means of several medias, the internet standing out nowadays. Visitors themselves play an important role on spreading the ideas upon reporting their experiences on Rio da Prata's website.
In addition, owners and employees frequently take part in tourism fairs and other events related to tourism and environment, presenting lectures about the success that was achieved with such model. The participation as an active member of local associations and environmentalist NGOs is also an important tool to promote these actions, thus motivating local entrepreneurs to follow such philosophy.
We are also looking in to implementing renewable energy alternatives on the farm.
La historia
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers' marketing material.
Eduardo Coelho graduated in civil engineering in 1979, but he actually comes from a cattle-ranching family. That same year, his father acquired Rio da Prata farm. From an environmental standpoint, the ranch had been poorly maintained and severely degraded. Eduardo was thrilled by its beauty and decided to help his father with its management. Eduardo eventually took over the property and in 1995 made the farm a Private Reserve of Natural Heritage and opened it to ecotourism. He wrote guidelines for the farm’s sustainable development which he follows to this day, defining the environment as a priority.
What is the origin of your innovation? Tell the Changemakers and media communities what prompted you to start this initiative.
The innovation started when Rio da Prata's owner, Mr. Eduardo Coelho, fell in love with the region's natural beauties, worked on and eventually acquired the land, and began searching for ways to preserve that beauty and, at the same time, generate income and promote regional development. He immediately began to build a new model of ecotourism combined with cattle raising. In the mid-1990s, this was literally unprecedented in the region, as he followed strict ecological guidelines that he himself set and used his own financial resources. His goal was to protect the region's incredible nature and biodiversity, but still have the income from the cattle and tourism. In addition to pioneering a new ecotourism model, Rio da Prata has made a real contribution to improving the quality of life in the region through job creation, professional qualification, propagation of good environmental practices, scientific research, environmental education and sponsorship of regional NGOs.
The operation's primary goal was to ensure protection of the environment combined with the tourist activities. Therefore, in 1999 a Private Reserve of Natural Heritage was established to protect the headsprings of the river and its surrounding forests, with an area of 759.8 acres. The Private Reserve of Natural Heritage is a category of conservation unit established by Brazil’s Park System that enables perpetual protection of a given natural area without the need of expropriation, being created entirely on the owner’s will.
Describe some unique tourist experiences that your approach provides. Be specific; give illustrative examples.
The Bonito region is an eco-pole in Brazil, which means that its waterfalls, caves and crystal-clear rivers attract hundreds of thousands of tourists a year. Rio da Prata offers snorkeling, scuba diving, birdwatching, and horseback riding, but in addition it incorporates environmental education and aims to use the awe inspired in the tourist to protect the region, making visitors a vital part of the conservation process. Rio da Prata teaches its visitors to appreciate the area from an ecological and cultural point of view, creating an experience more complete for the visitor and more beneficial for the region.
To reach the spring where the snorkeling starts, the visitor follows a trail through the forest near the River, surrounded by beautiful flora and wild animals. The feeling of floating in an aquarium-like river, surrounded by rare fish and plants is one that the visitors will never forget. To ensure a safe adventure, with quality and environmental respect, all the groups have limited participants and are always accompanied by specialized guides. The guides teach the importance of not touching the river bottom while snorkeling or collecting any materials such as seeds or shells, little preoccupations like this diferenciate Rio da Prata from other tourist operations in the area.
What types of partnerships or professional development would be most beneficial in spreading your innovation?
Partnerships with established NGOs and institutions to help us spread our innovation to concerned publics. The region presents extreme biodiversity and has potential for the development of natural products found nowhere else in the world, such as oils extracted from native seeds. Such products could serve as an alternative income to the farmers, and stimulate native tree planting.
Rio da Prata farm is also implementing a silvopastoral system, and consideres it an amazing alternative for ecological management of rural production. A partnership to help spread this idea, especially among farmers and politicians, would be beneficial.
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| krause002.jpg | 225 KB |
| Horseback riding prata.jpg | 364.82 KB |
| Prata's Organic vegetable garden.jpg | 350.09 KB |
| River_Dalgas.jpg | 878.04 KB |
| native seedlings.jpg | 174.37 KB |
| Alligator_in_the_River.jpg | 191.26 KB |
| Cattle.jpg | 171.94 KB |
| River Spring.jpg | 209.37 KB |
| Areas_biodiversity.jpg | 104.53 KB |
| Fish_in_the_river_Candisani.jpg | 1.23 MB |
| Owl_Granville.jpg | 124 KB |
| Visitors.jpg | 111.94 KB |
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Comentarios
Olá Tamiris,
Respondo em nome de Eduardo, sou a filha dele, engenheira ambiental, e diretora de Sustentabilidade da Japacanim
Ecoturismo.
Reposta a pergunta 1: Nossas experiências e modelo de ecoturismo são compartilhados com outros empresários da comunidade através das reuniões da ATRATUR - Associação dos Atrativos Turísticos de Bonito e região (da qual somos membros), e do IASB - Instituto das Águas da Serra da Bodoquena (outra ONG da região, da qual o Eduardo é presidente). Quanto ao poder público, nosso principal modo de compartilhamento é através do fornecimento de material institucional para a secretaria de turismo, que constantemente participa de feiras e congressos.
Resposta a pergunta 2: A grande maioria dos atrativos turísticos de Bonito e região são tocados por empresários da comunidade, e justamente foram abertos para o turismo, devido ao valor cultural e recreativo que já possuíam para a comunidade em geral. Como por exemplo, o Balneário Municipal. No caso do Rio da Prata, o atrativo foi o pioneiro na criação de um passeio de ecoturismo organizado, antes só havia balneários e a Gruta do Lago Azul abertos para o turismo na região.
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Luiza Coelho
www.bonitoweb.com.br
Olá, Eduardo!
Bem-vindo à comunidade do Changemakers.
Parabéns pela iniciativa. O trabalho desenvolvido por vocês contribui muito para o fortalecimento e desenvolvimento do turismo abordado por este Desafio.
Espero que as trocas de conhecimento sejam enriquecedoras para o aprimoramento de seu trabalho.
Gostaria somente fazer duas perguntas:
- Assim como afirma fornecer informações sobre a importância ambiental e cultural da região para visitantes e colaboradores, como o Japacanim trabalha para envolver e informar as ONGs e o poder público em termos de replicabilidade do modelo?
- Levando em consideração os valores sociais e culturais existentes, há participação da comunidade na decisão dos destinos turísticas da região?
Boa sorte!
Tamiris Gomes Sobral
Changemakers da Ashoka
Cara Luiza, tudo bem?
Sou comentarista do Changemakers e gostaria de lhe convidar para participar de um grupo de discussão sobre como envolver as universidades na pesquisa do turismo sustentável. Vocês mencionam na inscrição que recebem estagiários de biologia e turismo. Acredito que seria interessante se você pudesse participar do grupo de discussão para dar um pouco mais de informação sobre como acontece esse processo com os estagiários, o que eles fazem, etc.
Por favor clique no link abaixo para dar uma olhada nas discussões relacionadas ao Geoturismo que estão rolando, e para participar:
http://www.changemakers.com/en-us/node/52342/discussions
Obrigada.
Atenciosamente,
Ana McCleary
Featured Commentator - Ashoka's Changemakers
Olá Eduardo Coelho,
Tudo bom?
Convidamos você para fazer um TUR virtual com os vídeos dos destinos de Geoturismo mais interessantes do Mundo. Visite a página: http://www.changemakers.com/en-us/node/53663
Informamos que o Changemakers lança um novo Desafio sobre preservação de destinos turísticos, o “Green World Heritage”, junto com a Condé Nast Travel. Hoje, são 890 lugares considerados Patrimônios da Humanidade pela UNESCO. Como tornar esses lugares protegidos de degradações geradas por guerras, poluição, desastres naturais ou interferência humana? Você conhece alguma tecnologia sustentável que preserva e proteja patrimônios turísticos para as futuras gerações? Apresente sua idéia até dia 29 de setembro. Visite a página para mais informações: http://www.changemakers.com/en-us/node/54799/entries (Desafio disponível apenas no idioma inglês).
Atenção: no dia 9 de setembro anunciaremos os vencedores globais do Desafio em Geoturismo 2009.
Atenciosamente,
Equipe Changemakers.
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