Forests4Water Brazil: Community Climate Action

Hello everyone! We hope you are well! 

First of all we want to thank you for supporting our forest restoration, and, since all our programs are connected, today we thought we'd like to give you some more background information on what else has been happening down in our neck of the woods.  Happy reading, and have a great week!

 Iracambi Firefighters in action

One of our main challenges recently has been wildfires. With the drought, high temperatures and low humidity, we’ve had several outbreaks in our area. According to the National Institute for Space Research, there has been a 78% increase in the number of fires in Brazil this year, which is alarming, and in our state, (Minas Gerais,) there was a 114% increase in the number of fires in August compared to the same period last year.

Happily, we recently had a training session in firefighting from the local fire brigade, and last week our team was able to put their new-found skills to work. Click on the links to see the videos we made here at Iracambi.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-3uUgHO9Pa/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Now for a snapshot of how we  are inspiring the next generation of forest champions.  

Muriaé students visit the rainforest

On August 20th, Iracambi hosted third grade students from the Doutor Olavo Tostes State School in Muriaé. Our Environmental Education Coordinator, Dayana Duarte, tells us about the forest immersion day. “It is an amazing experience where the students walk a trail, ask a lot of questions and learn all sorts of cool things about the forest biome, including the importance of reforestation here at Iracambi. One of the highlights of their visit is getting to know our forest nursery, where they learn about the seeds and seedlings of native species, as well as their importance for our restoration areas, for the region and for the planet,” she says.

It was great to welcome students who are so interested, intelligent and curious to learn more about the conservation of the Atlantic Forest, a biome so threatened by human activity.

Click to view the Instagram post
https://www.instagram.com/p/C_MUt-tuO_U/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

And finally a news clip from our volunteering program. Iracambi is powered by volunteers and each one brings their experience and enthusiasm to our work, and goes home to spread the word about the importance of restoring and protecting the forest!  

Volunteering at Iracambi – learning from the Atlantic Forest

Volunteers LIlou and Elia joined us for two weeks in August, and we miss them already! With their infectious enthusiasm and willingness to learn, these French students made their mark, and especially enjoyed the opportunity to learn about the Atlantic Forest up close. They also shared experiences with local school kids, participated in our biodiversity monitoring program, worked hard in the nursery, and filled Iracambi with their joy. 

Dear Lilou and Elia, our team thanks you for everything! Come back soon.

If you, dear reader, want a unique experience in the Atlantic Forest, and want to help us restore it, if you want to make a difference in the world, Iracambi is the place for you! Just check out the volunteer page on our website and we'd love to hear from you! 

Check out the video

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_OJHsBO1FY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==