O canto do vento 41Caruara NPPR Implementation
The word karuara of Tupinambá origin language, registered in the 16th century,
has several meanings acquired during the Brazilian culture formation. The word that has
persisted for more than 500 years survived the Tupinambá culture and became part of the
Brazilian vocabulary (Laraia, 2009). Among the various meanings, I dare to say that the
most appropriate to Caruara farm is “thunderstorm wind that comes in january,” for those
who live in this region know that this was a reality in the past, even if it rained on December
8, holyday of Our Lady of Conception.
The Caruara farm was bought to be part of the Açu Port project. It was necessary
to change the property use because it covers the most important Restinga region of São
João da Barra/RJ which remains conserved. This property is composed of two large
sites totaling 4,235 ha. This composition in not an usual model in the region surrounding
the mouth of Paraíba do Sul river, which consists mostly of small and narrow properties
perpendicular to the coastline.
The former owner of Caruara has an important role in conserving forest fragments
and environments associated with Iquipari and Grussaí ponds. Despite having implemented
common land use practices in the region, which replaced Restinga areas for pastures and
several crops, he maintained the integrity of large Restinga portions on the farm outskirts,
also favored by the high land extension of this property.
This most conserved Restinga area was essential for its use definition before the
high enterprise built around it. This configuration proved that this farm was not born to be
a project, but a protected area. To respect the integrity of this important natural heritage, it
was necessary to redesign the project.
The allocation of Caruara farm to conserve Restinga environments had come a long
way, which was attended by public and private actors. The private participation occurred
due to the company owner comprehension of the importance of changing the original
plans, creating an environmental support for the project. The public participation, on the
other hand, provided the guidance during the process of Açu Port environmental licensing.
The reserve creation had a great participation of the Biodiversity and Protected Areas
Management, from State Environmental Institute (INEA) and the company’s Sustainability
Management responsible for the enterprise, which also embraced this construction.
The process to create the Natural Patrimony Private Reserve (NPPR) required
numerous documentations. This fact demanded of all professionals involved in this
process, both the company as the public agency, an articulate and tireless work until the
unit creation in July 2012. The Caruara NPPR, which has on its territory two beautiful
lagoons, are representative ecosystem
structures in the region and perhaps the
only protected area of NPPR Rio de Janeiro
fully regularized.
It was really a unique professional
opportunity and I am grateful to be
part of this cause. I think everyone who
participated in the Caruara NPPR creation
process has high relevance and feels glad
for having done this work. Today, I believe
the Caruara NPPR has new challenges and
can really contribute to São João da Barra
future.
It plays a key role in the region,
both for the company that owns the unit,
and to all the inhabitants of the surrounding
communities. The Caruara will always be
the great mediator area to the industrial
relations with the surrounding residents,
providing a better quality of life for all.
After the unit creation, we are
now worried about their management. In
this context, reforestation programs have
gained a leading role. However, to run them
we decided to go beyond the contractual
obligation to plant forests, focusing efforts
to develop innovative methods that met the
ecological Restinga concepts.
For this, we designed an integrated
Restinga recovery project. This concept
covered the high prices charged by the
forestry market, which would make
the reforestation programs not viable
economically. In this sense, the solution