A sustainable development reserve (, RDS) in Brazil is a type of protected area inhabited by a traditional population that seeks to preserve nature while maintaining and improving the life of the population through sustainable development.
Background
The concept of Sustainable Development Reserves originated in the Projeto Mamirauá launched in the early 1990s by the Sociedade Civil Mamirauá. The project followed the principle of management based on scientific research and controlled use of natural resources. The local population participates actively in the planning process and in responsible for managing and monitoring the area. Key aspects are that the strategy can adapt to changes in the market, private property is maintained, plans are implemented to improve living conditions, and the local people partner with government agencies and NGOs to develop proposals for sustainable use.
The Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve was established in 1996, the first such reserve in Brazil. The adjacent Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve was established in 1998 after the successful implementation of the Mamirauá reserve, and was fully supported by the local people. They already recognized the importance of preserving the vegetation and animals that they depend upon for their livelihood. The new category of protected area was included in the National Protected Areas System (SNUG), which defined types of protected area of Brazil in 2000.
Structure
A Sustainable Development Reserve (RDS) holds traditional populations that live by sustainable exploitation of natural resources, developed over generations and adapted to the local ecology, and that protect nature and maintain biological diversity. The goals are to preserve nature while preserving and improving the quality of life of the traditional populations, and to advance scientific knowledge and understanding of traditional techniques for managing the environment.
The land in an RDS is in the public domain, and may be expropriated. Land use is regulated according to Law 9985 article 23 (2000) and in specific regulations. A board of directors is chaired by the administrative agency and includes representatives of public bodies, civil society organizations and traditional populations living in the area. A management plan is created by the administrative agency, which recognises the dynamic balance between conservation goals and the size of the population. Natural ecosystems may be exploited sustainably, and cultivation of introduced species is allowed, subject to the management plan. The plan defines areas where the ecology is fully protected, buffer zones, zones of sustainable use and ecological corridors. Public visits to the RDS are allowed and encouraged where compatible with local interests and the management plan. Scientific research and education with focus on conservation of nature are also encouraged.
Selected reserves
Conservation Unit Level State Area (ha) Created Biome Alcobaça State Pará 36,128 2002 Amanã State Amazonas 2,350,000 1998 Amazon Aripuanã State Amazonas 224,291 2005 Amazon Aventureiro State Rio de Janeiro 1,312 2014 Coastal Marine Bararati State Amazonas 113,606 2005 Amazon Barra do Una State São Paulo 1,487 2006 Coastal Marine Barreiro/Anhemas State São Paulo 3,175 2008 Atlantic Forest Canumã State Amazonas 22,355 2005 Amazon Concha D'Ostra State Espírito Santo 953 2003 Atlantic Forest Cujubim State Amazonas 2,450,380 2003 Amazon Despraiado State São Paulo 3,953 2006 Atlantic Forest Igapó-Açu State Amazonas 397,557 2009 Amazon Itapanhapima State São Paulo 1,243 2008 Atlantic Forest Itatupã-Baquiá Federal Pará 64,735 2005 Juma State Amazonas 589,611 2006 Amazon Lavras State São Paulo 890 2008 Atlantic Forest Mamirauá State Amazonas 1,124,000 1990 Amazon Matupiri State Amazonas 179,083 2009 Amazon Nascentes Geraizeiras Federal Minas Gerais 38,177 2014 Cerrado Piagaçu-Purus State Amazonas 1,008,167 2003 Amazon Pinheirinhos State São Paulo 1,531 2008 Atlantic Forest Pucuruí-Ararão State Pará 29,049 2002 Puranga Conquista State Amazonas 76,936 2014 Amazon Quilombos de Barra do Turvo State São Paulo 5,826 2008 Atlantic Forest Rio Amapá State Amazonas 216,109 2005 Amazon Rio Iratapuru State Amapá 806,184 1997 Rio Madeira State Amazonas 283,117 2006 Amazon Rio Negro State Amazonas 103,086 2008 Amazon Tupé Municipal Amazonas 11,930 2005 Amazon Uacari State Amazonas 632,949 2005 Amazon Uatumã State Amazonas 424,430 2004 Amazon Urariá Municipal Amazonas 59,137 2001 Amazon
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