Enviromental Preservation
When you visit Araras Lodge you are actively participating
in our Environmental Preservation programs.
Did you know that in 1993 there were 27 Hyacinth Macaws
(hyacinthine macaw) living inside the Araras Eco Lodge
borders and its neighboring areas? Today, there are
42 of them!
This mark was reached through nest monitoring, inhibiting
the capture of chicks for commercial purposes, and
educating the locals regarding a more protective attitude
towards the fauna.
And we also distribute artificial nests; we are systematically
planting the manduvis, an indigenous tree where more
than 87% of the macaw's nests were found. With the
continuous occupation and the splitting of the large
ranches in the Pantanal, these trees are being cut
down and have diminished sensibly for they are used
to make salt trugs, besides the fact that they burn
easily because of their soft consistency. We are also
recuperating large areas with the palm acuri, which
produces a nut that is these birds' principal source
of food.
On the Araras
The best confirmation of our success on the work concerning
the “ANADORHYNCHUS HYACINTHINUS” is that
after eight years of distributing artificial nests
for the macaws, in September 2002, one of the nests
placed at the top of a “Tarumeira” tree,
just outside one of our apartments, was disputed by
three young couples of “hyacinthus”, indicating
the expansion and vitality of this species, that finds
in our protection area plenty of food, as well as
water and nests. We expect to meet their chicks in
November.
Protecting the Fauna
and Flora around the area of Rio Clarinho (Clearwater
River)
We've been dedicated to preserving Rio Clarinho inhibiting
the deforestation on its banks and the use of motorboats
that destroy its shores and therefore silt the river.
Our excursions into this river are always on “Canadian
Canoes”. Did you know that for 12 years the
Giant River Otter is in the list of Endangered Species?
- In 1993 we had eventual news of their presence around
the Araras Eco Lodge neighboring areas.
- Today we have 2 groups; the first with 8 individuals
and a second one composed by 5 individuals is also
sharing the river with the first one.
We bought an area 7 Kilometers distant from the lodge,
at the very beginning of the river, which became an
RPPN (Private Reserve of the Natural Patrimony), where
we started an intensive work of surveillance, education,
distribution of signs and a tight control along the
river’s 40 Kilometers, visiting the ranchers
and inviting them to participate in our efforts to
protect these beautiful and rare animals, almost completely
destroyed because of the value of their furs.
On the otters
Its number has grown so much in the past eight year
that nowadays the probability of encountering one
of this during one of our boat trips is around three
encounters to every five visits! A Wonderful result,
that counts with the worthiness and participation
of all the properties owners along “Clarinho”
river.
New environmental
programs
Creation of bees
Traditionally the barren honey of Pantanal is found
in hollows in the trees, demanding for its extraction,
the use of smoke and axes. This practice leads to
tree mutilation and killing of young bees and their
queen besides been the responsible for many fires
in the lowlands of Pantana.
Garbage and effluents treatment
All human presence as well as facilities brings a
great deal of impact in the environment; however there
are many ways of minimizing the impacts, such as recycling
and the proper treatment of the garbage and effluents
produced.
Ecoturism
The policy adopted by the Araras Eco
Lodge, includes the respect to the local habits and
our influence is directed towards the development
of our neighbors’ environmental behavior, also
at municipal, social and political levels.
We not only disseminate basic concepts to our employees
- all from Poconé, the nearest town, but our
influence extends through communal and political work
Our director, André Thuronyi, is a consultant
to State Government organs like Tourism and Environment
Secretariat, he was the Chapada dos Guimarães’
municipal Secretary and he’s a permanent member
of Amazon’s GTC, for implanting Eco Tourism
in the legal Amazon, he’s an active member of
ABAV/MT, of which he’s the President for the
years 1999/2001, he’s the Vice-President of
ADEPAM (Pantanal Defense Association) and coordinator
of Corredor do Ecoturismo - ECONET Brasil.
Regarding the tourist occupation in the Pantanal,
we defend the concept of strengthening the proprietors
of areas with orientation and financing to help them
create lodges with family management with 5 to 7 units,
being severely against big hotel projects in the region.
