Conservation of the woodlands of the Amolar Mountain, Mato Grosso

ECOA has recently requested and obtained funding from the Small grants for the Purchase of Nature (NC-IUCN/SPN) in order to acquire 1,000 ha of forest in the 80 km long Serra do Amolar, located to the Northwest of Corumba, near the Bolivian Border. The Amolar Serra is of strategic importance for biodiversity conservation as is it a meeting point of Pantanal plain, forests and savannah that, in addition, is located in the ecological corridor between the Amazon and Plata river basins, i.e. the Pantanal. Altitude variation (between 300 and more than 1,000 m) and the resulting climatic variation are also at the basis of the high ecological value of the Serra do Amolar. One of the peculiarities is the presence of relicts of vegetal formations, called caatinga, inherited from a period in which the region presented a dry climate. This vegetation has probably developed in the Pantanal and in the surrounding sierras some 13 to 23 thousand years ago, thereby making this area a real living museum. Finally, the Serra do Amolar and two other small mountain ranges further downstream in the Pantanal constrain wet-season outflow, and therefore constitute crucial elements in the hydrological functioning of the Pantanal. However, the Serra do Alomar is now being threatened by uncontrolled tourism development (hotel construction), hunting, burning and deforestation for cattle grazing grounds. ECOA considers the actual involvement of indigenous, riverine and traditional communities to be crucial if protection of the purchased area is to be achieved and conditions for the protection of the whole region of the Serra do Amolar are to be created. It is therefore proposed to establish a centre that can be used to support the short-term development of a set of activities aiming at combining conservation of the area and improvement of livelihoods of local communities through sustainable economic activities. In addition, a conservation and management plan for the area will be prepared; surveys of fauna, flora and local communities will be conducted; participatory activities and capacity building will be organised for local communities; status of Natural Heritage Private Reserve will be given to the area; lobby activities aimed at the creation by the authorities of a large protected area in the Serra do Amolar will be carried out; information on the local biodiversity and culture will be disseminated.

The implementation of activities under the Project have provided visibility for priority issues for the conservation of one of the most significant regions at the Pantanal. The Amolar Hills was successfully included in the agendas of key organisms, programs and governments, which are currently working in a coordinated manner in the search for livelihood development and conservation of the Amolar. A conformation of a Network involving key actors from diverse sectors and levels has enabled effective lobby and advocating for the region, resulting in the official recognition of the Amolar as a priority for conservation and in the commitment of the Ministry of Environment and IBAMA in leading a process for the creation of a protected area in the Amolar Hills and surroundings. Biological and socio-economic assessments developed in the framework of the Project counted with support of well recognised research institutions, providing essential data and subzidising recommentadions for management and conservation of the region: biological assessments showed a high diversity of habitats at the Amolar Hills guaranteeing presence of endemic as well as endangers species, such as the Paleosuchus palpebrosos, Priodontes maximus; Gonatodes hasemanni and Pseudoboa coronata. Socio-economic assessments have identified opportunities for natural resource uses, showing that up to 160 plants and animal species are used by communities for medical, construction, food and artcraft purposes. A Support Center was constructed, converging efforts to the region and approximating traditional to scientific knowledge. The Support Center benefitted local communities and enhanced local capacities in dealing with direct threats to conservation such as forrest fires and illegal fishing. Reduction of old tensions between communities and managers of protected areas were significant. Capacity building and trainings resulted in the hiring of six local people, by the National Park, to work in the fire brigade. Communities basic needs were addressed resulting in installment of two schools. Health assessment has evolved into a joint project, currently under implementation by Ecoa and UFMS. Another Project is being implemented by Ecoa, UFMS and EMBRAPA on market potential of bothanical natural resources. Thus additional support was obtained providing scale to project activities (around 90,000 Euros) and mechanisms for developping some of the identified priority issues.