Project Description
The project seeks to prevent frontier deforestation in primary tropical rainforest
The total property to be conserved is 200,000 ha but the project activities focus on 39,300 ha originally slated for conversion to grazing land
The land is owned and managed by JR Agropecuária e Empreendimentos EIRELI, (JRA) which originally planned to log 20% of the property prior to converting the land to pasture
Feijó is located on Highway BR-364 (the main east-west highway in Acre). The upgrading of Highway BR-364 greatly increased both market access in the region and property values as cattle ranching expanded along this road corridor
Evidence suggests that landowners with market access (i.e., access to major roads) have deforested at least 20% of their properties
JRA has agreed to forego the planned conversion and to provide benefits to local communities while monitoring the forest and wildlife
The project proponents have undertaken a forest carbon inventory, developed a regional land-use and deforestation model and are addressing the underlying deforestation drivers with a plan for ongoing monitoring
Sustainability Beyond Carbon
In order to discourage or prevent any further frontier deforestation, JRA provides agricultural extension courses (such as alternatives to the use of fire in land preparation and improved pasture management including rotational cattle pastures)
It also grants land title to community members who have cleared and worked the land in the project zone for more than 10 years, helping to reduce deforestation drivers
It also is helping develop alternative economic activities (e.g. commercial collection of medicinal plants and acai)
It provides a local health and dental clinic
They have initiated regular (every 60 days) patrols checking for deforestation along the rivers within the property and if any is found, have processes in order to respond in ways that counteract it
The Envira-Jurupari-Purus River basins have demonstrated some of the highest levels of biodiversity in the world
In the ecosystems around the project area are 23 species listed as Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered such as spider monkey, tamarin, marmoset, woolly monkey, giant anteater, giant armadillo, mahogany and cedar
