There are three projects for which REGUA is actively seeking funding:
Land Purchase
REGUA is keen to extend the reserve boundaries and several local landowners are
interested in selling their land to Regua if funds area available.
The first priority is to purchase 750ha of rainforest which stretches from 200-800m above sea level, bordering the reserve to the east. We need USD 110k to purchase this land. As at November 2005 half the funds have been pledged but we are still looking for further donations.
Two further patches of good rainforest are likely to also be available for purchase, one of 1000ha (from 50m to 1300m), the other of 700ha situated between the REGUA land and the primatology centre, which may be for sale shortly.
Current land purchase prices are in the region of £35 per acre.
Tree Planting
Some of the lower slopes of the rainforest have historically been cleared
for grazing (early 19 c) and we are trying to restore them. Lowland areas are
particularly important ecologically, and they were the first to be cleared by
colonists; now they are being restored.
In the last year we have planted 8,800 trees in three areas and plans are already in place to plant another 8,500 trees in 2006 if funds are available. To plant each tree costs $5 which includes ground preparation, planting, watering, monitoring and aftercare.
By supporting our tree planting you are offsetting your contribution to global warming and we can provide a Carbon Certificate that is authenticated by Professor Sir Ghillean Prance, FRS, Chairman of BART and Patron of the REGUA project. These are available through Dehouche Designer Holidays (www.dehouche.com) or through REGUA. As a guide, it is generally regarded that when visiting South America from Europe the purchase of 20 trees at $5 a time would be sufficient compensation for the burning of fossil fuels. These certificates will be issued from REGUA.
Guards
REGUA is currently the only place in RJ state that employs private guards to patrol and protect its reserve.
REGUA employs five guards all recruited from the local community including several that used to be
hunters. Protection of the forest is essential since the larger mammals are susceptible to local hunting
pressure.
As the boundaries of the land managed by REGUA increases we need to recruit additional rangers. The cost of a ranger including their equipment, uniforms, local taxes is about $3,500 a year.
REGUA also has an active young rangers programme in order to generate an on-going interest in the local community but also to supply trained personel for the future.
REGUA has benefited from generous donations from the RSPB, Kay Optics and The American Bird Association, of donations of binoculars and telescopes which are used daily by the rangers.
As well as needing funding to employ new rangers, further donations of surplus optical equipment is always welcomed.
Tourism
For many the best way to support REGUA's work is to visit the reserve
(see ecotourism) and to see at first hand the important
work we are doing.
In the long term REGUA has to be financially sustainable and ecotourism has to be a major element in its success.