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Farmers vs. Rain Forest Conservation

Bauxite Threat



Iracambi keeps a constant watch on the threat.  A public online map is updated often.

Signal Grass aka brachiaria

 Benefits - high quality for grazing cattle. Also highly requested exported seeds.

"Brazil is also the largest exporter of tropical forage seed in theworld, with the main destinations in Latin America (especiallyMexico, Colombia and Venezuela), Africa and Asia. Brachiariaspp. are the most requested species, representing >80% of the total volume exported in 2010."

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289852654_The_value_of_improved_pastures_to_Brazilian_beef_production

However, brachiaria grass is a major threat to re-forestation.  It takes over and chokes out all other growth in the area.  It is also very hardy and extremely difficult to remove.  As silly as it sounds, this miracle grass presents a long term obstacle to all other flora.


Wildlife Corridors:

How to convince the subsidy farmer?
What to plant?  Medicinal plants for profit, specified # of eucalyptus for crop, fruit trees?
Where to place? - Shared responsibility along property lines (usually ridgelines - harder to plant) or rivers?
What animals will it attract?
How to protect? - fencing.

References

Jank, Liana & C. Barrios, Sanzio & Valle, Cacilda & Simeão, Rosangela & Alves, Geovani. (2014).      The value of improved pastures to Brazilian beef production. Crop and Pasture Science. 65. 1132-     1137.

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