Portuguese sailors arrived in a land named ‘Pindorama’ by many of its indigenous natives The official name of our country is taught in schools always mentioning the tree known as pau-brasil (brazilwood) scientifically known as Paubrasilia echinata one of the main characteristics that caught the attention of the colonisers was the high abundance and diversity of native species whose name is due to the intense red colour of its trunk due to the presence of a pigment now called brasilin This colouring of the trunk was compared to the colour of burning wood The reason for naming the country after the tree today reminds us of the high biodiversity of this land but in the colonial period it was in fact related to the intense exploitation of this species responsible for the first great Brazilian economic cycle for the extraction of its pigment and the use of its wood the once abundant pau-brasil is a species classified as being at high risk of extinction (CNCFlora) and it is estimated that more than half a million trees of this species have been cut down since then.At the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Research Institute (JBRJ) the tree is present in its various scientific collections where visitors can contemplate the beauty and grandeur of live individuals called ex situ (outside their natural environment) tissues and DNA from the brazilwood are stored in special laboratory conditions Samples of dried and flowering branches (exsiccata) fruit and samples of brazilwood are also part of the JBRJ's scientific collection this species is still the target of various scientific studies in the Scientific Research Directorate from reviewing its taxonomic identification its evolutionary origin and other characteristics that help in its conservation such as the anatomical and chemical characteristics of its wood and how they can be used in the development/improvement of methods that allow the species to be identified in the field including by IBAMA specialists in the processes of inspection and tracking of illegal timber 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region. 102,000+ key contacts related to companies and projects Analysis, reports, news and interviews about your industry in English, Spanish and Portuguese. ExplorationBP targets fresh pre-salt exploration drive offshore BrazilUK supermajor recently resumed drilling in the South American nation after a 10-year hiatus with offshore project updates being released on almost a weekly basis throughout 2024.  Brazil is expected to see the highest growth in offshore production amongst all countries globally by 2030 as compared to 2024 levels,” Santosh Kumar Budankayala vice president of upstream research with Rystad Energy Petrobras is expected to lead in terms of offshore exploratory drilling yet again It has been trying to acquire drilling permits to drill in the Foz do Amazonas Basin this would be a significant breakthrough as it has been struggling to get approval to drill in this basin It has also reaffirmed in exploration investment plans in its 2024-2028 exploration strategy where it unveiled plans to invest US$7.5 billion in exploration investments to drill ~40 wells across Brazil’s southeastern and Equatorial margin basins.” International operators slowed down drilling activity in 2024 due to mixed results seen in earlier years bp is expected to drill in late 2025 or in 2026 in the Bumerangue and Tupinamba blocks bp also drilled its first well offshore Brazil as an operator in almost 11 years after it spud a well in the Pau Brasil Block in 2024 either completed or under construction at shipyards in the Far East.  The Almirante Tamandaré reached its offshore destination at the Búzios field in the Santos Basin offshore Brazil in October Petrobras anticipates first oil in early 2025 Integration work has finished on the Alexandre de Gusmão the fourth permanent production systems at the Mero field in the Santos Basin with the present focus on commissioning activities until sailaway around year-end 2024 an affiliate of Omni Helicopters International (OHI) has been selected by Equinor Brazil to provide helicopter services for its offshore activities at the Bacalhau Field in the Santos Basin will host one of the largest FPSOs in the world with a production capacity of up to 220,000 bbl/d of oil Operations will be conducted from Omni Táxi Aéreo’s base at Jacarepaguá Airport in Rio de Janeiro Omni will deploy three helicopters to fulfil this contract Omni says it is the only company in Brazil operating the AW189 and H175 models “Brazil has seen huge discoveries made in the past with Tupi being the first large discovery that was made in 2006 Buzios was another large find that was made in 2010 Both of them being multibillion barrel finds,” Budankayala said “Operators have tried to recreate this success over the past few years and have seen mixed results.”  companies spent more than US$11 billion in acquiring blocks across the Campos and Santos basins which the Rystad analyst deems an indication there is “some untapped potential.”  exploration activity since 2014 has not resulted in any multibillion-barrel finds as was seen in the past,” Budankayala added Equinor and Petronas have spun their drillbits in search of discoveries [and] Petrobras has also continued to perform exploratory drilling Brazil’s oil and gas production is estimated to increase over the next five years, peaking in the early 2030s, driven by the country’s offshore presalt discoveries, according to a September 2024 Rystad Energy report.  Petrobras remains “a dominant operator” in South America Petrobras investments in third-quarter 2024 totaled $4.5 billion with the company continuing to focus primarily on large presalt projects Rystad reports a positive near-term production outlook for Brazil but it forecasts the country should expect a decline to begin in the next decade.  “This presents the challenge of reserve replacement to sustain production and stem the decline,” the report stated “One solution is infrastructure-led exploration (ILX) utilizing increasingly spare infrastructure capacity in the mature Campos and Santos basins to commercialize smaller The market intelligence firm says previously relinquished discoveries could be developed by leveraging existing infrastructure The Campos and Santos basins contain more than 40 fields with more than 3 Bboe in relinquished discoveries.  regulatory agencies play an important role in developing these discovered but relinquished resources,” the report stated “For ILX developments to move forward in these blocks Brazil's National Petroleum Agency (ANP) would need to offer them in future bid rounds or permanent offers regulations around infrastructure sharing need to be developed to ensure efficiency gains across all operators in the region.” Solstad Offshore has won multiple offshore vessel contracts from unnamed clients in Brazil with a combined value approaching $53 million The Normand Topazio anchor-handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel has a one-year contract that was due to start in October in direct continuation of the vessel’s current contract Another AHTS, Normand Turmalina, has a similar arrangement that is due to take effect in November The Normand Cutter construction support vessel owned by Solstad Maritime (Solstad Offshore 27%) has a nine-month contract for subsea construction work that was due to start in October Petrobras has contracted Baker Hughes to supply 77 km of flexible pipe systems for deployment in deepwater presalt fields offshore Brazil The multi-year program covers risers and flowlines for hydrocarbon production and associated gas and water injection Deliveries should start in mid-2026; the systems will be featured at the Búzios Baker Hughes said the design will also address stress-induced corrosion cracking from CO2 which can impact flexible pipes in presalt fields with high concentrations of the gas the Marechal Duque de Caxias (Mero 3) FPSO began producing oil and gas at the Mero Field in the Libra Block in the presalt Santos Basin The FPSO has the capacity to produce up to 180,000 bbl/d of oil and compress up to 12 MMcm/d of gas the Almirante Tamandaré FPSO arrived in Brazil from China This unit will be installed at the Búzios Field in the Santos Basin The Almirante Tamandaré is the first high-capacity FPSO to be deployed in the field and it has the potential to produce up to 225,000 bbl/d of oil and process 12 MMcm/d of gas Rystad reported that output has increased in the Santos Basin since the first presalt ultradeepwater discovery in 2006 which has led to the Tupi and Buzios field developments The Santos Basin accounted for 74% of Brazil’s total output in 2023 and Rystad predicts it will contribute 80% by 2030. “However Brazil’s output is projected to decline by an average of 10% annually through 2050,” the report stated The Campos Basin “dominated Brazil’s offshore sector before the presalt developments,” Rystad reported The basin has been producing for more than 45 years nine platforms at the Marlim Field were replaced in 2023 by two new FPSOs as part of a revitalization program Several previously producing wells will be reconnected to the Anita Garibaldi and Anna Nery FPSOs which are designed to be able to sustain higher water cuts due to their higher water processing capacity which was originally scheduled to begin operations in 2025 Installed at the Jubarte Field in the presalt Campos Basin this FPSO can produce up to 100,000 bbl/d of oil and process up to 5 MMcm/d of gas “Brazil accounts for 45 of the 167 FPSOs operating worldwide and 15 of the 36 FPSOs on order are destined for the country representing over 40% of global demand,” the report stated combined with its expertise in deepwater developments allows companies to consider redeploying FPSOs to commercialize undeveloped projects.” Brazil is driving strong demand for subsea equipment and SURF, according to another Rystad report released in mid-August “Anticipated expenditure in Brazil is set to surge 18% from the previous year to $6 billion in 2024,” the report stated driven by major FPSO initiatives in Brazil and Guyana are projected to capture 35% of the market South America is expected to lead globally with 500 subsea tree installations over the next five years Upcoming ultradeepwater greenfield projects (beyond 1,500 m) include Yellowtail global installations are expected to reach 3,500 km in 2024 and Brazil is forecast to account for 22% of that total The installation rate is projected to increase at a CAGR of 15% from 2024 to 2028 with Brazil being one of the major markets TechnipFMC is expected to supply about 400 subsea trees between 2024 and 2029 22% is estimated for Petrobras in Brazil OneSubsea is projected to supply close to 270 subsea trees within the same period SBM Offshore has divested a 13.5% interest in the companies that lease and operate the Sepetiba FPSO to China Merchants Financial Leasing (Hong Kong) Holding Co. The platform produces oil from the Mero Field in the Santos Basin Petrobras operates Mero in partnership with Shell Brasil SBM Offshore will continue to operate the FPSO with a 51% ownership interest Kongsberg Maritime will supply equipment for 10 new platform supply vessels (PSVs) under construction by Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding in China for Capital Offshore which owns and operates more than 100 vessels MMC 897 CD-design PSVs for operations offshore Brazil Each vessel will feature an integrated electrical system Brava Energia received authorization in October from Brazil’s national agency (ANP) concerning activities at the offshore Papa-Terra oil field in the Campos Basin The company can now increase the number of people on board the tension-leg wellhead platform 3R-2 and the FPSO 3R-3 as well as using the rig installed in 3R-2 Brava plans to use the rig to continue a workover of well PPT-051 to replace the submersible pumping system Another letter from ANP calls for scheduling of the final inspection of the FPSO Atlanta's measurement systems between Nov after which Brava will conclude its submission to ANP of the other conditions responses for the FPSO Atlanta to start operations In September Brazil’s environmental agency issued the operating license for the platform Brava will start the decommissioning process for the FPSO Petrojarl in early November SLB OneSubsea was recently awarded a contract by Petrobras for the Roncador project offshore Brazil will provide two subsea production manifolds one electro-hydraulic distribution unit and additional related services The project supports the further development of the Roncador Field in the Campos Basin Roncador is one of Brazil’s five largest producing assets and has been in production since 1999 OneSubsea says provision of an effective subsea solution will help improve recovery from the mature oil field. SLB OneSubsea will provide the full subsea equipment scope to this project as well as field services for installation Petrobras has signed three more concession contracts for blocks in the Pelotas Basin offshore southern Brazil acquired in partnership with Shell and CNOOC were the last three that remained from Brazil’s 4th Permanent Concession Offer Cycle Petrobras operates all three with a 50% stake Petrobras acquired 29 concession contracts in the Pelotas Basin under the auction project management and journalism experience Ariana Hurtado is a seasoned managing editor born and raised in the energy capital of the world—Houston Texas. She currently serves as editor-in-chief of Offshore magazine its content and the brand's growth from a digital perspective.  she manages digital media for the Offshore team She also helps create and oversee new special industry reports and revolutionizes existing supplements while also contributing content to Offshore magazine its newsletters and website as a copy editor and writer.  she served as Offshore's editor and director of special reports from April 2022 to December 2024 she served as senior managing editor of publications with Hart Energy she worked on the copy desk as a news editor at the Houston Chronicle She graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Houston Get quality reporting directly into your inbox João can hear the revving of chainsaws echoing across the valley where he lives on Brazil’s Atlantic coast the soundtrack to the destruction of some of the world’s last wild Brazilwood trees The noises come from the nearby Pau Brasil National Park one of the few remaining fragments of the forest that once covered much of Brazil’s northern coastline The reserve was created as a safe haven for Brazilwood — also known as Pau Brasil —  and other native species but illegal loggers regularly invade the forest under cover of darkness to cut down the endangered trees whom OCCRP is referring to by a pseudonym for his safety told a reporter from Brazilian magazine piauí the people who go there and work during the night the “workhorses” who invade the national park to cut down trees are his own neighbors describing one recent encounter with illegal loggers in February as João was driving his motorcycle down one of the dirt roads that criss-cross the valley to his grandmother’s house he stopped to greet a friend from the area and an unknown man he was with he heard the two men joking about the night’s work ahead “Today we will do good business,” João recalled one saying to the other The entrance to the Pau Brasil National Park the agency responsible for policing the Pau Brasil National Park told reporters it’s investigating reports of illegal logging in February Brazilwood is being driven to extinction by an industry not often associated with organized crime: classical music the wood is crafted into bows that are used to play stringed instruments such as violins and cellos around the world But as supplies of Brazilwood have dwindled Brazil’s bow makers have turned to illicit sources Last year, piauí, Data Fixers, and OCCRP revealed that at least 33 bow makers have been investigated, fined, or had Brazilwood seized by Brazil’s environment enforcement agency over concerns about its origin since 2018 Reporters obtained forensic tests on samples of this confiscated wood that showed they were logged in Pau Brazil National Park Experts say the illicit Brazilwood trade can be more profitable than trafficking cocaine while the penalties for getting caught are far less severe Sticks of Brazilwood cost just a few dollars to buy in Brazil but once crafted into bows they can sell for thousands of dollars apiece in the U.S. A panel tells the history of Brazilwood at the visitors’ center in the Pau Brasil National Park For people living near Pau Brazil National Park the lure of such easy money is hard to resist While the nearby coastal town of Porto Seguro is known for its luxury resorts and swanky bars said illegal loggers can earn $100 — more than a third of Brazil’s monthly minimum wage — for just one or two nights of work in the park "This whole illegal economic circuit is very profitable These are people who see Brazilwood as an opportunity for easy money,” said Faraco Pau Brazil National Park was created in 1999 to protect one of the patches of Atlantic Forest that still survive on Brazil’s northeast coast the park was expanded to include part of the surrounding area The new boundaries swallowed several existing farms have been co-opted by the Brazilwood smugglers Officers from ICMBio were investigating suspected illegal logging on one of these private farms in September 2021 when they found out that the property’s manager A close up of felled brazilwood in Pau Brasil National Park Inspectors had spoken to dos Santos on Linhares farm just six days earlier but when they returned they were informed that he had been killed and his body dumped in a rural area of the neighboring district of ​​Queimado ICMBio called in the police to investigate Police declined to comment because the case is ongoing When ICMBio officials searched the Linhares property where dos Santos worked along with other types of wood used to make luxury decor Further inspections uncovered 26 trails that connected the farm to areas in the park where wood was being illegally cut down Officers noted the paths had been planted with banana tree seedlings to hide them from view that there is intense extraction of wood from the interior of the Pau Brasil National Park,” they wrote in a report “The extraction of Pau Brasil is also evident this [species] destined to be made into bows." Farm administrator João Carlos Rocha Júnior who manages 15 properties around Pau Brasil National Park denied his clients were involved in smuggling saying their properties had been taken over by criminal networks in their absence someone writes a message saying to not lock the gate again An internal report prepared by the managers of Pau Brazil National Park in 2016 — the year law enforcement first started clamping down on illegal logging in the reserve — identified three gangs that were behind the Brazilwood trade military police arrested a former firefighter who was caught with 20 Brazilwood logs inside the park the man said the wood was meant to be exported to Italy and Portugal to make violin bows It’s unclear how many gangs still operate in the park today João said he knew of two rival groups that carry out the illegal logging “Bandits take people in there and tear [the trees] apart.” president of Brazil’s National Association of Music Industry said the trade needs to be better policed if the country’s bow making industry is to survive "The government needs to pay attention to illegality as it has the power to ensure Brazil doesn't lose its status and the tradition of bow making,” he said This story was produced with the support of Internews/Earth Journalism Network Support from readers like you helps OCCRP expose organized crime and corruption around the world you’ll be directly supporting investigative journalism as a public good You’ll also gain access to exclusive insights and benefits (Bloomberg) – bp Plc is preparing to drill a deepwater well in Brazil in the latest attempt to break a streak of bad luck by oil majors who have paid billions for exploration rights and have little to show for it The London-based major is getting ready to drill at the Pau Brasil field in Brazil’s so-called pre-salt region bp has a contract to start using the Valaris DS-15 drillship on March 24 for a daily rate of $410,000 according to information on Valaris Ltd.’s website The pre-salt holds the country’s most productive fields but exploration efforts have fallen flat in recent years Majors including Shell and Exxon Mobil Corp have spent billions to acquire concessions and carry out exploration campaigns at pre-salt blocks without announcing significant discoveries and have even returned some of the blocks to Brazil’s oil regulator Brazil’s oil production is expected to start declining in the 2030s unless new deposits are discovered Pau Brazil is its next shot at gaining a foothold in a major oil producing nation bp hasn’t produced any oil in Brazil since it sold a small field in 2013 Then in 2020 it sold two deepwater discoveries it bought in 2011 as part of a $3.2 billion acquisition of Devon Energy Corp.’s exploration portfolio in Brazil The following year it exited an environmentally sensitive region known as Foz do Amazonas off Brazil’s northeastern coast where it was having difficulties getting drilling permits It’s a tropical escape right in downtown Lisbon: concept store Casa Pau-Brasil opened its doors in April 2017 to stage Brazilian design Located in the Príncipe Real neighborhood the stunning store attracts locals as well as tourists to discover Brazilian brands in a luxurious shopping experience Sportswear International talked to Rui Gomes Araújo about the store’s thoughtful connection to the South American nation Photo: Casa Pau-Brasil Located in an old city palace Casa Pau-Brasil stands for a luxurious shopping experience why and by whom was Casa Pau-Brasil opened in the first place We inaugurated Casa Pau-Brasil on April 22 of this year intentionally on the same day that Portugal discovered Brazil I have always had a strong connection with Brazil and a Brazilian product representation company some brands that I already knew and believed in to show the best of Brazil to Europe and the world.The concept was inspired by the Pau-Brasil manifesto written by Oswald de Andrade and published in 1925 which prophesied a country that exchanged import for export The work initiated the movement of the modernists in the defense of the Brazilian roots prepared and geared towards internationalization Casa Pau-Brasil is related with Brazil in all aspects From Brazilian music that is heard as soon as the customers enter the store to the decoration From the assistance of a Brazilian team to the space as a showcase of Brazilian culture We took special care of everything to characterize the genuine Brazil that we want to present.The lobby features a Brazilian coffee garden inspired by the work of landscape architect Burle Marx The displays are inspired by indigenous Brazilian houses made of straw and wood Both creations are by Joana Astólfi who also worked as a set designer for Hermès.All the lamps of the house are made of coconut and in the common spaces there are furniture sculptures designed by the artist Hugo France carved from forest residues of pequi-vinagreiro a typical tree of the Mata Atlântica bahiana.The house exudes the perfume of Granado one of the most traditional brands in Brazil Another room that we call "room Amazon" was completely set with plants of tropical origin The combination of these elements lends a tropical soul to the store at the same time that it sends the visitor's imagination to Brazil through a sensorial experience Photo: Casa Pau-Brasil Bright yellow fabric parrots infuse tropical vibes As a concept store you’re offering fashion Our positioning is to be seen more and more as a concept store and not a department store The idea is to make each environment not just a shopping experience ranging from a soap to art pieces recognized in major auctions such as Hugo France's sculptures the message we want to convey.Brands we offer permanently are Biscoito Fino we are working together with Fashion Label Brasil a Brazilian fashion export program created by ABEST (Brazilian Stylists Association) in partnership with Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Agency for Export Promotion and Investments) which presents the collections of 10 Brazilian brands in the Casa Pau-Brasil store complementing the 18 that are permanent in the Palace handbags are part of the selected portfolio of brands such as Cabana Photo: Casa Pau-Brasil Selected fashion offer of Brazilian brands How does your store differ from other stores we differentiate ourselves by showing a Brazil that Europeans and foreigners in general are not accustomed to seeing The store is located in a palace dating from the 18th century the team has 100% Brazilian DNA which adds a warm and friendly way of attending and the curators contemplate genuinely Brazilian products.There is an expression in Brazil that says such a thing was created "for the English to see." Our pretension is precisely the opposite: to show a true and authentic Brazil that leaves the commonplace; to be a reference that contributes to the repositioning of the image as a country of countless talents contemporary and singular in its Brazilianness is that many customers leave the store commenting that they wanted to know Brazil What are the criteria when selecting new brands for the store Have you brought in any new labels in recent seasons We seek to select what we consider the most genuine in Brazil with the condition that they are products with an international vocation a pharmacy that has existed since 1870 in Brazil the chocolate Q grown on a farm in the south of Bahia and produced by a single Brazilian family bathing suits from Brazil and decorative pieces of the architect Chicô Gouvêa.In addition to the Abest brands already mentioned a label from Rio that has just arrived in our store well recognized in Brazil and beloved by the Portuguese Photo: Casa Pau-Brasil Interior shopping at its finest but we have both Brazilians who know and visit the store for their identification with brands a characteristic public that transits in the Príncipe Real neighborhood Do people buy according to their favorite brand Brazilians buy for their loyalty and affective bond with the brand; foreigners often feel attracted by the colorful packaging and layout of the store In case of Frescobol Carioca there are loyal customers who know and seek the brand for their quality and originality of patterns inspired by Brazilian beaches.There is no doubt that there are also customers that buy on impulse motivated by the tropical Brazilian environment we achieve to create in the store Photo: Casa Pau-Brasil As a concept store Casa Pau-Brasil also offers beauty products What is the most important ingredient for successfully running a concept store in the long run The most important thing is to provide a Brazilian experience and to show authentic Brazil to the consumer We interact through social networks and events such as the launch of the Dress to brand with a cocktail and chorinho concert as well as the Abest event that brought 10 Brazilian brands in partnership with Apex Photo: Casa Pau-Brasil Green and wooden tones support a feeling of tropicality Why is Lisbon the perfect location for Pau-Brasil Lisbon is à la mode; it has become trendy It is today one of the European cities with greater flow of tourists seen with increasing interest by great international operators those from Brazil.Príncipe Real was the name of the main ship that in 1807 made the transfer of the Portuguese Court to Brazil and also an official title that was born in 1815 João VI elevated Brazil to the kingdom category It is also the name of one of the neighborhoods most noble and cosmopolitan in Lisbon.For this reason was the neighborhood chosen for Pau-Brasil to settle and crosses again with the history of Brazil Photo: Casa Pau-Brasil Atmosphere is key The main thing is that we try to create a complete and remarkable experience that involves the consumer In every room of the store it is possible to listen to Brazilian music (recognized worldwide) and the decoration brings elements such as wood the aroma of Granado in the air.We are planning a restaurant with a Brazilian chef so that foreigners can learn more about Brazilian gastronomy and a cultural space of exhibitions so that the store is not only a business platform or sales environment but also a space for disseminating and experiencing Brazilian culture Do you have a store that serves as a role model Brazil has been successively discovered: in 1500 by Pedro Álvares Cabral who found it and made it known to the Old World; in 1808 by D who changed his hemisphere to give him a new Atlantic centrality; and in the Modern Art Week of 1922 by the Brazilian modernists who found in it the roots of a new Brazilianness.The Modern Art Week in 1922 represented a renewal of language and aesthetics The book of Oswald de Andrade quoted above and all this movement of rediscovery of Brazil was the inspiration for the name and design of the brand These were our pillars for the creation of Casa Pau-Brasil.We do not have a reference model; what inspired me was the history of Brazil and a new profile of Brazilians who have come to Europe Photo: Casa Pau-Brasil Inviting to take a seat Who was the most interesting person you ever welcomed to the shop One of the secrets of success is keeping the customers confidential but who we can name was one of the descendants of the Granado family who has been in the store more than once to buy branded products for the whole family It took a lot of negotiation to bring the brand to Europe There are already distributors in Paris and other cities This kind of feedback gratifies us and makes all the effort worth it Photo: Casa Pau-Brasil A unique store interior is one of Casa Pau-Brasil's key features Casa Pau-BrasilRua da Escola Politécnica 421250-096 LisboaPortugal Also read:  Retailer to watch “Our Atlantic Forest has several very important living beings species that are already endangered and that we need to bring back,” says the Pataxó Matias Santana president of the Foresters and Reforesters Work Cooperative of the Pataxó Boca da Mata Indigenous village (Cooplanjé) “We created the work cooperative to bring jobs to the community Cooplanjé worked on restoring 210 hectares (519 acres) of degraded Atlantic Forest areas to increase forest connectivity between the Monte Pascoal National and Historical Park — the first piece of land sighted by Portuguese colonizers — and the Pau Brasil National Park also integrating the Barra Velha Monte Pascoal Indigenous Territory of the Pataxó ethnic group “It was the first time that BNDES financed an AFS [agroforestry system] project in the Atlantic Forest biome,” says Marcos Lemos from the Natureza Bela Environmental Group Fifty hectares (123 acres) out of 210 were restored within the Boca da Mata village “We use this AFS as a restoration strategy for Monte Pascoal.” In addition to the productive agroforestry system forming a kind of green belt sorrounding the reforested area it is a way to strengthen the survival of Indigenous communities “The conservation unit has an overlap with the communities of the Barra Velha of Monte Pascoal Indigenous Territory which consists of 16 villages surrounding the park,” explains Lemos “Today I imagine that we have about 2,000 hectares [4,942 acres] or more going through a restoration process in the Monte Pascoal-Pau Brasil Ecological Corridor most of them concentrated on the edges of the parks,” says researcher Paulo Dimas Rocha de Menezes from the Federal University of Southern Bahia restoration projects have collaborated to form the ecological corridor contributing to the gene flow of animals and plant species and also to implement economic activities that benefit the people of the region “We have a history of deforestation and occupation of this region that was exclusively logging first removing the Atlantic Forest and then entering with pastures,” says Lemos “We are coming with a whole set of actions and institutions to maintain what exists and advance in preservation considering that we are in a region with three national parks and we also have the Abrolhos Marine Park which is influenced by these recharge areas.” One of the largest remnants of Brazilwood forests (Paubrasilia echinata) survives in this region of water relevance and rich biodiversity in a settlement of the Landless Workers Movement the largest specimen of Brazilwood in the country was found in 2020 with an estimated age of 600 years and a circumference of more than 7 meters (23 feet) which already covered the Bahian soil before the arrival of Portuguese colonizers “We work with 132 endemic species and try to restore what used to be our flora jacaranda — species that we don’t find anymore,” says Lemos Besides conservation units and Indigenous villages also known as the Mosaic of Protected Areas of the Extreme South of Bahia (Mapes) includes private lands and suffers strong pressure from the use of native Atlantic Forest timber “The devastation in the extreme south of Bahia is very recent,” says Dimas “The first stretch that Europeans occupied on the coast was the last to be settled because colonization was forbidden here when they discovered Minas Gerais.” To protect the gold discovered in the 17th century in Brazil’s interior settlers were prohibited from the north of Espírito Santo to the south of Bahia The Indigenous people there served as a shield preventing non-Portuguese from entering the mining region the construction of the Bahia-Minas Gerais Railroad exacerbated deforestation intensified with the paving of the BR-101 highway in the 1970s “With the incentive of the military dictatorship more than 200 sawmills were installed here and they destroyed the forest in 20 years,” says Dimas “By the 1990s there was almost no forest left except for what was later transformed into national parks If some accuse the Indigenous people of deforesting the area experts say their use of wood for handicrafts is irrelevant compared with the region’s history of devastation “Our history proves that it is not them They are the ones who suffer the most and are exploited even today in this issue of wood extraction,” says Lemos but there is still an inhumane exploitation for the man who cuts this wood because it is done in a handmade way and sold at very low prices which comes to be a degradation of the human condition.” Cooplanjé and the productive agroforestry systems have emerged as an alternative to the use of wood in the Pataxó territory “Several families have left the extraction and processing of wood for restoration and agroforestry,” says Paulo Dimas the ideal would be to take all the families out of this activity and turn them into forest-living families.” Despite the advance, the Pataxó people live in a situation of constant conflict with ranchers “Here in the territory of Barra Velha this area that the [Indigenous] community entered is a demarcated area that has already been ratified but today it is occupied by ranchers,” says Santana “We have already had a dispute with the government and with Funai to pay for the property that the ranchers have on the land and to liberate our territory So the community makes the claim in this way the amount of land in possession of the Pataxó in the Barra Velha do Monte Pascoal Indigenous Territory is very restricted “They have the right here to more than 50,000 hectares (123,553 acres) of land already demarcated and they are in possession of 9,000 hectares (22,240 acres) they cannot maintain traditional activities and have to live on tourism Santana wanted to keep the 80 families who worked on the BNDES-funded restoration project within Cooplanjé but it was not possible due to a lack of new projects only five families remain working in the cooperative “Our plan is to seek partners and funders directly so we can have an independent Indigenous organization We are looking for other partners so that we can bring jobs into the community,” says Santana “Now we are happy because we are building a partnership for seed delivery and we are also partnering with a nursery in São Paulo to produce seedlings.” Banner image of maintenance work in the restored area around the Pau Brasil National Park Image courtesy of Natureza Bela Environmental Group This story was reported by Mongabay’s Brazil team and first published here on our Brazil site on Nov. 10, 2022. The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa, as protected areas become battlegrounds over history, human rights, and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss. Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins, and trying to forge a path forward […] Volume 5 - 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/ffgc.2022.696757 This article is part of the Research TopicGenetic Approaches and Conservation of the Atlantic ForestView all 4 articles The biocultural heritage of a region is developed and adapted after centuries of interrelationships between humans and nature The endangered brazilwood [Paubrasilia echinata (Lam.) Lewis] is a flagship species with cultural and economic importance that is directly affected by the history of human occupation on the Brazilian coast from the Portuguese colonization beginning in the 16th century onward Despite its historical–cultural relevance the lack of effective management and the anthropic pressure in coastal areas of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (BAF; one of the terrestrial hotspots for biodiversity conservation) has led to the fragmentation of landscape connectivity and drastic degradation of the knowledge associated with biodiversity which also affects the biocultural diversity of the region there are fragments of forest remnants with genetically ancient populations of brazilwood (possibly from the colonization period) The recognition of this valuable natural and cultural heritage induced the establishment of protected areas (PAs) in this region in 1986 we studied how the increase in urbanization can affect the biocultural heritage of a flagship species even those close to protected areas In nearby areas with populations of brazilwood we interviewed residents from three communities Peró and Jacaré (municipality of Cabo Frio) and José Gonçalves (municipality of Armação dos Búzios) We conducted semi-structured interviews and free lists using visual stimuli to understand the current knowledge on this species This indicates a possible threat of losing the local knowledge network and the native populations of brazilwood in these areas which consequently reveals the weaknesses of the current management models of the local PAs we showed that residents are interested in increasing local mobilization and reforestation actions aimed at the biocultural conservation of the species that gives the country its name as well as that of the Atlantic Forest biome and considering the major socioeconomic and cultural transformations of the region The main objective of this study was to investigate how this scenario affected the brazilwood biocultural heritage we aimed to analyze possible changes in the local perception of brazilwood over time Historical marks showing how brazilwood became a Brazilian biocultural heritage Figure 1. Demographic variation in the Cabo Frio and Armação dos Búzios municipalities (Fundação CEPERJ., 2013; IBGE, 2010) and summarizing demographic and urban growth in the studied communities Demographic growth in the community of José Gonçalves (Armação do Búzios) is more recent than the other communities studied. Until the 2000s, the community was considered a rural area (Armação dos Búzios, 2006) which began dividing its properties into small lots The José Gonçalves community is the home of touristic points such as José Gonçalves beach and Serra das Emerências Study area: local communities studied and the local protected areas: PECS (Costa do Sol State Park) hatched and APABR (Pau Brasil Environmental Protected Area) in yellow We interviewed residents from three communities, namely, Peró (22°51′34.07″S, 41°59′35.17″W) and Jacaré (22°52′1.83″S, 42°1′16.31″W) in Cabo Frio municipality, and José Gonçalves (22°47′31.70″S, 41°56′54.54″W) in Armação dos Búzios municipality (refer to Figure 2) In 2003, the Peró community had ~1,086 families (JBRJ, 2003) and 2,443 families in 2018 (data from neighborhood's family health facility, Supplementary Materials) It is located 3.5 km from the center of Cabo Frio two public schools and one private school) and a sub-mayor's office of the municipality of Cabo Frio In 2003, the Jacaré community had ~2,000 families (JBRJ, 2003) and 2,434 families in 2018 (data from neighborhood's family health facility, Supplementary Materials) It is located 1.5 km from the center of Cabo Frio in an area between Morro do Mico and Morro do Telégrafo We combined bibliographic research to map the main historical events and socioeconomic changes of the region considering the brazilwood trade with local residents' interviews regarding their knowledge on this tree The 2018 research was registered in the National System for the Management of Genetic Heritage and Associated Traditional Knowledge (SisGen) and each interviewee signed the Free and Informed Consent Form (TCLE) which resulted in a bigger participation of respondents We interviewed one representative of each household, either an adult, male or female, either natural (born) or migrant in the Cabo Frio region. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, including questions about socioeconomic data (e.g., age, gender, birthplace, economic income, and schooling), free lists (Weller and Romney, 1988), and open-ended questions for content analysis (Bardin, 1977) The main interview questions were: Could you list the five most common trees in the region Do you know any Protected Areas in the region Would you know how to inform others about the importance of brazilwood For those who were familiar with brazilwood have you noticed an increase or decrease in brazilwood trees Is it easy or difficult to find brazilwood in the region could you indicate if there is a photo of a brazilwood What would need to be done to conserve native brazilwood trees This method aimed to verify the ability to visually recognize brazilwood showing possible inconsistencies between what was observed and what was relayed we interviewed 50 residents in Peró and 28 residents in Jacaré and 40 residents in José Gonçalves in the Armação dos Búzios municipality A comparative analysis with a diachronic perspective (Reyes-García et al., 2013) was carried out based on a set of interviews collected in 2003 by Viviane Fonseca-Kruel, who performed an ethnobotanical inventory on the local perception of brazilwood in the Cabo Frio region (JBRJ, 2003) This previous study has interviewed 577 residents and 40 in the José Gonçalves community We checked the names of people interviewed in 2003 with the names of people interviewed in 2018 and found that none of the interviewees participated in both surveys Table 2 highlights the differences between the studied communities and how they evolved throughout 15 years We found no significant differences in the proportions of women and men interviewed in both periods as a whole (for interviews in 2003: chi-square = 7.7067 p = 0.021208; for interviews in 2018: chi-square = 2.6987 p = 0.259403) and at the community level (Jacaré chi-square = 1.9302 p = 0.164731; José Gonçalves chi-square = 0.8184 except for Peró where these differences were significant (chi-square = 9.5085 the Peró community had the highest level of education among the communities studied while the Jacaré community had the lowest The proportion of native residents (born in the region) was higher in the community of José Gonçalves than in the other two communities The semi-structured interviews showed that 99% of the residents stated that they were aware of brazilwood but when we deepened the analysis through the free listing and visual stimulus Results of the visual stimuli technique among the interviewees in the municipalities of Cabo Frio (Peró and Jacaré) and Armação dos Búzios (José Gonçalves) in the state of Rio de Janeiro 31 of which were native and 73 were exotic to the region native species appeared in 38% of the interviews exotic species were mentioned in 83% of the interviews This result suggests how the urbanization process can influence the conservation of biocultural heritage thereby threatening a loss of the knowledge on native species and the conservation of the brazilwood in the region Through the free listings, we analyzed the CSI of brazilwood, which reflects a cognitive understanding of the plants of the region (Bernard, 1988). Brazilwood was the most salient tree species mentioned in José Gonçalves and the third in Peró, but in Jacaré, it figured out to be in the 13th place (Table 3) The results highlight the differences between the LEK over this flagship species among the studied communities and can reflect the status of conservation of the biocultural heritage of brazilwood among the studied communities Cultural salience index (CSI) results among the interviewees in the municipalities of Cabo Frio (Peró and Jacaré) and Armação dos Búzios (José Gonçalves) in the state of Rio de Janeiro The multiple factors affecting the region increase the necessity of public authorities to find the methods of managing territory while attempting to satisfy the environmental legal parameters of conservation existence is not an indication of effectiveness our research showed that this management model may be fragile because only 11% of all interviewees were aware of PECS and 12% of APABR 35% of the interviewees of the José Gonçalves community showed an encouraging connection with APABR indicating a greater possibility of interaction between the community and PAs in future activities focusing on nature conservation in the region The content analysis (Table 4) showed that the communities had an interest in promoting activities aimed at the preservation of nature in the region demonstrating a predisposition for the effectiveness of future conservationist actions the creation of PAs in Brazil may be less effective due to the lack of knowledge on the concept for most of the interviewees It can also be inferred that the main concern and risk that these areas endure currently is deforestation which is usually associated with the lack of awareness Content analysis technique results among the interviewees in the municipalities of Cabo Frio (Peró and Jacaré) and Armação dos Búzios (José Gonçalves) in the state of Rio de Janeiro The data collected in 2003 in the same communities revealed interesting results regarding changes to the local population over the years and their effect on the relationship with brazilwood. When asked regarding the source of their knowledge on brazilwood (Table 5) reinforcing the idea that current schools are emphasizing the symbolic role of brazilwood Diachronic analysis comparing the changes in the origin of the knowledge between Cabo Frio region residents over 15 years there has been an increase in the percentage of respondents recognizing brazilwood mainly related to schooling over the years this knowledge acquired from schools was reduced as was the number of people who were unaware of how they attained their knowledge on brazilwood In the José Gonçalves community the less urbanized community among those surveyed there was a marked reduction in the number of interviewees who stated that their knowledge about the brazilwood was related to their own community while knowledge received from school was more prevalent we must consider that the context of accelerated growth and the current social scenario did not allow the same sampling effort adopted in 2003 to be maintained in 2018 These differences in the sampling effort may have reflections on the most recent data for these two communities a similar sampling effort was feasible (6.7% of the estimated population in 2003 and 4.1% in 2018) diachronic comparisons can be made with greater confidence Understanding the perception of the importance of brazilwood (Figure 5) showed us that the historical relevance is the main importance given to brazilwood according to the residents there was a commonality in the results obtained The education has been standardized over the years as well the perception of brazilwood importance Diachronic analysis comparing the changes in brazilwood importance perception between Cabo Frio region residents over 15 years Regarding the question of whether residents found it was easy or difficult to find brazilwood in the region (Figure 6) there was a clear difference in the perceptions of brazilwood abundance between the Cabo Frio communities (Peró and Jacaré) and the Armação dos Búzios community (José Gonçalves) According to the José Gonçalves community brazilwood was readily found in the region whereas both Cabo Frio communities stated that it was difficult to locate brazilwood in these areas Diachronic analysis comparing the changes in brazilwood abundance perception between Cabo Frio region residents over 15 years brazilwood is no longer threatened by its exploration to produce dye or high-quality wood the deforestation threat came mainly from agricultural expansion and deforestation is driven by the predatory tourism industry and its correlates Coastal areas undergo subdivision processes for the construction of condominiums for vacation homes The changes in land use are intensified as the city grows in a disorderly way and the seasonality of the occupation (during holidays and weekends) creates moments of hyper-intensive use of public services and local natural attractions The population that permanently inhabits Cabo Frio and Armação dos Búzios lives on the basis of the provision of services for the structure of tourism As the municipalities' growth was not planned the working population often occupies the often occupies public areas and often destroys the remaining forest for small swiddens and subsistence activities The tourism industry dictated the recent urbanization process This history of occupation, deceived from exogenous activities (Rodrigues, 2005) based on the arrival of migrants from other regions of Brazil, tends to negatively affect the conservation of the biocultural heritage of the region (Santos, 2007) It also allows us to observe that the communities in the municipality of Cabo Frio had less knowledge on brazilwood in relation to the José Gonçalves community The knowledge regarding the tree comes basically from basic education, mainly from history classes (Macedo et al., 2018) Although brazilwood is currently symbolically recognized for having given the country name it is less known by the general population which is the main region in the state of Rio de Janeiro to shelter native areas and remnants of brazilwood the situation is also a relative ignorance It is likely that populations with a higher level of education have learned to identify the species based on its symbolic relevance The more traditional and rural community of José Gonçalves possibly conserves the knowledge on the forest that passes through generations In the case of the Jacaré community which is more recent and socially vulnerable the low level of education and less organic relationship with the region can explain the results in the interview The presence of exotic species in the free list, especially in the Jacaré community (83% of exotic species mentioned), highlights the distance of communities from the environment in which they live, in addition to an evident transformation in their LEK as noticed by Diaz et al. (2006), Cardinale et al. (2012), and Aswani et al. (2018) Lack of knowledge on local flora among the residents of the Jacaré community indicates that the remnants of brazilwood found in the surroundings of this community are at the greatest conservation risk in the region Another concerning data are the fact that 45% of the interviewees did not visually recognize brazilwood This scenario highlights the urgency to change this discrepancy and to avoid further conservation challenges which can work to prevent the extinction of species or at least delay this outcome through risk reduction Diachronic analysis showed a tendency toward standardization of knowledge and perceptions in the region, especially for José Gonçalves where our sampling effort was similar in 2018 and 2003, and which is common in urbanized and interconnected societies (Santos, 2007) José Gonçalves reported the most instances of the community region itself being identified as the source of knowledge indicating the presence of the species in the daily lives of this population The José Gonçalves community also maintained the largest number of native inhabitants among the studied communities which suggests a relationship with the history and temporality of brazilwood This is corroborated by the fact that the historical importance of the species was the most cited in this community in 2018 which may indicate a greater proximity of the community to nature and an improved perception of the importance of biocultural preservation Considering the intense demographic growth in the region we suggested that future samplings prioritize the saturation of responses over new information on knowledge on brazilwood as well as the representation of gender and age groups and levels of education Socioeconomic characteristics appear to play a fundamental role in the relationship between communities in the municipality of Cabo Frio and the surrounding nature which is the lowest level of education between the studied communities and is considered a subnormal agglomerate we observed the largest number of people who could not identify how they were introduced to brazilwood This community also showed a decrease in those who stated that they learned about brazilwood in school when compared to 15 years ago The Peró community had higher levels of education and 80% of the knowledge on the species was attained through schooling which indicates that LEK was superseded by school knowledge where brazilwood was identified more as a symbol than a living being that needs to be conserved and to have its habitat protected we recommend an awareness of gender balance among interviewees especially in this community where we had an unbalanced sample The ability to recognize and perceive the species was another indicator of a better understanding of brazilwood in the José Gonçalves community than in the other studied communities The maintenance of this biocultural heritage can indicate a greater involvement in the conservation of the species and the environment in which it occurs Such characteristics suggest that this community has a stronger connection to the nature surrounding it when compared to the other communities studied although it does not exempt them from the risks of biocultural loss related to this species Despite the historical and economic importance of brazilwood there were no reports of the current use of brazilwood for dyeing or medicinal purposes The species has a symbolic role as a flagship species which is taught in schools relating to the history of colonization in Brazil This research highlighted the gap between the disciplines of history and biology in the context of Brazilian education This socio-ecological dissociation is both inside and outside PAs which threatens the network of local knowledge on native populations of brazilwood this reveals weaknesses in the current management models of local PAs which has space to improve the local people approach the results suggest that in the Cabo Frio region the conservation of nature and the biocultural heritage of brazilwood is in decline either due to the loss or transformation of LEK or the intense migration in the region and that there is a loss of natural habitat for populations of native species under anthropogenic pressure and alteration of the local landscape there is scope for biocultural conservation actions including social participation and mobilization and awareness-raising among PAs managers and politicians to increase the effectiveness of decision-making regarding the local environment The specific case of brazilwood shows the importance that awareness of history could provide in environmental preservation policies when coupled with discussions regarding biocultural heritage the approximation with nature and the recognition of local plant species can also reinforce the symbolic connections between nature and national identity and thereby contribute to the improvement of environmental protection policies The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author/s The studies involving human participants were reviewed and registered in the National System for the Management of Genetic Heritage and Associated Traditional Knowledge (SisGen) The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study LK and RC historical survey consultant and historical research NH ethnobiological survey consultant and contributed to the text discussion and writing as well as conducted the research carried out in the same area 15 years ago and part of this data was used and analyzed here and also collaborated in the writing and analysis of the manuscript All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher To the staff of the Scientific Computing Center and GIS Board of Research of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden especially Ernani Bellon for the preparation of maps To all participants from the communities where this research took place who made their time and knowledge available to carry out the research NH thanks to CNPq for a research productivity scholarship (304515/2019-1) LK thanks to CNPq for a research productivity scholarship (310255-2019-8) VF-K is grateful to researchers Tania Sampaio and Haroldo Lima (JBRJ) for the opportunity to participate and to have collected ethnobotanical data during the elaboration of the Brazilwood Conservation Action Plan Brazil (Fauna & Flora International 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This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Viviane Stern da Fonseca-Kruel, dmZvbnNlY2FAamJyai5nb3YuYnI= Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher. 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish. An endangered species, the pau-brasil (Paubrasilia echinata) is the theme of the guided trail promoted by the Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro, in partnership with the herbarium of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (Uerj), next Monday (5/5). The activity is to mark Brazilwood Day, created in 1978 by a law that defined the species as a national tree and symbol of the country. Participants in the program will learn about the history and curiosities of this Brazilian legume, which is protected by law after many years of predatory exploitation. The species occurs in the Atlantic Forest, in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte. Five genetic lineages are currently known, which are associated with morphotypes and geographical distribution: pau-brasil-arruda-BA, pau-brasil-arruda-RJ, pau-brasil-café, pau-brasil-laranja and pau-brasil-nordeste. The trees are covered in yellow flowers in October and November, and can reach up to 30 meters in height in the native forest. The arboretum is home to 1,278 trees of leguminous species. Of that total, 79 are pau-brasil, which has been studied for 40 years at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Research Institute. The trail will be led by Botanical Garden researcher Haroldo de Lima and biologist Patrícia da Rosa, and will take place at two times, at 10am and 2pm. It will start at the Visitors' Center. The activities are supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel Foundation (Capes), the FUNBIO Scholarships - Conserving the Future program, the Humanize Institute and the Eurofins Foundation. Tarsila do Amaral, Anthropophagy (Antropofagia), 1929. Oil on canvas, 49 5/8 x 55 15/16 inches. © Tarsila do Amaral Licenciamentos. Tarsila do Amaral, A Negra, 1923. Oil on canvas, 39 3/8 x 32 inches. © Tarsila do Amaral Licenciamentos. Home As soon as the officers from Brazil’s environmental investigation agency spotted well-known bow maker Marco Antonio Raposo Nascimento preparing to board a flight to Europe out of São Paulo’s international airport in April X-rays showed Raposo’s luggage was stuffed with 114 horsehair bows and another 120 wooden rods that could be used to make more Tests showed all of them were made of brazilwood an endangered hardwood that is considered a symbol of Brazil in an image he posted to his Instagram page and fined 105,300 Brazilian reais ($20,172) according to an arrest report obtained by reporters Two men who were with him fled before they could be apprehended one of them abandoning another suitcase full of wood in his hurry to get away Raposo is among a select group of Brazilian artisans who make bows for stringed musical instruments like violins and cellos out of brazilwood bows crafted from the slow-growing hardwood have made strings sing for centuries in concert halls and opera theaters around the world Sticks of brazilwood cost less than $8 in Brazil but once crafted into bows they can sell for more than 300 times as much in the U.S. Raposo’s bows are sold by music stores in the U.S But as supplies of brazilwood have dwindled many of Brazil’s bow makers — known as archetiers — have turned to illegally harvested wood is now one of the most threatened biomes in the world At present only the trade in raw brazilwood is regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) though rules governing the export of newly made bows are being drawn up who has been fined at least eight times during his career and stopped at the São Paulo airport carrying suspect wood at least twice Raposo conceded he did not have the proper documentation for the wood he was carrying when he was stopped at the airport in May but he claimed the “error was not intentional” and that the wood was of legal origin He said all sanctions against his company had been withdrawn or are still pending and that he had never been found to be dealing in wood from protected areas he has paid two of the fines and is appealing the rest “I have never been part of any type of criminal scheme,” Raposo wrote in an email Reporters tracked down the identities of Raposo and the 32 other bowmakers targeted in Operation Dó-Ré-Mi — who have never been publicly named before — by cross-referencing court cases and official data obtained through freedom of information requests They include several other prominent Brazilian archetiers who IBAMA believes have been trafficking brazilwood overseas “It is evident they have formed a large gang specialized in extracting brazilwood from protected areas and trading it abroad,” IBAMA officials wrote in multiple reports related to Operation Dó-Ré-Mi calling for the urgent involvement of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the federal police to “deepen investigations into the destructive actions of these criminals.” officers from the Federal Police and IBAMA raided 37 properties connected to what they described as a “criminal group” of bowmakers as part of the operation The police declined to confirm if these included any of the people and companies identified by reporters because their investigation is ongoing As law enforcement has tried to crack down on trafficking of brazilwood authorities have also sought to tighten regulations on how it’s legally traded signatories to the CITES treaty voted to extend restrictions to include brazilwood bows and instruments meaning Brazil’s archetiers will need to obtain permits to export newly made bows for sale overseas Plans to regulate the bow trade have faced fierce opposition from the classical music industry the music director of the London Symphony Orchestra and pianist Martha Argerich arguing the restrictions would spell the end of the bow making profession and destroy 300 years of culture But ecologists say the sale of brazilwood bows must be banned if the species is to be saved there will be someone who facilitates this sale,” said André Freitas a professor at Unicamp's Institute of Biology “The price you pay is the extinction of a species Over the course of a two-decade career, Raposo has become a public face of the Brazilian bow industry. According to a report quoting him in Brazilian media he started selling bows made by a friend in Europe in 2004 while working as a flight attendant Raposo set up a civil society organization dedicated to preserving brazilwood Raposo’s lawyers said his organization works with local government and research institutes to encourage reforestation Raposo said he no longer sits on the organization’s board but noted that it has planted more than 400,000 brazilwood seedlings in the state of Espirito Santo and about 130,000 more in Bahia since it was founded Raposo has also become a vocal advocate for commercial brazilwood cultivation In 2009 he appeared as an interviewee in “A Árvore da Música,” or “The Music Tree,” a documentary film about saving brazilwood “For us to continue this beautiful work [manufacturing bows] we have to have a new conscience,” he said Musicians and other Brazilian bow makers were shocked to hear about the investigations into Raposo when contacted by reporters "He is quite famous," said one archetier from São Paulo who asked not to be named as he did not want to be associated with any controversial dealings saying they met over a discussion about brazilwood conservation Raposo admitted to police that he had attempted to smuggle the brazilwood out of the country but said he had resorted to transporting it illegally only after the permits he applied for were delayed Raposo was released after a custody hearing, but investigations into him continue. In November, a regional tribunal agreed to allow the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office to tap his phones as part of their investigation This wasn’t Raposo’s first brush with the law IBAMA officers had stopped him the previous year on the way to Switzerland with a suitcase filled with over 200 bows though they could not immediately confirm they were made of brazilwood public attorney Guilherme Rocha Gopfert noted that Raposo made a "large number of international trips,” which "seem to be aimed precisely at the sale of illegally exported products.” Raposo denied he was part of any criminal scheme All sanctions against his company “have either been withdrawn or are still pending,” he said in an email attaching several IBAMA certificates clearing his company to trade where they can retail for up to $2,500 each though there is no indication that any of the sellers are aware these could be made from illicit wood OCCRP was shown five bows made by his company some of which sell for more than 1,400 British pounds The shop’s owner said he had known Raposo for more than 25 years describing his bows as “excellent.” He said he was always “keenly aware of deforestation” being an issue so had discussed it with Raposo and was glad to hear of his planting initiatives which is why it's quite distressing to hear your information about Marco now,” said the owner who OCCRP is not naming as there is no indication he knew of the allegations against Raposo Raposo’s company was also fined after IBAMA investigators discovered irregularities in its paperwork during an inspection of its office said the company had failed to log all of the wood it held and had entered “partially misleading” information in its records and shouted at the inspectors that they were “mangy dogs,” one of them wrote in a report on the visit "I have never received such rude treatment with such offensive words … during the hundreds of inspections that I have participated in,” it said adding that Raposo "sees himself as more qualified than anyone in or outside the government Raposo said he respects “each and every employee of IBAMA and/or any other government body Raposo’s company was fined another 1.8 million Brazilian reais ($356,000) for storing wood without a valid license in June 2022 two months after he was arrested trying to sneak the brazilwood through the airport (He still has an opportunity to appeal this fine.) "It is more profitable to sell our wood than to sell cocaine It is an absurd profit and a much lower risk,” said Eugenio Ricas the superintendent of the Federal Police of Espírito Santo the epicenter of Brazil’s bow manufacturing industry “Each bow costs between 20 and 40 reais ($8) [to make] and then it [is sold] in Europe or the U.S you are arrested and there is no social acceptance You are seen as a drug dealer and will spend five years behind bars those who extract wood are socially accepted People don't see them as dangerous criminals.” IBAMA believes that most of the brazilwood confiscated during Operation Dó-Ré-Mi originated in a protected area in the south of Bahia state A local man and his daughter admitted to investigators that they had been acting as “mules” or middlemen to smuggle it out of the region The wood was then sent to bowmakers in Espírito Santo "IBAMA's perception is that a large part of the market for brazilwood bows is based on wood extracted in a criminal way from conservation units or forests in private areas,” said a document from an inspection by the agency of one of the 33 companies identified by reporters Documents from IBAMA show the 33 companies and people have faced charges ranging from buying wood without the proper paperwork to trying to conceal its origins but the agency has never publicly named them before Almost 150,000 bows and sticks of brazilwood have been confiscated and 77 fines worth nearly 54.7 million Brazilian reais ($10.5 million) have been handed out since Operation Dó-Ré-Mi began IBAMA frequently refers to the bowmakers as a “gang” in its reports though it does not explain how they are connected Six of them are members of the Association of Craftsmen and String Instrument Companies United for the Preservation of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest including its president and five directors But reporters could find no proof that the 33 bowmakers have all been working together to smuggle wood The association said several of its members had “been the target of abusive and excessive tax actions” since 2018 describing IBAMA’s operation targeting the bow making industry as “disproportionate.” “The sector continues to be treated as an environmental villain as if we entered the forests and left with trucks loaded with dozens of brazilwood logs,” it said in a statement sent to reporters Among those targeted were master Brazilian archetiers Elias Guasti and José Bottoni — better known internationally as Guasti & Bottoni — who in 2012 were brought in to restore a bow once used by Brazil’s most famous composer IBAMA officers believe Guasti and Bottoni have been smuggling brazilwood that was illegally harvested in protected areas for years they have had more than 1,600 bows and other pieces of wood seized during four raids on their homes Guasti was caught by IBAMA officers trying to courier a package out of Brazil that contained wood restricted for sale abroad where they found the wood he had in storage was full of "cracks knots and signs of rot" and was kept in an area riddled with vermin The poor state of the supplies led officers to suspect the bow makers were using other stocks of illegal wood to make their “excellent quality” bows A fine notice issued for Guasti called for investigators to “find out if these craftsmen receive or received material from suspicious origins with the intermediaries of this gang that trafficks Pau-brasil from the south of Bahia to Aracruz and region.” Federal Police launched an investigation into the case they said the probe was still open but declined to provide further details saying he had received the wood he tried to smuggle via courier as a “donation” from IBAMA after it had been seized from another bowmaker and didn’t realize this meant he was only allowed to use it for non-commercial purposes Guasti said he had simply forgotten to update the paperwork for some of his wood when new rules came in but said he generally had the correct permits and operated within the law saying they had sent 10 armed officers to raid his house which had frightened his elderly mother and children “I think that in my case it was an exaggeration on the part of IBAMA,” he said “I believe I have not committed an infraction.” Most of the bows made in Brazil are sold overseas Reporters found the bows produced by the 33 bowmakers retail for as much as $4,000 in Europe and the U.S. a price range that two professional string players from the U.K said meant they were targeted at professional musicians For example, an IBAMA report on bow maker JB Atelier — which has been targeted at least five times and fined more than 3 million Brazilian reais ($575,000) during Operation Dó-Ré-Mi — found all of its bows were exported to Miami from 2019-2021. From there they went to a local reseller owned by the same family as JB Atelier, Trade Sousa Bows said the company had bought the wood from another company with the proper documentation He called IBAMA’s actions “disproportionate,” saying he operated within the law and the accusations had harmed his business “Being the target of a Federal Police operation is something that generates great discomfort and tarnishes the name and image of the company is already suffering serious consequences,” he wrote in an email There is no concrete data on how much brazilwood is left in Brazil The Atlantic Forest on Brazil’s eastern coast the only place in the world where the wood grows today has only 12.4 percent of its original cover and is considered one of the most threatened biomes in the world "We are already reaching a situation where there is no more Pau-Brazil on the northeast coast,” said Freitas Musicians argue their industry is not to blame for the deforestation saying bow makers have worked to ensure the survival of brazilwood the president of Brazil’s National Association of the Music Industry said that violin bow sellers have planted more than 550,000 seedlings A brazilwood tree in the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden In a piece published in French newspaper Le Monde more than 200 musicians railed against CITES’ plans to bring in trade restrictions on brazilwood instruments and bows saying they use only “modest” amounts of wood compared to other industries “Let's not hinder the dissemination of culture in general and music in particular under false pretenses Let's not make the musical world a scapegoat for deforestation,” said the commentary backed by many of the industry’s top names Violinist Emilie Belaud, from the Paris Opera, described the changes as “a direct attack on our main working tool, the bow, an object of great international cultural significance for more than 300 years,” in an online petition that has garnered close to 20,000 signatures After a heated debate over expanding the CITES rules the original plans to require musicians to get permits to transport their bows were scrapped which will come into force in Brazil in late February 2023 bow makers will only need to get CITES export permits for freshly crafted bows when they are exported for the first time a music industry association that opposes restrictions on brazilwood recently hosted an online discussion about the new law and the future of bow-making one bowmaker acknowledged the industry’s complicity in the illegal wood trade and urged his fellows to stop buying brazilwood from illicit sources “We who are in this field of making bows know that there are two businesses: one business is selling bows and the other is selling wood because then … IBAMA will stop treating us as gangsters." from the Department of Forest and Wood Sciences at the Federal University of Espírito Santo said brazilwood should stop being used to make bows altogether the entire ecosystem it is part of could break down Protecting "brazilwood is not just [about] the brazilwood There are microorganisms that sequester nitrogen The very existence of the species sustains other species,” he said "From the moment you extinguish the link you are also extinguishing everything that relates to it If we extinguish a species that gave the country its name what do we want in terms of conservation?" This story was supported by grants from the Brown Institute for Media Innovation and DocumentCloud/Muckrock Official statistics on busts of drug shipments originating in Colombia — the world’s largest cocaine producer by far — are.. Brazil and Paraguay initiated on Tuesday a regional security project that will allow their security forces to quickly.. European consumers love to buy and use cocaine Criminal elements in Latin America are happy to feed that market Join us at the Akustika Fair at the Nuremberg Exhibition Centre from April 4-6 Meet The Strad team at stand F08 and pick up a free copy of the magazine The Strad Directory Jobs The National Pau-Brasil Foundation strikes out against the CITES Appendix I proposal and illustrates its alternatives to ensure pernambuco’s conservation Read more news articles here Brazil’s National Pau-Brasil Foundation (FUNBRASIL) has added its voice to the growing outcry against the Brazilian government’s proposal to move pernambuco wood to CITES Appendix I status The foundation has published an open letter stating its current pernambuco conservation measures highlighting the wood’s special relationship with music around the world ’As the most legitimate defenders of our national tree we take it upon ourselves to disagree with the proposal to place Pau-Brasil in Appendix I: Proposal 49 of the 19th Conference of the Parties in Panama City from 14 to 25 November 2022,’ states the letter which was authored by Ana Cristina de Siqueira Lima the Brazilian government proposed to move pernambuco which is currently classified under CITES Appendix II This would require permits for all trade and movement of the wood Read: The frightening future of pernambuco: what could it mean for violin and bow makers? Read: Pernambuco: the worst-case scenario ’An Appendix I listing would silence the voice of musicians whose bows have for two centuries been made from this precious and uniquely magical wood ’We do not believe that Appendix I is the best way to protect the few remnants of this species left in our native forests from exploitation,’ reads the letter arguing that the value of pernambuco would increase exponentially which would in turn promote trafficking by middlemen and loggers The letter outlines proposed future inititatives for the conservation of pernambuco as the move to CITES Appendix I ’would undermine the many conservation and replanting initiatives which give us hope for the future’ Proposals include calling on the federal government to define legislation for already-cut wood and that which is already in the possession of bow makers plus plans for reforestation in both highly protected areas and spaces earmarked for the manufacture of bows FUNBRASIL was initiated in 1988 by Professor Roldão de Siqueira Fontes From 1970 until his death in 1996 he dedicated his working life to saving pernambuco from extinction promoting education about Brazil’s national tree planting over two million pernambuco trees on Brazilian soil as well as distributing pernambuco saplings Read: ‘A direct attack on our main working tool’: Petition to protect pernambuco from restrictions Read: ‘Pernambuco bows are irreplaceable tools for every professional stringed-instrument player’: Yo-Yo Ma The International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative will celebrate the anniversary with a benefit concert in May 2025 50 per cent of proceeds from the album Fragile Connecting cultural heritage and environmental sustainability Daniel Neves discusses a proposal to include pernambuco in Appendix I of CITES a change that would significantly impact the global trade of this essential wood The violinist has been appointed artistic director of Clarion Concerts which provides chamber music concerts and experiences in New York’s Hudson Valley The Astatine Trio and Novo Quartet join the scheme from 2025–2027 Ten ensembles will compete for the chance to win the top prize package at this year’s competition from 25 to 31 August Site powered by Webvision Cloud The proposed red design was reportedly inspired by Brazil’s early football history, particularly the kits worn between 1917 and 1919, including during the 1917 Copa América. The color red also holds deep cultural significance in Brazil. The country’s name comes from the Pau-Brasil tree, known for its vibrant red dye, which played a central role in Brazil’s colonial past. Despite the speculation, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has denied the rumors. Brazil will stick with its traditional yellow and green kits for the 2026 World Cup as the first option, with Nike continuing to play a key role in preserving the team’s identity. The red uniform sparked political discussions The debate over the jersey extends beyond sports. In recent years, Brazil’s yellow and green shirts have become politically charged, particularly due to their association with far-right movements. This has led some fans to distance themselves from the traditional colors, exploring more neutral or inclusive alternatives. Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro, expressed shock on X (formerly Twitter) about the rumored change, rejecting the idea and hoping the information wasn’t true.  “I want to believe this isn’t true! The national team’s jersey has always been a symbol of our national identity, pride, and roots. It has always been green and yellow, the colors of our homeland. Our flag is not red and never will be. This change must be strongly rejected.” The possibility of the Brazilian national football team wearing a red jersey for the 2026 World Cup has sparked outrage among Bolsonaro supporters. Many argue that the new uniform not only disrespects the traditional flag colors—blue, green, yellow, and white—but also links the national team to the left-wing party of current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Several other high-profile politicians from the far-right movement have also voiced their displeasure with the potential decision. The red jersey rumor has the potential to further divide the country. With Brazil’s 2026 election year approaching, supporters of both parties may use the national team jersey to express allegiance to the colors associated with their respective political ideologies. By Premier League Writer for Athlon Sports Miguel Boyayan Paubrasilia echinata: new scientific name for this speciesMiguel Boyayan The reddish heartwood of the Atlantic Forest tree commonly known as brazilwood was a source of dye during Brazil’s colonial era and is still used to craft high-quality violin bows Now the tree officially has a new scientific name and has become the first and only species of a new genus One of the conclusions reached by researchers from Canada and Brazil who conducted phylogenetic analyses of DNA samples from 173 of the 205 species belonging to the Caesalpinia group was that the brazilwood tree is so unique that it merits its own genus (Phytokeys Originally named Caesalpinia echinata by Lamarck in 1785 the species has now been rechristened Paubrasilia echinata According to the authors of the study – which include plant taxonomist Luciano Paganucci de Queiroz from the State University of Feira de Santana (UEFS) in Bahia State – the genetic material and morphological traits of pau-brasil render the tree distinct enough to warrant its own generic rank the researchers propose a new generic classification for the entire Caesalpinia group The new proposal classifies species into 27 genera © Revista Pesquisa FAPESP - All rights reserved 43,000+ global companies doing business in the region news and interviews about your industry in English Energy major BP has signed a contract with Wilson Sons covering logistics support for drilling activities in the Pau Brasil block from the Rio Offshore supply base in Caju for one year This is one of two private terminals Wilson Sons owns in Guanabara Bay totalling eight berths for offshore support vessels has five berths and more than 65,000 m2 of yard space It is strategically located to support the oil fields in the Santos and Campos basins and is currently used to support offshore energy drilling and projects for Brazilian company 3R Petroleum and Malaysia’s Petronas This latest contract is part of a long-term relationship between BP and Wilson Sons as the Brazilian offshore support vessel owner previously provided services for BP in the port of Salvador Bahia in 2013 for the drilling campaign in block BM-CAL-13 Wilson Sons has also been engaged by BP Marine through NFX Combustíveis Marítimos to manage the Tecma Offshore base in the Port of Açu which supports fuel transfer and supply operations for offshore units “As the prospects for the offshore oil and gas industry have improved we have seen new drilling campaigns run by our clients,” said Wilson Sons executive director of offshore support bases Gilberto Cardarelli BP has 10 blocks in three different Brazilian geological basins and says it has one of the largest deepwater exploration portfolios in the country It is the operating company in five blocks: BAR-M-346 in the Barreirinhas basin while the remaining blocks are operated by partners Riviera Maritime Media’s Offshore Support Journal Conference, Middle East will be held 6 December 2023 in Dubai, UAE. Use this link for further information and to register your interest Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article Discover more lutherie articles here As the president of ANAFIMA - Brazilian Association of the Music Industry I position myself as a staunch advocate for sustainable management of our natural resources I address an urgent issue that impacts not only Brazil but resonates across the global community: the severe situation involving pernambuco wood (scientific name: Caesalpinia echinata) a symbol of our cultural heritage facing significant environmental challenges.  Pernambuco wood, highly sought after for making bows for string instruments, plays a crucial role in the realm of classical music. It is currently listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to regulate its trade and ensure sustainability pernambuco wood still falls victim to illegal smuggling activities underscored by our investigations and dialogues with entities such as IBAMA (Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) which is the federal agency responsible for environmental protection and sustainable use of Brazil’s natural resources and the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment highlights the urgent need for collective action.  In addition to insights gained from Brazil’s environmental bodies a recent visit to a fair in China exposed me to a disheartening scene: dozens of stands shamelessly selling pernambuco wood bows and logs Witnessing such a blatant disregard for the restrictions and regulations we strive to enforce in Brazil is profoundly troubling The realisation that Brazilian wood is being smuggled beyond China to European buyers exacerbates this concern.  While the illegal exploitation of pernambuco wood runs rampant we have also noticed the contradiction of IBAMA itself which could be characterised as abuse of power and irrationality By imposing an embargo on the planting and harvesting of pernambuco seedlings IBAMA paradoxically seems to contradict its own mandate to protect and promote the native biome which requires the preparation of a technical study as a condition for cultivation is not a standard requirement applied to other native species actions such as the planting of endemic species are generally encouraged as part of reforestation and conservation efforts The need for this specific study for pernambuco/Pau-Brasil ignoring the importance of encouraging the controlled and sustainable expansion of the species can be seen as an unnecessary barrier that discourages beneficial environmental practices can be interpreted as an obstacle that inadvertently harms the very ecosystem it aims to protect.  the illicit trade of Pernambuco wood not only accelerates deforestation but also tarnishes Brazil’s international reputation and compromises the cultural heritage of classical music This situation serves as a stark reminder that the battle against this issue is not the sole responsibility of the Brazilian government and organisations but demands a united front from the global community Each illegal purchase of Pernambuco wood indirectly fuels deforestation and the associated criminal activities Extreme restrictions on pernambuco wood Our commitment to tackling this challenge is unwavering Brazil’s vast and complex landscape necessitates a collaborative approach to significantly mitigate the illegal trade the Board of ANAFIMA is prepared to endorse the inclusion of pernambuco wood in Appendix I of CITES a move that would drastically limit its global trade This potential restriction raises critical concerns regarding the impact on professional musicians reliant on pernambuco wood bows It emphasises the need for a balanced strategy that safeguards our natural treasures without compromising cultural and artistic expression.  The preservation of pernambuco wood symbolises a shared responsibility that extends beyond Brazil’s borders Achieving sustainability for pernambuco wood while ensuring its availability for the production of musical instruments requires a concerted effort from governments the pernambuco wood dilemma is a clear call for global responsibility and solidarity It reminds us that conserving our planet’s biodiversity is a collective obligation Let’s unite to ensure the melodies produced by our strings echo not with the reverberations of environmental degradation but with the harmony of conscious stewardship.  Daniel Neves is president of ANAFIMA - Brazilian Association of the Music Industry
daniel.neves@anafima.com.br
+5511 98375-1000 Read: Know Your Bow: New online resource for owners and users of pernambuco bows Listen: The Strad Podcast #69: Heather Noonan on the future of pernambuco Read more lutherie articles here most with actual-size photos depicting every nuance of the instrument Our posters are used by luthiers across the world as models for their own instruments thanks to the detailed outlines and measurements on the back The number one source for a range of books covering making and stringed instruments with commentaries from today’s top instrument experts Fulton amassed one of the 20th century’s finest collections of stringed instruments This year’s calendar pays tribute to some of these priceless treasures including Yehudi Menuhin’s celebrated ‘Lord Wilton’ Guarneri the Carlo Bergonzi once played by Fritz Kreisler and four instruments by Antonio Stradivari The cellist shares how the theme of love sets the tone for his latest album with pianist Marianna Shirinyan featuring works and transcriptions of Schubert As artist in residence at the 2024 Elgar Festival the violinist shares what the music of Elgar means to her as well as ways she hopes to engage with audiences Our May 2025 cover star describes the instrument as the ‘most extraordinary Strad’ he has played on Our April 2025 issue cover artist discusses her bow and instruments Colin Gough and Jim Woodhouse share their memories of the well-regarded British luthier and acoustician When you walk into Pau Brasil you will see brightly painted walls reminiscent of the streets of Brazil - you might forget for almost one second that you are actually on Ibiza One of the key ideas behind this new restaurant is to show that there is another side to Brazil How that manifests itself is in a cool lounge-style restaurant with a gaucho style grilled meat churrasco and one of the biggest and fresh looking buffets we have ever seen vegetarians would be happy to eat from the buffet Live music performed by Brazilian musicians that live on the island is a big part of what's on offer so expect some cool bossa nova and a bit of samba there are plans to invite bands from Brazil you'll still be getting top rate music every night This place is very big on offering a more authentic side of that country and from what we have seen the owners have gone all out to make sure that that is what you get We went on a Saturday night eager to try out this new restaurant and let you know why you should go the cocktails emerged from the chiringuito style bar and are phenomenal which you will know from the classic caipirinha You will get variations of that and other cocktail mixes that showcase the spirit They are all designed by one of Ibiza's best mixologists and it shows Whilst they are almost too pretty to drink we made the exception and all agreed that these were some very cool cocktails Essentially this consists of different cuts of meat or sausages cooked on skewers and all is high quality and as full of flavour as possible so it needs to be good and here without question is some of the tastiest meat you will find on the island Your meal is a one off cost that gives you the buffet and the meat grilled vegetables of all mixes and varieties egg and potato salad and a Lebanese salad with grains and much much more – we'd almost need to do another review to write about each dish here There are also cold cuts like Iberico hams and cured sausages and a big wheel of parmesan to dig into Smiling and very friendly waiters come around the tables offering different large skewers of meat of which there are 12 different cuts and varieties You can request a pause and then carry on when you want This means you might just get to sample all of them – my rookie mistake was having eyes bigger than my belly and tucking in fast you'll get the very traditional picanha as well as other cuts of beef All are delicious there's so much flavouring everything that you really will wonder why you haven't been to a place like this before We had some of the most amazing pork sausages with a really gamey flavour that just begged to be eaten Then some skewered chicken came along and although we were starting to feel full these were worth it: we had tender pieces of chicken slowly cooked to retain its juiciness and show off just how good it can be Brazil is not a country of salsas as they prefer to let the meat speak for itself – it does the air still balmy with a feeling that we had just literally stepped out of Brazil Pau Brasil is an experience as well as a restaurant and if you want a relaxed atmosphere enlivened with live performance and terrific food What? Pau Brasil It's a unique experience on the island and you'll taste some of the most succulent grilled meats around grilled meats and a drink (€20 for children under 13 The buffet has oodles of vegetarian options Take your time and don't let your eyes rule your stomach – even though it's hard not to An important improvement already is the introduction of a traffic light system on the tables so you can let the waiters know easily if you need to pass on the meat for a moment WORDS | Julian Heathcote PHOTOGRAPHY | Peter Young Catch up with all the week's news and updates: Copyright © 1999 - 2025 Ibiza Spotlight S.L We are a member of the PIMEEF - the small and medium business association of Ibiza and Formentera All prices published on the site include VAT It was announced on Monday that many of the major oil giants – including Shell and BP – had come out on top in the fifth round auction for acreage in the Santos and Campos basins offshore Brazil Pre-salt oil reserves in the basins contain 16.4 billion barrels of crude and total production from the region is estimated at almost five billion barrels in 2025 alone How was the Brazilian pre-salt region first discovered and what is the potential for the oil-rich reserve Brazilian petroleum giant Petrobras first discovered pre-salt oil reserves in the Lula oil field in the Santos Basin in 2006 and drew its first oil from the Jubarte field in the Campos Basin two years later the pre-salt layer has proven to conceal larger oil reserves US equity firm Riedel Research founder and president David Riedel described the pre-salt region as “one of the most impressive oil finds globally in terms of scale” that drilling the pre-salt oil region was exponentially more difficult than exploring post-salt oil reserves companies were slow to prioritise exploration efforts Brazilian Association of Petroleum Geologists president Marcio Rocha Mello told Offshore Magazine in a 2008 interview: “The [pre-salt] results were satisfactory; with oil fields such as the Badejo allowing the basin to become even more productive with the discoveries of the super-giant post-salt Tertiary and Upper Cretaceous turbidite systems at shallower burial depths the pre-salt petroleum system was put aside as low priority.” Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis the Brazilian oil giant kick-started pre-salt operations due to lack of remaining giant prospects in the post-salt looking for giant oil and gas accumulations in the pre-salt province offshore “Among the major hurdles to success in this new exploration frontier was the challenge to properly image the pre-salt targets to undertake drilling through thick salt layers and to evaluate high pressure and temperatures.” Despite the first successful drilling campaigns in the Santos Basin other offshore ventures in the pre-salt region encountered problems especially in the areas of well technology A report published by Research Gate in 2009 highlights some of the more prominent challenges the thick salt that traps hydrocarbons is inherently difficult to drill through The rock that makes up the evaporite layer is composed of different types of salt salt can deform or change its physical structure considerably When drilling through a layer of different salt sediments with varying creep rates the salts with higher creep rates like carnalite and tachydrate will deform faster than halite and anhydrate and can cause serious issues such as well borehole closures and a lack of adequate lubrication in pipelines Petrobras created the PROSAL programme in 2007 designed to anticipate solutions to these unique problems in close cooperation with university researchers in Brazil and internationally as well as oilfield services experts and technology suppliers Petrobras’ early success in the industry would be safeguarded by the Brazilian authorities the Brazilian Government enacted a new piece of legislation – Law 12,351/2010 – known as the Pre-Salt Law the government established primary guidelines for exploration and production including the endorsement of production sharing agreements (PSAs) instead of concession agreements The law named Petrobras as the leader of all operations in the pre-salt oil region in which it would take a minimum 30% stake it also established the public company Empresa Brasileira de Administração de Petróleo e Gás Natural (PPSA) as the manager of all PSAs and required all foreign companies wishing to drill in the area to join a consortium with Petrobras and PPSA Foreign companies could only drill in the pre-salt oil region provided they incorporated Petrobras or the PPSA legal and financial requirements established by the National Agency of Petroleum the Pre-Salt Law was heavily criticised for hindering the oil industry’s development deemed the country’s largest corruption case in history discovered that Petrobras was taking bribes from several major Brazilian companies in return for awarding construction contracts a long-term fall in oil prices and political instability in Brazil have all contributed to Petrobras’ woes and the company culminated $130bn in debt as of Q4 2016 Calls for amending the Pre-Salt Law of 2010 were heard in November 2016 with the inauguration of Bill 4567/16 in an attempt to encourage investment in Brazil by allowing foreign companies to become operators in the region This has led to an explosion of pre-salt auction rounds together with Petrobras’ $35bn divestments across certain fields A primary objective of the amendment was to release Petrobras from its duty to hold a 30% operating interest in future projects but gave the company a right of preference The government still exerts some influence over production operations through the PPSA as the public company would still manage PSAs five pre-salt bidding rounds have taken place The fourth bidding round in June 2018 offered 4,232km2 across four oil fields Petrobras used its preferential rights to maintain a minimum 30% working interest in three of the four oil fields available namely the Dois Irmãos in the Campos Basin as well as Três Marias and Uirapuru fields in the Santos Basin Wood Mackenzie senior research analyst for Latin American upstream oil and gas Juliana Miguez said in a press release: “With industry heavyweights again leading the competition Brazil’s pre-salt has consolidated as the playground for those with deep pockets High interest from a select group of companies and strong competition in the rounds are a reflection of the prospectivity of the acreage Petrobras also took a minimum stake of 30% in the other fields received no successful bids and was left unawarded The fifth and latest bidding round is arguably the most fascinating as it is the first time that Petrobras has not used its preferential right to a minimum 30% share in all fields There were four more blocks on offer in this round: the Saturno and Sudoeste de Tartaruga Verde in the Campos Basin All of the fields attracted interest as usual from the major companies The Brazilian Government subsequently made R$6.82bn ($1.71bn) in signing bonuses as well as an additional R$1bn ($260m) in planned investment during exploratory phases Saturno was split between Shell (50%) and Chevron (50%) ExxonMobil took a majority 64% interest in the Titã field with Qatar Petroleum International (36%); while the Pau-Brasil field was divided between BP (50%) GlobalData oil and gas analyst for Latin America David Bautista says:  “What is interesting is that in fact Pau-Brasil and Sudoeste de Tartaruga Verde (SOTV) were not awarded one year ago in rounds three and two respectively and now these were awarded the smallest signing bonus of the four blocks namely R$500m ($130m) for Pau-Brasil and R$70m ($18.2m) for Sudoeste de Tartaruga Verde.” Despite not taking any stake in the other three fields Petrobras acquired a 100% interest in the Sudoeste de Tartaruga Verde field This round was the last pre-salt auction before the Brazilian presidential elections take place on 7 October Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network Get our news on your inbox! Suscribe x MercoPress, en Español Montevideo, May 5th 2025 - 22:50 UTC yellow fever virus transmission continues to expand towards the Atlantic coast of Brazil in areas not deemed to be at risk for yellow fever transmission prior to the revised risk assessment published by WHO in the Disease Outbreak News of 27 January 2017 and supported by the scientific and technical advisory group on geographical yellow fever risk mapping (GRYF)  The revised risk assessment was based on epidemiological evidence and ecological factors The expanded areas at risk of yellow fever transmission remain the same as in the Disease Outbreak News of 27 January 2017 and the WHO travel advice of 31 January 2017 • Espírito Santo State: at risk for yellow fever transmission with the exception of the urban area of Vitoria • Rio de Janeiro State: at risk for yellow fever transmission in the following northern municipalities bordering Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo States: Bom Jesus do Itabapoana; Cambuci; Cardoso Moreira; Italva; Itaperuna; Laje do Muriae; Miracema; Natividade; Porciuncula; Santo Antonio de Padua; São Fidelis; São Jose de Uba; Varre-Sai; Campos dos Goytacazes; São Francisco de Itabapoa; São João da Barra Currently there is no evidence of yellow fever virus transmission in the large metropolitan areas of the East Coast such as Rio de Janeiro The determination of new areas considered to be at risk for yellow fever transmission is preliminary and updates will be provided regularly and considering that travelers for the Carnival in the next few weeks may take side tours outside the main cities the current advice by the WHO Secretariat for international travelers going to areas of Brazil deemed to be at risk Vaccination against yellow fever at least 10 days prior to the travel as per Annex 7 of the International Health Regulations (2005) a single dose of a yellow fever vaccine approved by WHO is sufficient to confer sustained immunity and life-long protection against yellow fever disease Travelers with contraindications for yellow fever vaccine (children below 9 months people with severe hypersensitivity to egg antigens and severe immunodeficiency) or over 60 years of age should consult their health professional for advice; adoption of measures to avoid mosquito bites; awareness of symptoms and signs of yellow fever; seeking care in case of symptoms and signs of yellow fever while travelling and upon return from areas at risk for yellow fever transmission For 2017 updates on yellow fever vaccination requirements and WHO vaccination recommendations for travelers see Annex and country list on the WHO International Travel and Health website Commenting for this story is now closed.If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page It is the first link in Ecopetrol’s value chain discover and appraise commercially viable hydrocarbon accumulations seeking to ensure the reserve replacement required for the sustainability of the Ecopetrol Group unify and manage hydrocarbon exploration activities Ecopetrol has an exploration process that integrates all the subsidiaries of the Group and determines the requirements and decision-making instances throughout the life cycle of an exploration project in order to promote operational discipline and planning in exploration opportunities the exploration process seeks to optimize exploration portfolio management while maintaining high technical assurance standards directing efforts towards compliance with the exploration strategy and to streamline the process of maturing opportunities converting them to discovered contingents and reserve resources the Ecopetrol Group has access to 8.79 million hectares distributed among the different subsidiaries and areas of interest in the various countries where it operates which includes an accelerated maturity plan and execution of integrated projects with an emphasis on synergies high probability of success and capacity to generate short-term value Because the Piedemonte Llanero is the largest gas production source in the country it is operated and managed in an integrated manner This guarantees capturing greater value for the Company by implementing synergies that empower it to address the technical challenges and operational characteristics of the area This consolidated plan will also allow it to meet the feasibility challenges of well drilling and the LLA122 block in association with Parex These blocks are located in the Piedemonte Llanero and will permit Ecopetrol to strengthen its presence in this area of the country where it already has significant oil and gas assets progress has been made on two fronts: 1) maturity and drilling of prospects in the northern area of Arauca where light crudes are sought in high-productivity fields associated with the Arauca-Caño Limón chain; and 2) exploration and appraisal of heavy crude prospects near to the Chichimene-Acacias-Lorito and Castilla production trains whose development will leveraged on existing infrastructure and on Ecopetrol's experience in this type of fields work has been carried out to acquire seismic information and to understand new exploration concepts In alliance with strategic partners in this VMM region exploration campaigns have been carried out in recent discoveries applying cost optimization and productivity analysis criteria as part of the expected long-term growth in border areas Ecopetrol has been evaluating the Paleozoic plays in the Llanos Orientales (eastern plains) and deep plays in the VMM An important part of the execution of the Colombian Onshore exploration strategy falls on Hocol The strategic definition approved in 2019 focuses on the exploration of medium and light crudes in the Higher Magdalena Valley (VSM for its Spanish acronym) and in the central part of the Llanos basin as well as gas exploration in the north coast and the Lower Magdalena Valley (VIM for its Spanish acronym) Hocol was assigned in the Llanos Orientales blocks LLA-86 LLA-123 and LLA-124 in association with the Company Geopark while in the Cordillera (mountain range) area it was assigned the COR-9 block with a 100% stake therein the strategy focuses on the incorporation of assets through purchases farm-ins and participation in exploration rounds We managed to be included in the Pau Brasil and Saturno exploration prospects and acquired as well 30% of the Gato do Mato discovery located in blocks BM-S-54 and in the Sul de Gato do Mato production-sharing agreement The deepwater strategy in the US Gulf of Mexico is focused on the search and development of opportunities in the Miocene and Jurassic reservoirs prioritizing opportunities with low exploration risk and close proximity to existing infrastructure block MC-726 was incorporated into the portfolio by acquiring a 21.43% stake from the company Chevron The operator of the block is the Company Hess the Aquex1 well was drilled during the second half of 2019 resulting in a discovery of liquid hydrocarbons that will begin production in the first quarter of 2020 as part of the first round of 2019 (Lease Sale 252) the MC-904 block located in the Mississippi Canyon area was assigned to the subsidiary Ecopetrol America The subsidiary's stake in this block is 31.5% while the operator Fieldwood owns 58.94% and Company Talos the remaining 9.56% work is currently underway to develop Offshore opportunities in blocks 6 and 8; and the drilling of the Moyote Well operated by Petronas is planned for 2020 that has given the name to the Federal Brasilian Republic is also the title chosen by the artist Margherita Leoni for the exhibition the MUSE in Trento dedicates to her from 22nd January to 10th April 2016 The Science Museum opens its space/makes its space available to hold a reflection on nature’s perfection and fragility: this theme is depicted in over 70 works An account on the botanical biodiversity in Brasil an exhortation to develop a relationship of balance knowledge and respect with natural environment The artistic research carried out by Margherita Leoni moves from an accurate study on botanical Brasilian biodiversity exploring South American Indian myths and arrives to the account of the Cerrado fire tragedy in order to reflect on the relationship between man and nature and on the need to rebuild a relationship of knowledge and respect with natural environment in 1974) has graduated at the School of Fine Arts in Brera In the same year she lived for six months in the reserve Biologica de Quebrangulo (Biological Reserve in Quebrangulo) where she began to depict on paper the various species living in the wild Brasilian forest Hence his work comes alive -a work dedicated to wild forests paying specific attention to Brasilian biomes: the rainforest in Amazzonia From 2000 to 2001 she studied Botanical Morphology and Systematic Botany at University San Paolo She struck up a solid friendship with the botanist specialized in the study and safeguard of wild plants in Brasil who has been collecting 3500 plant species mainly of wild plants in Jardim botanico Plantarum (Botanical garden) in Nuova Odessa since 1990 She has been exhibiting in public spaces and international art galleries since 2000 The opening of the exhibition dedicated to Margherita Leoni’s artistic research starts at 17 today © 2014 - 2025 TrentinoCultura - Conception and coordination: Department for Culture write us displaying their unique interpretations of “hanji” (Korean paper) craft and images of Korea caught through the camera.Nineteen members of the Seoul International Women’s Association (SIWA) representing 10 countries around the world are showing hanji crafts as well as photographs through Dec 14 at the KCDF Gallery in Insa-dong.The event is a fruition of the women’s efforts to learn new art skills during their residency here hanji artist Om Myong-sook and photographer Shin Mihe are also on display.“I believe that learning new skill is one of the most enjoyable things that people can do as we move in a new environment,” said SIWA president Lily Joenoes van Bunik during the opening reception Thursday.“Hanji is a beautiful tradition and I can now see why my wife spent all those nights working on it,” said Brazilian Ambassador Edmundo Sussumu Fujita about his wife Maria Ligaya Abeleda’s work with SIWA.The hanji crafts incorporate the maker’s own unique features flowers and trees that are native to Brazil such as the Ipe-roxo and Pau Brasil also contributed a paper lantern depicting the four seasons.Visitors can view various crafts ranging from paper ware and vases to small furniture that they made at Om Studio in Itaewon I unreservedly appreciate their exposed and unexposed efforts in transforming diverse experiences and unique artistry into the form of Korea’s traditional paper,” said Om.A corner of the exhibition shows works by four students who learned to work with the camera during their stay here The works were selected from their portfolios based on two themes Christmas colors and a unique view of Korea seen through foreigners’ eyes Captured through the lens are traditional images of red peppers (Esther Thelen from the Netherlands) as well as something more contemporary such as the Red Devil football fans (Nicole Brown from Australia) “Fleur du mal: Red One” and “Mad-made-scapes: Red Bricks,” by their teacher can be admired as well.“We opted to display works that aren’t just red or green but something that reflects our stay here,” said Lorrie Gomes from the United States who is exhibiting an image she captured of a local Buddhist temple.The KCDF Gallery is located near exit 6 of Anguk Station on subway line 3 Enter the alleyway across from Ssamziegil and it is on your right Call (02) 733-9041.Recommended Contents For YouTaboola 후원링크 Sign our campaign for a grant funding review Town Centre Securities' has completed letting the commercial space at 118-124 Deansgate in Manchester city centre Locally based restaurant chain Pau Brasil has signed a 15-year lease on the 8,000 sq ft first floor joining Staples UK and Cotswolds Outdoor in the building TCS spent £3m restoring the corner site which also has planning permission for 14 residential apartments on the upper floors is a traditional Brazilian steakhouse and the Deansgate restaurant follows the success of the original Pau Brasil in the city's Northern Quarter on Lever Street Town Centre Securities acquired 118-124 Deansgate formerly the children's retailer Daisy & Tom in 1997 and has since undertaken a complete restoration to transform the Grade II-listed building Town Centre Securities is perhaps better known in Manchester for its £250m Piccadilly Basin regeneration scheme said: "The restoration of 118-124 Deansgate continues our work in preserving Manchester's heritage The building is well recognised throughout the city and due to its strategic location we didn't want to limit the uses It was agreed that a combination of retail leisure and residential would suit both the format of the building and its positioning within the city We had always earmarked the second floor as an ideal option for a restaurant operator and are subsequently confident that Pau Brasil can make good use of the building's location and footfall." Read our comments policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Manchester Metropolitan University has formally entered into a joint venture with Unite Students as the partners near a planning submission for the £390m project at Cambridge Halls NatWest and Santander UK has taken the group’s total facilities to £580m Register for free North West property intelligence Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" Join more than 13,000 property professionals and sign up to receive your free daily round-up of built environment news direct to your inbox By subscribing, you are agreeing to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_3" ).setAttribute( "value" Subscribe to our English language newsletter and keep up-to-date with the most important news from Brazil All materials contained in this page may not be reproduced in any media without the prior written permission of Folhapress.