NEWS

The project "The jaguar as an environmental asset: understanding interactions with traditional communities and promoting sustainable development in Amapá" was funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development -CNPq (Chamada CNPq/CONFAP 34/2023 - Expedições Científicas - Iniciativa Amazônia +10.

Twenty two projects were selected with a budget of approximately 76 million Brazilian Reals (https://www.amazoniamaisdez.org.br/post/com-investimento-de-r-76-milh%C3%B5es-iniciativa-amaz%C3%B4nia-10-divulga-resultado-final-da-chamada-expedi%C3%A7).

Our project has 17 PhD researchers (16 from various institutions in Brazil and 1 from French Guiana), 1 collaborating researcher from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, several undergraduate and postgraduate students, 5 artisanal fishermen and 1 indigenous person Karipuna. In addition to the resource provided by CNPq, the support of 5 more FAPs (FAPEAP, FUNDECT, FAPESPA, FAPEG, FAPERGS) will guarantee the total amount necessary to carry out the project.

The project has researchers from the following institutions:

* Universidade Federal do Amapá,

* Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso,

* Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul,

* Universidade Federal do Pará,

* Universidade Federal de Goiás,

* Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Goiás,

* Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul,

* Universidade Federal de Viçosa,

* Universidade Federal do Paraná,

* Instituto Onça-Pintada,

* Instituto Pró-Carnívoros,

* Instituto Reprocon,

* Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade,

* Kwata Association,

The project aims to obtain data on biodiversity, socio-biodiversity, genetic data and the creation of a jaguar germplasm biobank in coastal areas of Amapá, still largely unknown, associated with the use of vertebrates of possible observation to stimulate ecotourism activities that aim to enable development sustainable development of traditional communities.

Furthermore, the proposal intends to use various methodologies such as camera trapping, use of a drone with a thermal camera, GPS collars, genetic studies, health surveys and reproductive biotechnology, to gain an in-depth understanding of the ecology of jaguars and their prey, as well as their behavior on the coastal island of Maracá and adjacent continental areas. With knowledge of the rich biodiversity of the study region, it will be possible to stimulate the bioeconomy through ecological tourism, generating another source of income for artisanal fishermen and indigenous people in the region.

Follow project updates here and, soon, on the website that will be developed especially for the project.