Association of Protection of Coastal Ecosystems – APREC
Region
Americas
Country
Brazil
Flyway
Americas flyway
Initiative
WLI Americas
About
Name of organisation
Association of Protection of Coastal Ecosystems APREC
Funding support
Donations
Number of staff
0
Number of visitors per year
300
Overall aims of the centre
Education & Research
Mainly protecting the marine fauna and flora, salt marshes, dunes, beaches, coral reefs, estuaries, mangroves, lakes and ponds, the Atlantic forest, working for the conservation and sustainable use of coastal ecosystems. Aiming to facilitate the communities’ access to opportunities such as education, including vocational training, environmental education, digital inclusion and added values to their project activities that reflect a better quality of life.
Description of the centre
Protection and environmental education in various areas including the Itaipu Lagoon, Guanabara Bay, mangroves etc. Besides promoting and conducting classes and lectures.
Work Areas
Main CEPA work area
Classes and publishing articles / papers in journals, books and scientific events.
Additionally see a brief description below of some of the relevant projects:
Cultimar Project: The increasing scarcity of food in the world led to the further development of aquaculture in developed countries and those in developing sayings and as research seeking the introduction of more effective techniques, aimed at increasing productivity.
The project now comprises CULTIMAR activities related to education, aquaculture and environmental monitoring. For its pioneering design has gained the interest of the community, newspaper headlines and numerous participations in educational programs, newsletters, conferences in radios and televisions.
Project Guard’Águas on Guanabara Bay: the destruction of ecosystems peripheral of Guanabara Bay occurs mainly by successive landfills generated from urban and industrial expansion. Even the “APA Guapimirim”, created to protect the last remnants of mangroves, has been suffering with the removal of timber for firewood used by bakeries and ceramics, props for construction, encroachment by low-income populations, oil pollution, deforestation and burned. The APREC Coastal Ecosystems began in 2000 to develop initiatives for volunteer activities aimed at environmental education in the areas surrounding the bay.
Projeto Caminhando “Walking Project”: The Projeto caminhando – Conducts Ecological Hikings, develops complete and harmonious integration of man with the coastal ecosystems, thus promoting a more satisfying use of natural areas, integrated local culture without compromising natural resources and within the standards of sustainability and quality of life contributing to:
• Empowering young people and adults continuing to spread ecological concepts by IEPA, capacitating ecotourism guides, empowering many to practice ecological and citizen, collaborating with the implementation of Local Agenda 21.
• Provide information about the ecology and culture of the regions lagoon and surrounding areas, clearly and concisely, gradually developing the understanding and manipulation of concepts of Ecology and Culture for the groups formed by private and state schools, and others that will arise with ecotourism organized and stimulated.
• The project is developed in two stages, Spring / Summer and Autumn / Winter. During Spring / Summer the actions are developed focusing on the floating population (seasonal visitors/tourists) of the region, through activities on the beaches and squares such as: ecological panels, sports games and cultural distribution of information leaflets, land and sea tours by canoe and ecological task forces.
• During Autumn / Winter the actions are aimed at schools, neighborhood associations and fishermen, charities and resident population in the region
Top three successes
All for the quality of the work
Top three challenges
Persistence, perseverance, obstinacy
Expertise
Interpretation techniques
Creating signage; site information; Producing written materials; Using audio-visual tools; Developing nature trails
Visitor centres
Managing / creating habitat; Building / maintaining structures
Participation
Engaging hard-to-reach groups; Engaging young people; Engaging the local community; Working with volunteers
Education and communication
Delivering adult education; Working with primary schools; Lobbying / running campaigns; Working with secondary schools; Developing resources / materials
General
Auditing / assessing effectiveness; PR and marketing; Running effective administration; Project planning.
Contact
Mattos-Fonseca; rua Macário Picanço, 825 Maravista Itaipu
Niterói RJ CEP 24.342-360 Tel: (21) 2609 8573
sergio@aprec.org.br
Website address: www.aprec.org.br
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