The SerNativo Project is an eco-investment forin Brazil, a priority
for Andetur Group, an Eco Tourism business that is already up and
running, licensed as an RPPN (Private Eco-Reserve) **, government
approved by IBAMA (Ministery of the Ambient), over 600 + acres
'semi-arid' caatinga, located alongside (on the shore) of a
beautiful lake in the

mountainous Seridó region of northeast Brazil, Municipal of Acari
(http://www.acari-rn.com.br), State of Rio Grande do Norte. There
are only 3 such RPPN reserves presently in the entire state.

Created in 1996 by biologist Dra. Cecilia Medeiros in memory of her
brother, killed in a plane crash, the reserve is located on the
ranch (or sitio) José Gonçalves. Dra. Cecicla was doing extensive
studies on the values of medicinal plants in the reserve, and it has
been proposed that studies (and venon extraction) be done with the
snakes of the region.

The proposal is to conduct methods of preservation of the species
representative of the caatinga, continue experimentation agro-
industrial, cataloging and selection of medicinal plants and native
herbs, and extraction of snake venom.

Visitors can arrange `treks' on the local trails, visit historical
sites and a castle that is nearby. The restaurant at the tourist
center offers local regional foods such as `carne de sol', `galinha
caipira' or even a fresh water fish (piexe da água doce no pirão).

As a RPPN, the Project SerNativo already receives special attention
from government ambiental organizations, research institutions, and
NGOs concerned with the ambient. It has many advantages to provide
protection against forest fires, illegal land clearing, illegal
hunting, along with other activities that threaten the ambient.
SerNativo can also develop several activities involving eco-tourism,
recreation and ambiental education, generating new income options
for the community

Needed is an investment to secure the land of about US$ 55,000
(50%). The business potential looks to have a possible return on
investment (RTOI) of about 4 - with a possible annual gross income
of approx. US$ 2,000,000 (5th year projected). Andetur as a
registered tour operater already has the eco-market, and management
as we are developing the tourist center for the community of Acari.
Project manager is Donald Richard Reid - registered with IBAMA –
Ministério do Meio Ambiente – as Técnico Federal N° 235492 "Use of
Natural Resourses / using natural patrimony; and tourism operator /
and manager of tourist and recreation complexes." Also EMBRATUR, the
government agency regulating tourism. Donald is an American,
resident in Brazil for over 25 years.

Contact directly with Donald at (mailto:andetur@...)

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** RPPN (Reservas Particulares do Patrimônio Natural) are private
areas that have the objective to conserve the biological diversity.
They are classified as Unidades de Conservação de Uso Sustentável.
In their interior they are allowed to develop activities with a
program such as research and visitation, with objectives
recreational, educational and tourism.

RPPN's represent an important mechanism of public/private
participation, as a major thought is to involve the local community
in the conservation of biological diversity. By use of the RPPN the
private property is providing its contribution to the protection of
the ambient and increases the possibility significantly to create a
scene with more protected areas, in terms of both quantity and
quality.