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 Travelers will soon be able to work the ground at a farming
settlement in Rio Grande do Sul. They are already able
to meet the turtles of the Tamar project and to explore
Fernando de Noronha, an archipelago that is a
National Marine Preserve.
By Rebecca Orczeck
Brazil's cultured paradise, with its destination cities and tropical jungles, isn't new
to the international jet-setter. Recently though, it has been coming into focus as a hot
spot for family vacations, honeymoons, and adventure travel. A unique aspect of adventure
travel is socio-ecological travel, a fast-growing trend. This travel with a purpose
concentrates on education, respect, and preservation of a culture, living creature, or
land—or any combination of the three.
Starting immediately, nontraditional travelers will be able to work the ground and
steep themselves in tradition at a farming settlement in Brazil's southern state, Rio
Grande do Sul. An affordable tour package will soon be offered through travel agencies in
North and South America and Europe. No, it's not a new eco-tourist outfit. It's a
Brazilian national movement, Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra(MST) or Landless
Workers Movement.
Founded in 1984, MST is structured in 23 of Brazil's states—a number that may
quickly increase with the country's growing movement. Their purpose is to take barren,
unprofitable land parcels and estates and work them into successful agricultural
settlements. Approximately 60 percent of Brazil's farmland is empty or unused, yet over 25
million citizens labor in temporary agriculture jobs with no promise of feeding their
family in the days and weeks to come.
The MST's answer to this is to take land reform into their own hands, seizing land
first, waiting for government-recognized deeds second. This mission is met with much
controversy and sometimes bloodshed, but it is not without remarkable benefits to its
members. Over 250,000 families now have stakes in MST-owned farming communities, thus
enabling them to provide themselves with a steady supply of food and, not surprisingly,
their own society.
In an effort to maximize the world community's awareness of their organization, MST
members are expanding their settlements and preparing for dealing with tourists. Several
thousand people already visit their communities, with reasons ranging from curiosity to
education to political affiliations. These visitors have interfered with the farms daily
operations, but given its leaders the valuable idea to market the tours.
In no way are the tours intended to provide funding for the entire organization, but
they certainly will provide a welcome financial boost for their foundering profits. Or
possibly the vacation of a lifetime!
Save the Turtles
Lining the coast of Brazil is an adventure awaiting animal lovers. The internationally
known Tamar project, a sea turtle preservation program, has twenty-one stations in eight
of the country's states. Several of the stations have Visitors Centers open to the public,
offering tourist attractions, stores, museums, and, of course, the turtles themselves. The
Tamar project's main reason for opening Visitors Centers is to educate people about the
ever-present and growing threat to sea turtles.
One of the focal reasons Brazil's sea turtles are endangered is the use of fishing
nets, both legal and illegal. If one of the creatures becomes caught in a net, it is
prevented from surfacing for air, and perishes. Modern development is also a threat to sea
turtles; artificial light and shadows from nearby buildings confuse them and upset the
sand temperature crucial for proper nesting.
In 1980, a coastal survey of Brazil determined that enough was not being done to save
the sea turtles. The Green, Loggerhead, Hawksbill, Olive Ridley, and Giant turtles were
being exposed to pollution, fishing nets, development, and unnatural predators. Something
had to be done. That's when Tamar stepped in and formed its conservation stations. They
were a community effort; local residents thoroughly explored the issue and were educated
on environmental concerns. The group got off to a slow start, but gradually won the
public's trust, building a very successful preservation program. Today Tamar assists in
the safe release of thousands of baby sea turtles.
Turtle lovers and environmental enthusiasts can go to the Visitors Centers to learn
more about the history of Tamar and its ongoing environmental education and conservation
programs.
Far from Civilization
Fernando de Noronha, or Island of the Forbidden, is for the traveler who wants to take
in the sights and sounds of a remote tropical island that happens to be a National Marine
Sanctuary. Just a little over two hundred miles from Brazil's coastal state of Rio Grande
do Norte, the small vacation spot has little more to offer than sparkling, clear water
perfect for diving and an elaborate marine ecosystem perfect for an educational family
vacation.
Fernando de Noronha is an archipelago consisting of twenty-one small volcanic-matter
islands. The islands are actually partially submerged mountains, part of the long
Mid-Atlantic underwater mountain range. The main island, population approximately
one-thousand, five hundred people, is diminutive at seven square miles. The limited space
provides a calm, unhurried feeling. The island's capacity for tourists is restricted to
four-hundred and twenty people daily. You won t be seeing rowdy groups of teenagers in
sports-cars either; there are no rental cars on Fernando de Noronha—unless you count
the dune buggies!
Aside from the tranquil atmosphere, the main draw to this little paradise is abundant
marine life. Over two-hundred fish species, both native and migratory, swim the warm
waters. They are not alone, though. As you explore the underwater caves and rock
formations that house a wide variety of sharks, crustaceans, mollusks, and coral you will
discover why most of the archipelago was declared a National Marine Preserve. Divers will
usually encounter a huge group of playful spinner dolphins in the afternoon. If you choose
to take a boat tour of the islets chances are good that you will have the opportunity to
see the dolphins too. The Tamar project has a station here and you can watch baby sea
turtles being released into their natural habitat. Any animal lover would have a great
time here!
If splashing in the water isn't what attracts you, find beauty in the island itself.
Following the volcanic landscape, hike the coastline to see the sparkling ocean shooting
high into the air through blowholes and watch the many protected birds. Along the way you
will find imported banana, guava, papaya, and tamarind trees. You might also come across
an innocent—looking bush called burra leiteira, but don t touch! It has an
acidic sap that can seriously burn your skin.
Fernando de Noronha is an idyllic cast-away island, with crystal waters, a rich
ecosystem, and a slow, quiet lifestyle. This gem in the Atlantic isn't so much an
activist's dream, but a great vacation with an eco-twist. For more information on
traveling with a purpose, visit your favorite travel website and search for adventure
travel. Have a great trip!
Rebecca Orczeck, a freelance writer and Internet content developer, creates her own
adventure trips, kayaking rivers and hiking rainforests at her home in Hawaii. She can be
reached at brcjo@prodigy.net
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