DAY ELEVEN: SANTAREM

• IBAMA OFFICE VISIT AND DISCUSSION

• BOAT RIDE TO ALTER DO CHAO

Sunset over the Rio Tapajos, near Alter do Chao.

Photos by Lucus Fortini

IBAMA was formed in 1989 by the fusion of four Brazilian entities: Secretari do Meio Ambiente (SEMA), Superintendencia da Borracha (SUDHEVEA), Superintendencia da Pesca (SUDEPE), and the Instituto Brasileiro de Desenvolvimento Florestal (IBDF). IBAMA is responsible for environmental regulation in Brazil.

There are 60 National Forests in Brazil. Currently, IBAMA seeks to improve their relationship with traditional communities that are located within protected forests, and to work closely with companies that have logging concessions in the protected areas.

After a lively discussion we embarked on an afternoon boat ride to Alter do Chao, a beach on the Rio Tapajos.

View of the waxing moon over the Rio Tapajos.