Teuco Tropical Forest Project in Toba Meguesoxochi Community

The Teuco Tropical Forest Project is co-financed by the European Union and the non-governmental organization, VOLENS. The project has created a cooperative agreement with the National Parks Administration, which pronounces the territory of the Toba Meguesoxochi community a Protected Watershed Area, or API in Spanish.


The project studies the management of the forest, beekeeping, forest - ranching, ecotourism, the commercialization and promotion of the artisan products of local women, and the media communication projects via the radio or theatrical performances.
We are interested in the ecotourism activities conducted by a group of young Tobas and Creole eco-tour guides. The park rangers and staff of the Chaco National Park at the School of Park Rangers in Horco Molle of Tucuman trained them in the areas of territorial management, environmental education, and ecotourism.

The strong cultural and natural heritage of the indigenous and Creole population adds to the incredible biological diversity already preserved and the proposed activities hope to discover and explore all aspects of the Impenetrable Chaco Forest has to offer, including both its natural and cultural elements. Some of the highlighted activities of the project include: an excursion on the river; guided tour of flora and fauna, birds watching, and observation of other animals; a walk in the forest exploring the traditional and medicinal use of plants; the opportunity to learn and look at local Tobas artisan projects including baskets making and sheep and vegetal fiber weavings; and educational discussions regarding cultural preservation. The project also promotes the construction of ecologically sound or sustainable bungalows located on the outer bank of the lagoon in the center of the community. You would take a “lancha”, or small boat, to reach the new bungalows.

The final aim of this project is to encourage the participation of local community members as the driving force behind the activities themselves. As a result, this maximizes the authenticity of the activities as well the opportunity for exchange, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation.

www.bosquestropicales.com.ar

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The Guaraní Mborore Community, Puerto Iguazú

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The inhabitants of Mborore have established a program of tourism in their community. The Mborore community has been confined to a situation of poverty due to the destruction of the local environment and also to the crisis situation in general. The community has selected two guides, who have created a tour of the community offering a glimpse into the typical activities of its members. The Excursion is sold by a tourist agency. Due to the success of the project and the willingness of the community, they have recently increased the scope of the project by constructing a refuge, capable of housing small tourist groups. In July of 2004, we went with a group of six tourists and stayed in this refuge, which was constructed using the same techniques used to construct houses in the community.

Another organization working with the community is the ONLUS Kairos, which, through the Aurora Project, is collaborating with the teachers of the Fortin Mborore School to improve health and infrastructure.

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The Rio Parana Cooperative, Obera
The Agriculture Movement of Misiones, MAM
Yerba Mate Titrayju: Land, Work and Justice

In the Province of Misiones 80% of the rural population works in the agricultural sector and 65% are small producers. They live and work with their families on farms of 25 hectares, often rented from large landlords under a Feudal-type system. The Rio Parana cooperative involves a group of agricultural activities that give small producers access to tools, common land and the professional education necessary for processing their products. In some cases, the cooperative involves itself in the entire production process and enables the small producers to avoid dealing with middlemen who generally take more than 50% of the cost of the final sale.

One of the most successful projects of the Cooperative is the Yerba Mate Titrayju. Yerba mate is historically a principle product of the province of Misiones. The processes of manufacturing the yerba mate begins first with the drying and seasoning process, and is followed by milling and then refine treatments before being packaged. Small producers cannot sustain this long and costly process and the production and distribution are therefore controlled by an oligopoly that pays pitiful amounts to the small producers. A series of laws exist that theoretically protect the small producers but they are seldom applied because the state does not have the money to enforce them. The “Tritayju” project gives many small producers the ability to process and package the Yerba Mate and to sell it to consumers through the Commercial Centre of Indigenous and Rural Workers whose goal is to increase responsible and fair trade between the farmers and the cities.

Through the Cooperative they are also implementing tourist programs to benefit the families who offer their hospitality.

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The Moconà Refuge

This refuge is a part of an environmental conservation project located in a private reserve in the Mocona Provincial Park. It is an area of diverse uses with primary subtropical forest, secondary forest and areas dedicated to forestry.

The owners of the refuge have confidence in the prospectus of tourism and have substituted part of the forestry activities with nature tourism. To visit this area and stay in the refuge allows not only a greater understanding of the beauty and diversity of the subtropical forest but it also encourages the protection of the forest by providing an economic incentive to the local people not to cut it down.

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