Alma ATLÂNTICA

One of the projects we are now actively working on with our partner SPVS is the development of an initiative for responsible ecotourism in the area of the Paranaguá Bay, part of the Grande Reserva Mata Atlantica (GRMA) in the state of Paraná. This form of tourism can be a powerful driver of sustainable development for traditional local communities. Community-based ecotourism has the potential to create meaningful employment opportunities, especially for the youth, and to generate income linked to the preservation of cultural heritage and natural resources. When local livelihoods depend on healthy ecosystems, communities become active stewards of their environment, creating a virtuous cycle in which economic well-being, cultural preservation and nature protection reinforce each other.

After the project conception phase, two pilot trips are being conducted in the Aug-Oct 2026 time frame, the first one with Europeans, the second one with Brazilian participants. With that, the project concept and the collaboration among the different local partners involved is tested. Also the feedback from the participants, both travellers and local service providers - some of them traditional fisher community members - is being collected, to support the next phase of the project.

Establishing a workable responsible ecotourism route in this area is an important proof of concept that supports the participation of local communities and service providers, and at the same time strengthens the value of preserving and protecting natural environments and traditional cultures.