Sintang Regency is located in the “Heart of Borneo”, an area of intact forest the size of England and Scotland combined, and home to endangered species including Bornean orangutans, sun bears (Helarctos malayanus), tarsius (Tarsius bancanus), various hornbills and eagles, and other vulnerable species. The more than one million indigenous people living in the forest rely on it for their livelihoods, and millions more depend on the environmental services it provides, like fresh water.

Workshop Participants. Photo credit: CSF CSF-Brazil has released our study "Strengthening Tourism in Indigenous Lands: Analysis of Tourism Supply and Demand in the Juruena River Basin, Mato Grosso state", conducted in partnership with Native Amazon Operation (OPAN). The study analyzed the demand and supply of tourism in Mato Grosso state (MT) state to support the development of sustainable tourism in Indigenous Lands (ILs) of the Juruena river basin.

CSF-Brazil conducted a feasibility study of the most promising restoration business models for private investment in southern Amazon (AM) state, Brazil. We conducted an economic assessment of three restoration models based on agroforestry found in the field: (1) Guaraná; (2) Coffee, cocoa and guaraná; (3) Coffee, cocoa, guaraná, açaí and banana. Feasibility results show that private investors can be attracted by these compelling business cases.

CSF-Brazil conducted a feasibility study of the most promising restoration business models for private investment in southern Amazon (AM) state, Brazil. We conducted an economic assessment of three restoration models based on agroforestry found in the field: (1) Guaraná; (2) Coffee, cocoa and guaraná; (3) Coffee, cocoa, guaraná, açaí and banana. Feasibility results show that private investors can be attracted by these compelling business cases.

Sintarum waterfalls in Sintang. Photo credit: CSF CSF-Indonesia is continuing to work with the government of Sintang to integrate sustainability principles into development planning. From January 15-18, we conducted a workshop on sustainable landscape modeling, building directly on the scenario planning workshop we held in October.

In partnership with the Forest Code Observatory (OCF) and Brazilian State level Environment Agencies, CSF-Brazil has concluded a study on the implementation of Environmental Reserve Quotas (CRAs) in the state of Maranhão (MA), and opportunities in Bahia (BA) and Tocantins (TO). We aim to support MA in the CRAs market implementation and to promote dialogue and experience sharing among MA, BA and TO. The ultimate goal of the study is to promote ecosystem and forest conservation in a more economically efficient and environmentally sound way in the Amazon, Cerrado and Caatinga Brazilian biomes.

Photo credit: Alejandro Burr.

Sea turtle resting in the reefs of Cabo Pulmo National Park. Photo credit: Leonardo Gonzalez/Shutterstock.

Road in Brazil. Photo credit: Pedarilhos/Shutterstock.com.CSF has been working with the Moore Foundation, IPAM, and FCDS to identify the relative riskiness of planned roads in the Amazon basin in terms of economic, social and environmental costs. Our goal is to promote better infrastructure decision-making in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru by contributing reliable data to the national road planning process.