Farm Fire – September 2024
Help Us Restore the Forest and Wildlife
Fazenda Guaiuvira
Nearly a Century of History and Environmental Preservation
Fazenda Guaiuvira was founded in 1927, a year before the foundation of the city of Pompéia itself, by Dr. Mário de Andrade Bastos, a doctor who used to practice in Penápolis -SP.
In the early 21st century, in the hands of the second generation of the family, the property was split into Fazenda Guaiuvira and Fazenda Água do Cedro.
Today, almost a hundred years after being established, the two farms jointly perform the environmental preservation of the native forest reserves under the management of the third generation of Dr. Mário’s descendants.
The vocation and commitment to environmental preservation and sustainable land management remain our mission today.
The farm's main initial crops.
Fazenda Guaiuvira became a pioneer in the region by adopting contour plowing, aiming at soil preservation against erosion.
The farm experimented with corn, sunn hemp (crotalaria), cocoa, and rubber trees, but the results were not as expected.
Fazenda Guaiuvira faces the largest forest fire in its history, affecting most of the native forests and significantly impacting the farm's natural heritage. Recovery efforts include rebuilding fences and expanding the nursery for native tree seedlings.
Fauna with Apex Predators
When an area hosts apex predators, it means the entire ecological chain is present and functioning in a balanced manner. This indicates a healthy local ecosystem, sheltering a rich diversity of species that sustain life in the region.
The forests preserved for generations by the Guaiuvira and Água do Cedro farms are home to a vast diversity of fauna and flora. This evidence is duly documented through images captured by specialized cameras placed throughout the forest and by a biodiversity study previously conducted on the property by a specialized firm (WALM).
The list of species—both animals and plants—included in this study is sufficient to estimate the environmental damage currently underway. This loss is not only for the two properties in question but for the entire region surrounding the city of Pompéia, which benefits from the environmental services provided gracefully by the forest: air quality, humidity, water and carbon retention, pollination, etc.
In this moment of emergency, it is vital that we remain united—public authorities and private entities—to implement measures to recover what was destroyed and prevent further aggressions against nature in the future.
Current Crisis and Recovery
Unfortunately, Fazenda Guaiuvira was severely impacted by the wildfires that hit the state of São Paulo in August/September 2024. Despite the support of volunteers, firefighters, and government equipment, a large portion of our native forest was devastated.
Recovery is possible, but it will be a long and difficult process, especially with worsening climate conditions. In the short term, we need to rebuild the fences that protect the recovery areas from cattle entry. We are also planning to expand our native tree nursery to accelerate the forest’s regeneration.
What we need – How to help
At this moment, great challenges are already ahead of us.
We accept donations of fruits, vegetables, and pet food. These supplies will be distributed throughout the region to feed the forest animals that survived but lost their shelter and sources of nutrition.
Photographic records, videos, and testimonials are welcome. However, for these to be shared, we require authorization from the author and any individuals appearing in the footage.
Donations via Pix key: sos@guaiuvira.com.br
Major challenges lie ahead of us:
Commitment to Nature
Fazenda Guaiuvira has always stood out for its environmental preservation. In the 1970s, it was a pioneer in the region for using contour plowing to protect the soil against erosion. Currently, native forests cover more than half of the farm’s total area, far exceeding the 20% required by São Paulo state legislation. This commitment also extends to Fazenda Água do Cedro, which, although separated from Guaiuvira, continues to collaborate in protecting local biodiversity.
Agradecemos todo apoio!
We, members of the Fazendas Guaiuvira and Água do Cedro teams (owners, employees, and close friends) would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone, be they in civilian society or from government, who helped fight the wildfire that affected practically the entire native forest area of the two farms. We have been continuously fighting for two weeks the largest wildfire ever faced on the property.
Amidst the chaos we are going through, it warms our hearts to be the subject of the attention and concern of citizens, companies, and fellow rural producers of Pompeia and its environs. Your help has been of inestimable value! It is particularly touching to receive so many people spontaneously offering your physical strength, your sleep hours, as well as agricultural implements, food and/or money to purchase water, isotonic drinks, and PPEs used by the teams that worked directly on the front lines day and night. We are eternally grateful to everyone.
It comforts us to realize that even in such difficult times, we are still caring human beings, capable of acting collectively for the good of the population and the environment.
The idea of creating a page describing the Fazenda and its history is not new, but we decided to put it up at this time, albeit in a hurry, so that all the friends who have helped and continue to help us can learn a little more about the value of their collaboration. The amount of support we received over these days reinforces our certainty that protecting an historical and environmental heritage is very important to the entire community.
The forests that have always been preserved by Guaiuvira and Água do Cedro are home to a great diversity of fauna and flora. This evidence is duly documented through images captured by specialized cameras placed at various points in the forest and also by a biodiversity study carried out on the property by a specialized company (WALM).
The list of species, both animals and plants, included in this study is sufficient to estimate the environmental damage that is currently underway. This loss is not only incurred by two properties involved, but by the entire region surrounding the city of Pompeia, which benefits from the environmental services graciously offered by the forest: air quality, humidity, water and carbon retention, pollination, etc.
In this time of emergency, we must remain united, public authorities and private entities, on the intent to implement measures to recover what has been destroyed and prevent future attacks on nature.
BLOG Fazenda Guaiuvira
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Contact Us
- sos@guaiuvira.com.br
- Caixa Postal 13, Pompéia, SP 17580-970
- @guaiuvira
Fazenda Guaiuvira
Pompeia – SP
sos@guaiuvira.com.br
Fazenda Guaiuvira
Caixa Postal 13, Pompéia, SP 17580-970