Ana Paula Mendes

As each BJF partnership lasts two years, we ask you to visit our community page and view your profile. Envisage your partnership renewal 2020 stamp, and be inspired to re-commit to the Black Jaguar Foundation this month. If you’re a new friend, explore our site, read about our updates, and get in touch!

Even in these challenging times, we are still receiving shows of incredible generosity. With you, we are capable of having a major, impact on the future of our planet. This is just the start!

Will you continue to help us make this reforestation dream a reality?

Trees planted by the BJF one year ago

Published 7th May, 2020. 

One vital milestone is the development of our governance project! Over the past 6 months we have been developing this part of our organisation along with partner legal advisors, Vieira Rezende Advogados. As part of this process, we are honoured to officially announce the members of our advisory board Brazil…

With years of expertise spanning the worlds of law, sustainability, agribusiness, environmental research, Finance and Strategy, we are proud to introduce our world-class board;

Camila Lefevre

As a partner at Vieira Rezende Advogados, Camila Lefevre specialises in Corporate governance and Mergers & Acquisitions. Camila is at the top of her field, and with her exceptional expertise has led the implementation of the BJF Governance project. She will now head the BJF Brazil board.

Fernando Simões Filho

Fernando Simões Filho is an expert in the world of social impact businesses. As Managing Partner at Bemtevi Investimento Social, Fernando has a wealth of experience growing sustainable initiatives. This expert knowledge will help guide the BJF through the world of impact investing and so much more.

Rachel Biderman

As the Executive Director of the World Resources Institute (WRI) Brazil, we are honoured to have Rachel Biderman as part of our board. Rachel has years of knowledge and expertise in the sectors of sustainability, research, and natural resources. Making her perfectly placed to help the BJF grow as we move forward.

Fernando Bedaque

Adding to the board’s world-class legal expertise, Fernando Bedaque is a Partner at Dinamarco, Rossi, Beraldo & Bedaque. Specialising in environmental law, Fernando brings with him not only a wealth of knowledge and experience but a deep passion for our planet. Fernando is a long-time and committed friend of the BJF. We are excited for him to help guide us as we continue on our mission.

Marcello Brito

Marcello Brito is the President of the Association for Brazilian Agrobusiness (ABAG), and another invaluable member of our board. As a leading figure in the Brazilian agribusiness sector, Marcello offers unparalleled knowledge of the sector and crucially speaks from the viewpoint of one of the primary stakeholders in the Araguaia Corridor, the farmers of the region.

Rebecca Raposo

Rebecca Raposo is our strategy specialist. As Founding Partner of RR Estrategia, Rebecca’s skills in management consultancy and strategic planning are unrivalled. Rebecca’s in-depth knowledge of this area will be vital as we develop into the crucial next stages of the project.

Ingo Isernhagen

With years of research experience, Ingo Isernhagen adds a new crucial dimension to our experienced board. Currently at the top of his field, Ingo has completed his doctorate in the Conservation of Forest Ecosystems and is working with Embrapa. His vital technical knowledge will help our work in the field develop to the highest possible standard.

These exceptional individuals will help guide us with their wealth of knowledge, as we continue on, more determined than ever to help restore balance to our fragile planet. 

Published 7th May, 2020. 

Considering the increasing global concern surrounding Covid-19 we have made the decision to postpone our 18th April 2020 Milestone Celebration Event at LaBiomista in Genk, Belgium.

We feel we have an obligation to help minimise the spread in any way we can and mitigate any additional risk to public health.

Our 2020 Celebration Event will therefore be postponed and will now take place on the 29th August 2020. 

We are closely following the guidelines set out by the World Health Organisation and our respective governments in Brazil, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, and will continue to take the necessary precautions. This includes restricting travel to the Araguaia Corridor region, where currently the number of reported cases is still very low.

It is because of your vital support that we have been able to accomplish so many major milestones in the past year. Our reforestation work continues, and as always, we make sure to be a sign of hope for our future. In the coming days, we will share with you exciting news of a major milestone, as we continue to keep you updated on our progress.

In times such as this, the protection of our planet’s biodiversity is more important than ever. By preserving ecosystems you also preserve a natural system of checks and balances that helps mitigate the spread of disease. Nature has implications for all aspects of human life and so we are more determined than ever to continue on our mission.

Your support is crucial and we hope you will join us to celebrate our milestones later this summer in Genk.  

This is the time to reflect and move forward with consciousness and care for yourselves and each other. Thank you as always for your continous support.

Published 18th March, 2020

We are extremely pleased to announce that another landowner in the corridor region has joined our grand mission. Introducing Fazenda Cedro! Also known as Fazenda H3C, the farm is located in the municipality of Santana do Araguaia, Pará State, in the heart of the Corridor.

Originally from the south and southeast of Brazil, owners, Clóvis and Regina Molke, are proud to be a traditional family of farmers who always seek to produce with respect for the environment. Regina emphasises the need to take care of natural resources, commenting that without these, agricultural activity itself becomes infeasible. At the property, special care is taken with actions such as waste disposal and they are involved in the fight against forest fires. Clóvis and Regina’s son, Luiz Eduardo Molke, is studying to become an agronomist, following the family tradition and contributing to the discussion surrounding the sustainable future of the farm.

It is natural for farmers to be concerned with conserving forests within their properties, Regina commented, “Trees are very important for the environment, it is through the forest that the groundwater is preserved, and with that both the soil and the quality of the air are improved. People who have always lived on the land are more aware of this and more willingly preserve it.”

She continued, “BJF’s initiative to reforest and assist in this process is very important and will greatly accelerate the recovery of areas of the forest. As a consequence, the fauna will also benefit, with birds, turtles, mammals, and reptiles being allowed more space and more food to survive.”

Why are landowners such an important part of our mission?

We rely on creating partnerships with farmers in the region who then allow us to reforest areas of their land which have become degraded. These landowners are obliged by Brazilian law to preserve native vegetation in at least 20% of their land. These areas are called legal reserve (RL) and permanent protection areas (APP). We provide financial and technical support to help farmers adhere to the law, meanwhile restoring biodiversity, water security, soil quality and so much more.

Find out more about our partnerships with farmers along the corridor.

Published 5th March, 2020

Introducing Caminhos da Semente, experts in direct seeding and new BJF technical partner. They will be a crucial partner for us in the coming years as we expand and perfect our restoration techniques. Their mission? To help reforestation initiatives, such as the BJF, succeed and maximise their efficiencies. Caminhos da Semente will be working in direct collaboration with our team in the field to improve our direct seeding techniques.

The Caminhos da Semente initiative is coordinated by Agroicone, with technical support from the Socio-Environmental Institute (ISA) and technical and financial support from the United Kingdom Partnerships For Forests (P4F) program. The initiative is part of the strategic Action Plan to promote direct seeding. This was prepared with the collaboration of more than 250 specialists, working in more than 160 organisations.

“We found that direct seeding is still a little used method in Brazil, despite its economic and socio-environmental advantages, because there are important barriers to be solved, one of which is a lack of knowledge about the method in São Paulo”, explains Laura Antoniazzi, partner Agroicone and general coordinator of the Initiative.

Direct seeding requires heavy soil preparation followed by the distribution of seeds directly onto the soil. This method is often under-utilised however when enlisted correctly can create huge economic and efficiency gains, creating a denser ecosystem quicker than other methods. Direct seeding is especially useful to restore savanna areas, as we’re able to reintroduce all forms of life at once: trees, bushes and grasses.

Published 5th March, 2020

Last month, the Black Jaguar Foundation had the honour of being invited to participate in the Converge Capital Conference, in Rio. A meeting that gathered the elite of global investors and looked to shake up the impact investment scene in Brazil.

In this forum, launched the preliminary results of the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor cost-benefit analysis. This academic study was conducted throughout 2019, measuring the numerous impacts and benefits in relation to the total costs of restoring the corridor.

Find out more and view the preliminary results: bit.ly/greencapitalbjf

During the event, our Partnerships Coordinator in Brazil, Marina Tavares, also took part in an inspiring panel discussion. This explored the possibilities for impact investing and venture philanthropy in relation to restoring our forests.

This event represented the future of Brazilian investing and the immense possibilities for collaboration and progress surrounding the preservation and restoration of our essential ecosystems.

Published 5th March, 2020

Long-time BJF sponsor and loyal friend Scelta Mushrooms has renewed their membership for a sixth year in a row! Beyond being passionate about producing high quality, innovative food, Scelta invests heavily in the future. Jan Klerken, CEO of Scelta, shares our passion for a greener world and is increasingly gearing the company towards a more sustainable future.

Scelta celebrated their 25th Anniversary in 2018. As the number one mushroom processing company in the Netherlands, they now supply approximately 800 partners in 70 countries. Innovation is in Scelta’s DNA. It is the driving force that has shaped and continues to shape the company. Constantly developing and adapting to meet the new global demands of the food production industry, Scelta maintains their focus on three main pillars: taste, health and sustainability.

The Scelta Institute, Venlo. Location of the 2018 BJF celebration event.

Jan Klerken, Scelta CEO, speaking at the 2018 BJF celebration event.

Scelta Mushrooms has been a hugely impactful sponsor of the BJF for many years now, and we look forward to many more years working together in our shared mission for a more sustainable, more green future.

Published 5th March, 2020