Imagine you are the owner or heir of a
preserved natural area, with springs, rivers, and/or remnants of one of the Brazilian biomes, and you would like to ensure its conservation for many generations to come. One of the mechanisms to guarantee its protection is to transform it into a
Private Reserve of Natural Heritage - RPPN, a type of conservation unit of private domain, whose objective of conserving biological diversity is recorded permanently in the property's registration. This was the choice of names like the actor
Marcos Palmeira, who converted part of his farm Vale das Palmeiras, in Teresópolis, RJ, into an RPPN; the singer
Ney Matogrosso, owner of the RPPN Matogrosso in Saquarema, RJ; and the writer
Raquel de Queiroz, creator of the RPPN Fazenda Não me Deixes, in Quixadá, CE. Also included in this list of RPPN enthusiasts are the couple
Lélia and Sebastião Salgado, founders of the RPPN Fazenda Bulcão, headquarters of the Instituto Terra, located in Aimorés, MG. An important detail:
they were the first to manage to transform a degraded area into an RPPN, thanks to the intense reforestation work in the area, which is now a refuge for the Atlantic Forest.
RPPN Encontro das Águas, em Paranaguá, PR. (Vitor Pavan/CASACOR)
In Paranaguá, on the coast of Paraná, biologist
Anne Zugman is the owner and manager of the RPPN Encontro das Águas, created in 2021. "When I inherited the 30-hectare area from my family, my main desire was to
conserve the Atlantic Forest that exists there and which I wish to leave for future generations," she says. The reserve has 18 hectares designated for research and scientific tourism. The name refers to the fact that the area contains three tributaries of the Cambará river, essential for the water supply of the city of Matinhos, located in the region. Zugman is also associated with the Mater Natura Institute of Environmental Studies, a non-profit NGO that provides, among other services, support and consultancy for those interested in creating and implementing RPPNs.
Who can create an RPPN
Individuals and legal entities are eligible to create RPPNs, at the federal, state, or municipal levels. Currently, Brazil has about 2,000 RPPNs, which together add up to more than one million hectares. There is no minimum or maximum size for a conservation unit of this category. The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), the agency responsible for these reserves at the federal level, has already authorized the creation of RPPNs with less than one hectare (more common in urban areas) and with more than 80 thousand hectares. "The important thing is for the owner to prove that their area has
attributes of biological diversity deserving this recognition," explains André Zecchin, manager of the Salto Morato Natural Reserve, an RPPN located in Guaraqueçaba, PR, belonging to the Boticário Foundation for Nature Protection. The entity is also the owner of the Serra do Tombador Natural Reserve in Cavalcante, GO, and has already provided financial support (through calls for proposals) for another 47 RPPNs.
O Salto Morato, cachoeira com cerca de 100 metros de altura, é um dos atrativos da Reserva Natural Salto Morato, em Guaraqueçaba, PR. (José Paiva/CASACOR)
What benefits do owners receive?
By transforming a private area into an RPPN, owners maintain their property rights preserved, are exempt from the Rural Land Property Tax (ITR) related to the area created as RPPN, have priority access to rural credit lines and project proposals’ analyses by the National Fund for the Environment (FNMA), of MMA, and can establish cooperation partnerships with private and public entities for the protection, management, and handling of the unit. "Additionally, some states have mechanisms for redistributing part of the collected ICMS to RPPNs, it's called Ecological ICMS," Zecchin adds.
Vista da Reserva Natural Serra do Tombador, em Cavalcante, GO. (André Dib/CASACOR)
Once an RPPN is created, it is not possible to change this status, which does not mean that the property becomes “frozen” for the owners.
These natural reserves can be donated, inherited, sold, mortgaged, or even subdivided, as long as the new owners ensure the original commitment to conserve their biodiversity. "In fact, I wouldn’t say there are limitations on use, but rather guidelines and opportunities for use," says Zecchin, recalling that scientific research activities and visitation for tourist, recreational, and educational purposes are allowed in RPPNs, defined in the management plan of each unit.
Why are RPPNs so important, after all?
In general, every RPPN contributes to the
expansion of protected areas in the country and to the
protection of the biodiversity of Brazilian biomes, fragmented by real estate exploitation and economic activities. In this context, RPPNs help create
ecological corridors that allow for the conservation of fauna and flora species. "Additionally, many of them are strategic for water security in cities, as they protect springs and rivers that supply the urban areas," emphasizes André Zecchin. He also recalls that these reserves play an important role in regional development through ecological tourism and research, generating jobs and income for the region where they are located. [abril-veja-tambem]W3siaWQiOjIwNDgwNSwidGl0bGUiOiJCaWJsaW90ZWNhIGNvbXVuaXQmI3hFMTtyaWEgbmEgQW1heiYjeEY0O25pYSBlcXVhdG9yaWFuYSB2YWxvcml6YSBzYWJlcmVzIGFuY2VzdHJhaXMsIG1hdGVyaWFpcyBsb2NhaXMgZSBjb252aXYmI3hFQTtuY2lhIn0seyJpZCI6MTkzNDIyLCJ0aXRsZSI6IlBhaXNhZ2lzbW8gcmVnZW5lcmF0aXZvIHRyYW5zZm9ybWEgbyBhbWJpZW50ZSBkZSBtYW5laXJhIHN1c3RlbnQmI3hFMTt2ZWwifSx7ImlkIjoxOTI2OTAsInRpdGxlIjoiTWFpb3IgY29uc3RydSYjeEU3OyYjeEUzO28gZGUgbWFkZWlyYSBkbyBtdW5kbyAmI3hFOTsgaW5hdWd1cmFkYSBuYSBFeHBvIE9zYWthIn1d
