Eco Tourism
Volunteering

VOLUNTEER IN BRAZIL AT A PERMACULTURE FARM

Author: Jonathan Belarmino

  • Regenerative Connections: Eco Caminhos’ Visit to the Araçá Project — Conservation, Permaculture, and Reforestation in Brazil

    Regenerative Connections: Eco Caminhos’ Visit to the Araçá Project — Conservation, Permaculture, and Reforestation in Brazil

    On the morning of June 19, 2025, a diverse and enthusiastic group departed from Eco Caminhos, a sustainability farm known for its permaculture, agroforestry, and natural building practices, heading to RPPN Alto da Figueira, in Nova Friburgo (RJ). Excitement was high: farm workers, international volunteers, members of the Ecolibrium Association, and 12 students from Saint Mary’s University and Texas A&M were on their way to experience the conservation work of the Araçá Project—an initiative focused on scientific research and Atlantic Forest reforestation in Brazil.

    Understanding the Araçá Project and Its Role in Atlantic Forest Reforestation

    The Araçá Project is a visionary initiative by Alexandre and Anna Antonelli, co-founders of the Antonelli Foundations for Biodiversity Research and Conservation. Based in the RPPN Alto da Figueira, a 120-hectare Private Natural Heritage Reserve, the project is located in one of Brazil’s most biodiverse regions.

    foto recepção

    Thomas Berg and Karine Bresolin introduced the project’s mission, emphasizing a broader objective: building a network of science, education, reforestation, and community engagement to regenerate the Atlantic Forest and balance the relationship between humans and nature. Plans include expanding protected areas and supporting local communities through sustainable land use.

    Trail, Science, and Wonder in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest

    comeco trilha

    The walk through the forest trail was transformative. Surrounded by lush vegetation and birdsong, we arrived at a majestic centuries-old fig tree, a key site for ecological studies.

    “Even from the ground, you can tell how many species it hosts,” said Thomas. The tree stood as a symbol of interconnected biodiversity, with epiphytes, insects, lichens, and birds coexisting in harmony.

    foreigner students

    Next, we visited a camera trap used to monitor wildlife. Thomas shared stories of local fauna and the importance of such tools in biodiversity research. He also addressed the negative impacts of domestic animals on conservation areas, highlighting real challenges faced with neighboring lands.

    camera trap

    Later, we saw a forest area where LIDAR technology had been used for 3D mapping. This site enables long-term studies of natural regeneration, offering a vivid view of how the forest heals itself.

    Science and Sustainability in Progress: A Hub for Permaculture and Conservation Research

    Our final stop was the future Araçá Research Center, a modern facility under construction. Once completed, it will host global scientists studying biodiversity, conservation, permaculture, and climate change, especially in the Atlantic Forest context.

    More than a laboratory, this center will be a convergence point for diverse perspectives—scientific and traditional—committed to ecological restoration.

    centro pesquisa

    A Threatened But Living Heritage — and an Opportunity for Volunteers in South America

    The Atlantic Forest is one of the world’s richest biomes in biodiversity. Yet, more than 92% of its original area has been lost over two centuries due to agriculture, urbanization, and logging. Despite this, what remains is home to many endemic and endangered species.

    Projects like Araçá provide hope. Protecting and restoring the forest benefits climate stability, biodiversity, and local communities. It’s also a compelling opportunity for those seeking meaningful volunteering experiences in South America.

    A Day That Inspires Permaculture Practitioners and Eco Volunteers

    For us at Eco Caminhos, the visit was more than an educational outing. It was a call to action. We returned inspired and more aware of our role in collective conservation.

    Our daily work at Eco Caminhos integrates agroforestry, permaculture, bioconstruction, and volunteer engagement in Brazil. Visiting a like-minded project grounded in scientific integrity reaffirmed our mission.

    Want to learn more about agroforestry? Visit our page on the website: https://zieplay.com/agroforestry-syntropic-agriculture/

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    United Paths for Reforestation and Agroforestry

    We sincerely thank Thomas Berg, Karine Bresolin, the Araçá Project team, and the Antonelli Foundations. Special thanks to the students from the USA—your presence enriched this journey.

    We at Eco Caminhos are committed to contributing however possible so that together we can protect, restore, and celebrate the Atlantic Forest.

    Be a part of it too! Come and become a volunteer at Eco Caminhos.
    https://zieplay.com/volunteer-in-brazil/

    Learn more about the Araçá Project at https://www.projeto-araca.org/

  • Celebrating the Atlantic Forest and Mountain Culture in the Heart of Nova Friburgo: Agroforestry, Environmental Education, Volunteering and Adventure Sports

    Celebrating the Atlantic Forest and Mountain Culture in the Heart of Nova Friburgo: Agroforestry, Environmental Education, Volunteering and Adventure Sports

    [vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1739379399395{margin-right: 30px !important;margin-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column][gap size=”30px” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1740408802641{margin-right: 30px !important;margin-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″][swmsc_text_block id=”” class=”” style=””]Is it possible to connect Agroforestry, Environmental Education, Volunteering and Adventure Sports? Read this article and find out if so!

    The month of May invites us to take a closer look at one of Brazil’s greatest natural treasures: the Atlantic Forest. On May 27, we celebrate National Atlantic Forest Day — more than just a tribute, this date is a call for awareness and collective action for the preservation and regeneration of nature that still survives among the mountains of southeastern Brazil.

    And if there’s one place where this call is taken seriously, it’s at Eco Caminhos, our ecofarm located in the mountainous region of Nova Friburgo, Rio de Janeiro.

    🌿 A Living Forest That Needs Care

    The Atlantic Forest is home to around 72% of Brazil’s population and has already lost over 85% of its original vegetation. Even so, it remains one of the most biodiverse biomes in the world, with unique species of fauna and flora. Nova Friburgo is part of this ecosystem and therefore demands special attention.

    Preserving what’s left and restoring what’s been lost requires practical action, ecological education, and a new perspective on how we produce, consume, and live. At Eco Caminhos, we practice active environmental regeneration through agroforestry systems that mimic the natural functioning of forests, eco-friendly bioconstruction using local materials, and permaculture as both a philosophy and a lifestyle.[/swmsc_text_block][gap size=”30px” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][swmsc_image_gallery border_radius=”0″ border_width=”0″ border_color=”#e6e6e6″ image_margin=”40px” image_size=”full” columns=”1″ grid_type=”masonry” image_text=”none” hover_icon_color=”#ffffff” hover_icon_bg_color=”#f8b54e” title_text_size=”20px” title_text_color=”#555555″ caption_text_size=”16px” caption_text_color=”#777777″ caption_border=”off” id=”” class=”” style=”” image_ids=”27340,27339″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1739379399395{margin-right: 30px !important;margin-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column][swmsc_image_gallery border_radius=”5px” border_width=”0″ border_color=”#e6e6e6″ image_margin=”20px” image_size=”full” columns=”3″ grid_type=”none” image_text=”none” hover_icon_color=”#ffffff” hover_icon_bg_color=”#f8b54e” title_text_size=”20px” title_text_color=”#555555″ caption_text_size=”16px” caption_text_color=”#777777″ caption_border=”off” id=”” class=”” style=””][gap size=”30px” id=”” class=”” style=””][swmsc_text_block id=”” class=”” style=””]🌱 Eco Caminhos: Environmental Regeneration and Social Transformation

    Caring for the Atlantic Forest is not a campaign — it’s our daily routine. At our farm, we don’t just admire the forest — we work daily to regenerate it.

    We are an ecofarm founded on permaculture principles, nestled in the mountains of Nova Friburgo. Here, we live and promote an integrated approach to sustainability that includes:

    Our work goes beyond the land: we positively impact the local community, promoting social inclusion, environmental education, and offering opportunities for youth and adults to reconnect with nature in a practical and transformative way.[/swmsc_text_block][swmsc_image_gallery border_radius=”0px” border_width=”0″ border_color=”#e6e6e6″ image_margin=”20px” image_size=”full” columns=”2″ grid_type=”masonry” image_text=”none” hover_icon_color=”#ffffff” hover_icon_bg_color=”#f8b54e” title_text_size=”20px” title_text_color=”#555555″ caption_text_size=”16px” caption_text_color=”#777777″ caption_border=”off” id=”” class=”” style=”” image_ids=”27341,27343,27344,26962″][gap size=”30px” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1739379399395{margin-right: 30px !important;margin-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column][swmsc_image_gallery border_radius=”5px” border_width=”0″ border_color=”#e6e6e6″ image_margin=”20px” image_size=”full” columns=”3″ grid_type=”none” image_text=”none” hover_icon_color=”#ffffff” hover_icon_bg_color=”#f8b54e” title_text_size=”20px” title_text_color=”#555555″ caption_text_size=”16px” caption_text_color=”#777777″ caption_border=”off” id=”” class=”” style=””][gap size=”30px” id=”” class=”” style=””][swmsc_text_block id=”” class=”” style=””]🏔️ Free Mountain Festival: Sports, Culture, and Nature in Harmony

    This year, the Free Mountain Festival added even more meaning to May. Held at Espaço ARP and in the mountains of Nova Friburgo, the event celebrates outdoor life and mountain culture with activities like trekking, climbing, trail running, along with environmental talks, cultural exhibitions, and open-air cinema.

    More than a sporting event, the Free Mountain Festival proved that it’s possible to combine adventure, art, culture, and environmental responsibility — creating experiences that both inspire and raise awareness.

    Eco Caminhos strongly believes in this type of initiative. Seeing so many people connect with nature and exchange knowledge reinforces our belief that change is already underway — and can gain even more strength through unity and purpose.

    Check out the event website: https://freemountain.com.br/[/swmsc_text_block][swmsc_image_gallery border_radius=”0px” border_width=”0″ border_color=”#e6e6e6″ image_margin=”20px” image_size=”full” columns=”2″ grid_type=”masonry” image_text=”none” hover_icon_color=”#ffffff” hover_icon_bg_color=”#f8b54e” title_text_size=”20px” title_text_color=”#555555″ caption_text_size=”16px” caption_text_color=”#777777″ caption_border=”off” id=”” class=”” style=”” image_ids=”27345,27346″][gap size=”30px” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1740408854358{margin-right: 30px !important;margin-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1740579636539{margin-right: 100px !important;padding-right: 50px !important;}”][gap size=”30px” id=”” class=”” style=””][gap size=”30px” id=”” class=”” style=””][swmsc_image link=”#” lightbox=”true” target=”_self” lightbox_type=”image” align=”left” alt=”” title=”” border_radius=”0px” id=”” class=”” style=”” src=”27342″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][gap size=”30px” id=”” class=”” style=””][swmsc_text_block id=”” class=”” style=””]🌍 Sustainability in Practice: Our Local and Global Role

    Eco Caminhos is a space for ecological and social transformation. We welcome volunteers, apprentices, and tourists from all over the world who come to learn, teach, and live a new way of connecting with the Earth. By regenerating the soil, planting trees, building homes with earth, and living in community, we are writing a new narrative for the planet — and it starts here, in the Atlantic Forest.

    We believe that preservation doesn’t happen alone. It takes partnerships, events, education, and the active presence of the community. That’s why we celebrate every movement that values our mountains, our forest, and our mountain culture.[/swmsc_text_block][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1731520578623{margin-right: 20px !important;margin-left: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][gap size=”30px” id=”” class=”” style=””][swmsc_text_block id=”” class=”” style=””]🤝 The Future Depends on Our Choices

    The Atlantic Forest needs more than protection — it needs engaged, connected people willing to change the way they live. That’s what we seek at Eco Caminhos. And that’s why every visit, every festival, every volunteer, and every tree planted matters.

    If you believe in this path, come visit us. Join us as a volunteer, apprentice, or guest. Help regenerate the forest and build a fairer, more sustainable, and nature-connected future.
    🌐 www.zieplay.com[/swmsc_text_block][vc_single_image image=”27074″ img_size=”large” css=””][/vc_column][/vc_row]