Research Opportunities at Iracambi - Income Generating Alternatives

Research Options at Iracambi

Income Generating Alternatives

Iracambi caters for either individuals or teams of researchers who want to participate in one of our ongoing research programs. Visit our Research Portal to see the details of our research program. We provide logistical support, linguistic skills and access to our own living laboratory in the Atlantic Rainforest. We also welcome researchers who have their own research projects, as long as they are consistent with our own priorities.

Iracambi fully endorses our Government's efforts to protect intellectual property rights and national genetic resources and eradicate illegal trafficking in natural species. This does mean, however, that there are certain restrictions on foreign researchers working in Brazil: we can advise you of these if you think they might apply to you.

If you´d be interested in joining our research program, either with your own research ideas or to take part in ours, contact us.

Below is an expanded list of research areas available at Iracambi in fields related to income generating alternatives. The list below is not exhaustive, so we encourage you to contact us with any further inquiries, for information about past and current research projects or with any ideas you may have for your own project. We can be reached at Iracambi@iracambi.com

Non-Traditional Forest Products

Research on saleable non-traditional forest products such as native tree seeds, bamboo products, hearts of palm;
Best practices for production of these;
Best practices for fair trade and organic employment opportunities;
Identification of alternative sources of income from the forest such as Bromeliads for ornamental plants, butterfly farming;

Ecotourism

Development of training program and awareness building in communities that are interested in receiving tourists;
Identification and evaluation of tourism resources (physical, human, social) in the community;
Identification and evaluation of the potential of local culture and produce to generate income from tourism
Identification of additional resources needed by communities;
Exploration of possible avenues for marketing and publicity to generate an increase in ecotourism;
Research possibilities for ecological job training, such as employing and training local guides;
Comparative analysis of ecotourism sites in the Serra do Brigadeiro Territory.

Medicinal Plants

Market research to determine demand for medicinal plant products;
Best practices and new methods for processing and utilization of plants;
Application of medicinal plant products.

Payment for Environmental Services

Assessment of potential of region’s forest fragments to contribute to aquifer recharge
Assessment of potential of region’s forest fragments to contribute to carbon sequestration
Mechanism to transfer usage payments to forest managers.

For our information sheet for researchers, click here. To get an idea of what it is like to live at Iracambi please go to our Life at Iracambi page.