Brazil Eco Adventure Tours
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Social - Cultural Diversity
Caiçara Communities

 Caiçaras    Caiçaras    Caiçaras 
Caiçara is the name given to one of the traditional communities of the Atlantic Rainforest biome along Brazil´s south and southeastern coast. Their origin and habits are similar to the one of the so-called caipiras who live in the interior of the country (Cerrado).

Caiçaras descend from a mixture of Indian populations, Portuguese colonists and African slaves. Their daily live consists of artesanal fishing, agriculture (eg. manioc flour and bananas), vegetal extraction, handicraft, hunting and increasingly, the ecotourism.

Their agriculture system is based upon an auto - sustainable coivara technique, an Indian heritage, where part of the forest is slashed and burned for a cultivation period of up to three years.
Caiçara

After that period, the area recovers for a period of 3 to 10 years before being used again. The caiçara culture is threatened by real estate speculation and illegal fishing. This development is facilitated by a large degree of analphabetism, missing education and information as well as the lack of organization and union among themselves. The reason for the latter are mostly property issues, interpersonal and religious controversies such as the lack of communication systems like telephone or post mail.

The continuity of the caiçara culture will depend on the provision of basic health care, education ,collective transport, energy, basic sanitation and alternative income sources (eg. ecotourism). You can contribute to the well-being of these cultures in form of a visit to their villages, for instance in Superagüi (PR), Ilha do Cardoso (SP) or Juatinga (RJ).
 
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