The vision of Vitória da Riva 1990
The Cristalino Private National Heritage Reserve is located in the south of the Amazon region, in Brazil’s mid-west, where the Amazon Rainforest meets the Cerrado and Pantanal biomes, in a rich mosaic formed by well preserved rivers–such as the Cristalino–and natural forests. Due to the wealth of this region, in terms of biodiversity, its protection from deforestation, hunting and fire is critical. The 11,399 hectares (28,167 acres) of the reserve provide an important haven that, along with the Cristalino State Park, serves as a wildlife corridor for the incredible diversity of endemic species in the region.
Vitória da Riva Carvalho, visionary conservationist and founder of the Cristalino Lodge, in 1997 signed the document creating the first RPPN in northern Mato Grosso, which has brought permanent protection to this area of tropical rainforest.
The RPPN imposes strict regulations regarding the use and zoning of the area managed by the Cristalino Foundation. All extractive activities, such as mining, deforestation and poaching, are prohibited, while responsible tourism, with minimal impact tourist facilities such as observation towers, viewing points and trails, is allowed. At the same time, the RPPN encourages educational and scientific activities in the area, on the grounds that we only preserve what we are familiar with and value. The Cristalino Lodge also supports the A Day In The Forest and other projects within the conservation areas that are geared to generating knowledge. As a result of the preservation of this large forest reserve, the Cristalino RPPN sequesters thousands of tons of carbon from the atmosphere every year.
“It is no coincidence that Cristalino is the name given to this magnificent Amazon river with 114 kilometers of crystal clear dark water, flowing from its source in the state of Pará to its mouth in Mato Grosso state, near where the Cristalino Lodge is located. The dark tone is due to the tannin from decomposing vegetation, which is offset by the pink granite rock formations, creating some stunning scenery. Our great mission, reconfirmed in 2022, is to preserve the entire Cristalino river basin, as well as the surrounding areas.”
