Heading Down South

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. Harvest – oil on canvas by Flávio Scholles (2006)
PHOTO: © Daniel De Granville, 2006

After spending most of January photographing nature in Northern Brazil, now it’s time to head South and shoot some artwork. I’ll soon head to Dois Irmãos (Rio Grande do Sul State), where I’m going to photograph paintings made by artist Flávio Scholles, who I met in Germany and whose main subject is the life of German immigrants in South Brazil. See you next week!

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Atlantic Forest, Twenty Years Later...

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. The imposing forest at Cardoso Island
PHOTO: © Daniel De Granville, 2007

Atlantic Forest. The world’s second most threatened tropical forest, that used to live where nowadays 70% of the Brazilians live, from which only about 7% of the original area is left, that has a deforestation rate 2,5 times more intense than the Amazon, that bears one of the globe’s highest biodiversity, and that… is still beautiful!

To me, the last part of the trip through Brazilian ecosystems had a very special taste. After all, it was due to a visit to the caves of PETAR back in 1986, organized by a teacher at the school where I studied, that I decided to turn into a biologist, became fond of working as a naturalist guide and took my first attempts towards the world of nature photography. Yes, today I can say that the whole story of my professional career – and much of my personal interests – arose after that trip. Until 1991, the last time when I had been there, I traveled to PETAR about four times per year organizing itineraries and guiding groups through my good ol’ tour operator Caiguá Turismo Alternativo. And it was in this same region – at Fazenda Intervales – that I developed researches on bats for my Bachelor’s degree.

Gallery at Água Suja Cave, PETAR
PHOTO: © Daniel De Granville, 2007

But leaving good memories aside and coming back to January 2007, on our itinerary we visited the Cardoso Island State Park and PETAR, which together with other conservation units – including Fazenda Intervales – form one of the most significant continuous stretches of Atlantic Forest protected in conservation units, with approximately 120,000 hectares (297,000 acres) and some hundreds of limestone caves.

This was the only part of our whole trip when the rain decided to fall nonstop, messing up some of our activities (and photo opportunities...) but, at the same time, telling us firsthand the meaning of the expression “rain forest”!

Late afternoon at the beach... (Marujá, Cardoso Island)
PHOTO: © Daniel De Granville, 2007
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Cerrado: The Jalapão

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. Mauritia palms (“buriti”) grow mainly in humid areas,
forming the so called "veredas"
PHOTO: © Daniel De Granville, 2007

Following on with the sequence of stories about the trip through Brazilian ecosystems that I did in January, today I’ll talk about the region known as the Jalapão, which is turning out to be one of the country’s most promising ecotourism destinations and, surely, a place much sought after by nature photographers.

Located east of the State of Tocantins, on the border with Bahia, Piauí and Maranhão States, the Jalapão has an area of approximately 53,000 km² (20,500 sq mi) covered by typical Cerrado vegetation, with plants such as the “buriti” (Mauritia palm), the “lixeira” (Curatella rough-leafed tree) and the renowned “capim-dourado” (Syngonanthus golden grass) – from which the region’s most typical handicraft is made.

Articles like baskets, purses, jewelry and ornaments
are made from the golden grass
PHOTO: © Daniel De Granville, 2007

Beyond doubt, the coolest way to know the Jalapão is by staying at Korubo’s safari camp. The whole staff and operation are prepared in such a way that visitors feel entirely at ease and see the region’s highlights, without leaving the environmental awareness behind.

Great panoramic view aboard Korubo’s safari truck!
PHOTO: © Daniel De Granville, 2007

For nature photographers, maybe because the time of year was not the best, I didn’t feel any special potential for wildlife photography (but please keep in mind that I might be spoiled by living near the Pantanal!). The best shooting opportunities were the beautiful landscapes with rivers, waterfalls, mountains, tablelands and dunes.

Velha (“old lady”) Waterfall, whose impressive volume of water
highly contrasts with the desert-like landscape that surrounds it
PHOTO: © Daniel De Granville, 2007

The only con is that, pretty much like it has been happening with the Amazon and other parts of the Cerrado, the huge soy bean crops – without proper environmental care – pose a serious threat to this ecosystem. The hope now lies in the creation of more conservation units, such as the Jalapão State Park, which can control potentially impacting activities and ensure the maintenance of singular environments found in the region.

A single tree entirely surrounded by soy seeds...
PHOTO: © Daniel De Granville, 2007
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