Iracambi is a community of people around the world whose vision is to see the beautiful Brazilian Atlantic Forest restored, with prosperous communities living in a flourishing landscape. In our headquarters in Minas Gerais, the Iracambi Research Center spearheads our work in managing natural resources, educating for sustainability, and researching ecosystems and how we impact them.
Our Latest Annual Report
The Iracambi logo explains what we are about. The indigenous story tells that the forest is on fire, and all the animals are fleeing to safety. All except the humming bird. She is flying towards the fire with a drop of water in her beak. “Silly little bird,” shouts the eagle, looking down at her. “Don’t you see that you’ll never put out the fire all by yourself?”
“You’re right,” says the humming bird. “I’ll never put it out all by myself. But I’m doing my part.”
Here at Iracambi we’ve been doing our part since 1999, and with your help we’ll be here as long as it takes. Come join us, and be part of the change!
Amigos de Iracambi
Saving Forests and Changing Lives in the Brazilian Rainforest
Amigos de Iracambi is a non-profit, registered in Brazil and the US, and located in one of the world’s top biodiversity hotspots: Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. At Iracambi you’ll be on the front line of biodiversity conservation and sustainability and you’ll gain firsthand experience in biodiversity conservation, (agroforestry, reforestation, medicinal plants, forest monitoring,) and sustainability, (community outreach and environmental education.) So, whether you’re collecting seeds in the forest, working in our forest nursery, planting trees on local farms, cataloging medicinal plants, harvesting coffee, maintaining our forest trails, making videos and adding to our photo library, or riding the school bus to the village to share your language and culture with local school kids, you’ll be having a ball, contributing your skills to a great cause, and learning all sorts of things you never thought you could. Because Iracambi is all about Saving Forests and Changing Lives, and you are warmly welcomed to become a part of it!
We’ve been here for twenty five years, and during that time we’ve planted over 250,000 native forest trees, founded the first program of environmental education in the region, set up the first web-based GIS, created thousands of acres of protected areas, hosted 2000 students, researchers and volunteers from 71 countries, and impacted the lives of thousands of people in our region: the Serra do Brigadeiro mountains
Our alumni (we call them Iracambistas,) can be found across the world in academia, business, the arts, government, and international organizations. They work as doctors, teachers, lawyers, scientists, personal coaches, writers, film makers, GIS techies, farmers, and all manner of activities directed at making the world a better place. Whether you spend a week with us, or six months, you will go out enriched, and you will enrich your surroundings, wherever they may be.
Facilities in the Iracambi Rainforest Conservation and Research Center include accommodation for 28 researchers, volunteers and visitors, classroom/computer lab, field laboratory, our multi-use Forest House, restaurant, forest nursery, system of forest trails and a GIS.
Meet the team
Arielle coordinates our projects, oversees our administration and finances, and is passionate about agro-forestry. A native of Rosário da Limeira, she is deeply involved in environmental causes: protecting local biodiversity and strengthening rural livelihoods in the priority conservation area in which Iracambi is located.
Arielle Canedo
As Volunteer Coordinator, Gabriela is responsible for creating an inspiring, joyful and productive space for our volunteers. As an ecologist she seeks to understand the relationship between people and the environment and our role as the main actors in the process of landscape restoration. She sees our direct connection with nature as a key factor in this.
Gabriela Soares
Fran is our secret weapon in all things plant-related. She has an amazing ability to coax the balkiest plants to life, and everything she touches flourishes. A few years ago she left her job as seamstress in a local town and moved to the countryside. So when we were looking for a forest nursery assistant she was the obvious choice! And our nursery has never been better.
Fran Santana
Robin is our in-house expert on public policy, and a valued advisor to researchers, students, and schoolchildren at Iracambi. He brings a wide-ranging academic background and a wealth of international experience to bear on the challenges of biodiversity conservation and sustainability in one of the world's most important hotspots
Robin Le Breton
The international face of Iracambi, Binka helps with communications, marketing, translations and networking - when not writing and lecturing internationally on environmental and human rights. Binka speaks five languages and is tackling her sixth, has six books published in five languages, and is currently producing a feature film.
Binka Le Breton
Juliana heads our communications team from her home in the state of São Paulo. Her aim is to expand our communication channels internationally, nationally and locally, to create greater visibility for the organization, to attract more friends and supporters and to extend Iracambi's reach and impact. She is also a staunch supporter of women's issues.
Juliana Ferreira
Dayana came to Iracambi for two weeks, stayed for five months, and, when she left, she knew she would be back. Her original role in the medicinal plants team stimulated her interest in community education, and she is thrilled to work with the EcoLeaders program and host schoolchildren from near and far at Iracambi.
Dayana Duarte
Luiz coordinates our forestry program, and is responsible for planning, reporting and data collection. He also escapes into the field whenever he can! He is particularly interested in creating productive forests, and is currently working to implement agroforestry pilot plots which include coffee, avocado, bananas and açai with native species trees.
Luiz Gusmão
Thais was born and raised at Iracambi, and it's been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. As a key member of the admin department, she is involved in everything that happens - from the grandest dream to the smallest detail. She is a strong supporter of Iracambi's mission of Saving Forests and Changing Lives, because it changed her life.
Thais Matos
Blessed with a big heart, Luciana is one of our darling cooks. With the love she has for food and for people, she is always trying to make everyone feel welcome here. The result is always great food and great conversation too!
Luciana Freitas
One of our two darling cooks, Larissa prepares delicious food to satisfy your stomach and warm your heart. Larissa has been with us at the restaurant for many years, and has worked with many volunteers and visitors. She has a lot of knowledge and care for the restaurant and for people.
Larissa Cristina
Fundamental to the wellbeing of our volunteers and workers, Arlete makes sure the cabins are clean and tidy, ready for you to move in, and does the same for the work environments here too. Arlete is the kind of person that shows us the soul of the region.
Arlete Ribeiro
Dedicated and caring, Valdeir is here to guarantee that everything runs well at Iracambi. He's responsible for infrastructure, shopping, vehicles, our buildings and our gardens - he has an important role in the NGO. With any challenge that needs fixing, we contact Valdeir who always has a creative and practical solution. He's also a funny guy with some great stories to tell.
Valdeir Salles
Board of Directors, Amigos de Iracambi Brazil
- President: Reinaldo Santos – business consultant
- Vice President: Kamilo Fonseca – physician
- Secretary: Neusa Dias – teacher
- Treasurer: Ronald Novais – businessman
Directors of Amigos de Iracambi US
- President: Shane Robinson – non profit ED
- V.P. Mary Robinson – training director
- Treasurer: Saulo Ferreira – financial advisor
Board members: Betty Brown – retired, Monica Serrano Wong – UNICEF, Karol Gawrych – Amazon, Lily Gawrych – Deutsche Bank, Francie Sentilles – graduate student
Advisory Board & Finance Committee
- Juliana Vital – digital marketing (finance committee)
- Aldo Lima – business consultant (finance committee)
- Robin Le Breton – environmental policy (advisory board)
- Áquila Braga – veterinarian (advisory board)
- Binka Le Breton – international relations (advisory board)
- Sérgio Matos – teacher (advisory board)
- Rosana Cambraia – professor (advisory board.)
International Mentors
- Mark Wade : Consultant, United Kingdom
- Tomas Salazar : Consultant, Houston
- Tim Masson : Webmaster, Zimbabwe
- Cliff Jones : GIS manager, USA
- Mario Abreu : IT specialist, Berlin
- Juliet Le Breton : Sustainability Consultant, Zimbabwe