Toyota APA Costa dos Corais Project

In 2011, the Toyota Foundation expanded its activities to the Northeast through a new project: the Toyota APA Costa dos Corais, a cooperation between the organization, the ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation) and the SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation. Previously, also in partnership with SOS Mata Atlântica, the Toyota e a Mata Atlântica Project was carried out with reforestation actions, protection of threatened areas, environmental education, and volunteer work.

The objective of the Toyota APA Costa dos Corais is to promote the conservation and sustainability of the Environmental Protection Area (APA, in its Portuguese acronym), named Costa dos Corais, in order to protect coral reefs, mangrove areas, all of the region’s fauna and flora, and also the ecosystems associated with the manatee — the most endangered aquatic mammal in Brazil.

APA Costa dos Corais was created by Federal Decree on October 23, 1997 and covers nine municipalities in the State of Alagoas and three in the State of Pernambuco, on the coast between the municipalities of Tamandaré (PE) and Paripueira (AL). It is one of the most beautiful regions in Brazil and has more than 406,000 hectares of protected area, that is home to one of the most important reef environments in the world!

Perpetuity Fund

One of the project’s priorities is the creation and maintenance of an investment fund to ensure perpetuity in supporting APA’s management, protection and sustainability. Since 2011, the Toyota do Brasil Foundation has made annual contributions to ensure the constant growth of the fund’s resources until 2021.

To achieve the goal, the fund can only be used after acquiring the capacity to generate, with its income, the necessary resources for the maintenance of the activities foreseen in the initiative’s Work Plan.

Environmental management

By supporting and investing in existing projects and organizations that are part of Costa dos Corais’ environmental management, the Toyota do Brasil Foundation will preserve the integrity of the region.

Among the activities that have already been mapped out, and that are eligible for support are: carrying out scientific studies, logistic and infrastructure support for control, monitoring to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation actions, production and execution of environmental education campaigns, and the promotion of businesses that combine sustainability and income generation for local communities.

Management plan

Another important action of the project is the implementation of the APA Costa dos Corais’ Management Plan by ICMBio — the Brazilian government’s environmental agency responsible for implementing, managing, and monitoring the Federal Conservation Units.

Toyota do Brasil Foundation’s investment helps maintaining the APA’s assets, such as the operational bases, vehicles, control equipment, and boats. In addition, it also promotes scientific research by universities and local institutions, expansion of no-fishing zones (essential for the recovery of biodiversity), the structuring of low-impact tourism, preparation and engagement of local representatives as paid environmental agents, and the promotion of cultural manifestations — contributing to the rescue of the regional culture.

As a fundamental element of the Management Plan, the 12 municipalities included in the APA Costa dos Corais will participate in environmental education and social communication programs, with the purpose of empowering individuals and promoting the principles of a conscious use of the area, so that both local population and tourists feel co-responsible for the sustainability work.