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Paul and Edna Thomsen Have Maintained Since 1984 One of the Most Important Natural Refuges for Wildlife and Flora on the São Paulo Coast
An environmental dedication journey transformed Fazenda Angelim, in Ubatuba, into one of the main natural refuges of the Serra do Mar. Paul and Edna Thomsen, owners of the area since 1984, decided to preserve the land after realizing that the environment offered much more than the initially planned agricultural cultivation.
In the early years, the couple attempted to implement a cocoa plantation. However, the soil and climate conditions prevented the project’s advancement. Thus, they began observing the behavior of the local fauna and noticed the frequent presence of exotic birds that appeared spontaneously in the area. As a result, they understood that the farm had a unique environmental potential.
Due to this scenario, still in the late 1980s, they began permanent preservation actions. Consequently, they installed feeders, protected native species, and encouraged the regeneration of vegetation. These continuous efforts, later documented by local environmental sources throughout the 1990s and 2000s, established the site as a strategic environment for wildlife.
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An Indian tree that grows in the Brazilian Northeast produces an oil capable of acting against more than 200 species of pests and interrupting the insect cycle, gaining ground as a natural alternative in soybean, cotton, and vegetable crops.
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The rise in oil prices in the Middle East is already affecting Brazilian sugar: mills in the Central-South are seeing their margins shrink just as ethanol gains strength.
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Rain gains strength in April, potentially exceeding 150 mm, placing the North, Northeast, and the coasts of the South and Southeast at the center of the heaviest forecast of the week.
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A fish that survives out of water, crawls on land until it finds another river, and whose female lays 80,000 eggs at once is infesting rivers and lakes in Brazil, and no one can stop this invasion.
Preservation Led by the Couple Ensures the Return of Rare Species of Native Flora
As the care intensified, the farm transformed into a refuge for threatened plant species on the São Paulo coast. Among the highlights are the Brazilwood, which has significant historical relevance, and the Angelim-Pedra (Dinizia excelsa), the tree that gave its name to the property. Thus, the conscious management allowed the resurgence and protection of specimens previously considered nearly extinct in the region.
This recovery, according to environmental reports from the following decades, demonstrates that the couple’s constant dedication enabled a process of vegetative reconstitution that is difficult to observe in private areas of the Atlantic Forest.
Refuge Created by the Owners Attracts Birdwatchers and Strengthens Local Ecotourism
Due to the increasing number of birds in the territory, Fazenda Angelim began receiving around 500 visitors per year in the 2000s, according to estimates from the owners themselves. Thus, the space became a national and international reference in the practice of birdwatching, attracting researchers, locals, and tourists interested in spotting rare species that found a safe haven on the property.
As a result, the couple’s work transformed the site into an important destination for ecotourists seeking preserved environments, simultaneously reinforcing the significance of the Ubatuba region in biodiversity conservation.
Four Decades of Continuous Dedication Reveal the Impact of Individual Environmental Choices
Today, after more than 40 years of management, the farm stands as an example of preservation built from private initiative. Thus, the story of Paul and Edna Thomsen demonstrates that individual decisions, when maintained over decades, can completely alter the fate of a natural area.
Therefore, the journey of Fazenda Angelim highlights that sustainable development can emerge even when the initial project does not materialize. As a direct consequence of the couple’s dedication, the space has become one of the most relevant natural refuges in Ubatuba, fundamental for the maintenance of regional biodiversity.
How Did Two People Manage to Transform an Isolated Territory into One of the Most Important Environmental Refuges in the Serra do Mar?
Parabéns e Gratidão!!!
O mundo se torna um lugar
melhor existindo pessoas como vocês!
Beijos
Mas uma história fantástica, pessoas que decidiram viver diretamente na natureza.
Eles hospedam 2 pessoas, que adoram a fauna e a flora