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(birds shrieking)
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(water whooshing)
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Fed by tens of thousands of tributaries,
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the Amazon River crosses
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the entire South American continent.
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This, the mightiest river on earth,
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stretches 7,000 kilometers from its source
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in the high Andes
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before it flows into the Atlantic,
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off the coast of Northeastern Brazil.
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This sparsely populated Amazon Delta is a fascinating,
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largely unspoiled marine landscape.
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The tropical climate helps sustain a unique diversity
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of fauna and flora, from which the people live here.
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(dramatic music)
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The 250-kilometer-wide Amazon estuary
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has the largest water volume of any delta on earth.
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Our journey of discovery begins north of the delta
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in an untouched jungle area
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that can only be reached by boat.
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Christoph Jaster, a German native who grew up in Brazil,
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leads the expedition into a remote reserve.
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Scientists want to study the plant life
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in Tumucumaque Park, but they can only get there
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with the help of an experienced boatman.
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In some sections,
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it's only deep enough to get through with a boat
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for a length of one or one and a half meters.
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If you miss them, you'll immediately damage your boat,
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or in the worst case you might capsize.
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There's always a risk
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of hitting something with the outboard motor
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and having to return.
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That can jeopardize an entire expedition.
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(dramatic music)
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The journey continues deep into the jungle,
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hour after hour.
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There are no roads, no electricity, and no mobile signal.
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The river is the only way to reach
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this otherwise inaccessible wilderness.
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Beneath the 60-meter-high forest canopy,
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are many yet unexplored worlds.
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We have capsized in the past,
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and we lost a lot of our equipment as a result.
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It's not without danger.
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Indeed, the dangers lurk both in
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and out of the water.
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It's not just the caimans and snakes on the shoreline
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and the piranhas in the river that can be dangerous.
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The risk of being bitten
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is not quite as high as encountering an electric eel.
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The shock is extremely unpleasant.
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Depending on how sensitive the person is,
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they can sometimes fall unconscious
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and then drown.
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That's happened quite a few times.
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The electric eel can deliver a shock
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of up to 5,000 volts,
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but most of the animals,
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like this giant otter are harmless and rather shy.
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They can grow up to be two meters long
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and weigh up to 20 kilos.
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The river is also home to the Amazon dolphin,
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known locally as the boto,
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which grow to two to three meters long.
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They have tiny eyes and in murky waters,
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they're reliant on echolocation to catch small fish.
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(dramatic music)
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The river journey lasts until evening.
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It's dark by the time the expedition team finally arrives
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at the Tumucumaque Conservation Area.
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The base camp is not far from the river.
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Christoph Jaster uses a handcrafted shelter
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for his expeditions.
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The forestry scientist has been managing
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the Tumucumaque Reserve for eight years.
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He's supported by locals who know the area well.
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This time he is joined by young researchers
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from all over Brazil.
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(crickets chirring)
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They are here to study the biodiversity
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of the plant and animal life.
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This jungle is a treasure trove
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for botanists and biologists,
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and there are many new species to discover.
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(people speaking in foreign language)
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You have to climb up here,
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then from there onto the next tree,
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and up that branch.
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Place the trap up at the top.
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(birds chirping)
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They suddenly spot a sloth,
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high up in the canopy.
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When sloths are not searching for food
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and slowly stuffing their mouth with leaves,
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they spend their time resting upside down
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on a branch for hours on end.
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Three-toed sloths live a solitary life
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in the crowns of the trees.
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They can be found throughout the tropical regions
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of Central and South America.
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A few tamarins are leaping around
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in the second story of the vegetation zone.
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Tumucumaque National Park was founded in 2002,
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in collaboration with the Worldwide Fund for Nature, WWF.
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It covers an area almost the size of Switzerland
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and is the largest rainforest reserve in the world.
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Today, the WWF is continuing its program
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to protect the flora and fauna of the Amazon region.
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Fortunately, the rich diversity
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of species here has not suffered.
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In addition to Ara macaws,
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the forest supports more than 1000 species of birds.
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(peaceful music)
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Christoph Jaster's team is setting up butterfly traps.
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The number of butterfly species is an important indicator
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for biodiversity in the region.
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In general, we're interested
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in finding out whether the reserves are serving
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their purpose or not.
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Brazil is in deep crisis
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and I think it's always environmental protection
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that's first to be affected by it.
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(birds chirping)
(insects chirring)
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The park covers an immense area
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and you only need to take a look around to see
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that everything is quite fine here.
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And of course we hope it stays that way.
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He's determined to ensure
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that the reserve in the Amazon is maintained,
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but more and more Brazilian politicians want
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to open up the region for the exploitation of raw materials.
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Suddenly, we hear the song of an uirapuru.
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(man whistling)
(bird whistling)
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An uirapuru from another part
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of the Amazon has a totally different melody.
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Our one here, I still haven't quite got the melody down.
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He's quite friendly towards me
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and it always comes back
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as if we were having a whistling competition.
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He can do it 10 times better than me, of course,
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but it's still a fascinating form of communication.
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(bird whistling)
(man whistling)
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(water whooshing)
(thunder rumbles)
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A storm is brewing.
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It's time to head back to the base camp
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as quickly as possible.
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Sudden downpours are part of everyday life in the tropics.
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The heat of the equatorial sun evaporates the water
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in the nearby Atlantic Ocean
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and winds carry the water-laden clouds
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into the Amazon region
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where they release torrential showers,
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giving life to the incredible diversity of plants below.
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(peaceful music)
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A fully-grown rain forest giant
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draws up several thousand liters of water
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from the ground every day, releasing a similar amount back
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into the atmosphere as water vapor.
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The combination of extreme sunshine and extreme rain results
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in extraordinarily fast plant growth.
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The diverse range of organisms also helps
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to decompose organic matter much more quickly.
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The nutrients released
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by rotting plants collect in a very thin layer of humus
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that in turn promotes the growth of new plants.
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This constant cycle of life and death
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is a fascinating natural spectacle.
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(birds shrieking)
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Due to the high temperatures
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and heavy rainfall,
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much of the ground is worn away very quickly.
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Anything that falls down in the form of dead leaves
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or branches is immediately broken down
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and then absorbed by the living plants
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through their root systems.
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In the temperate zones,
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such as in the European deciduous forests,
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the nutrients are stored in the ground for a long time,
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but that doesn't happen in tropical rainforests
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in the same way.
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Once the humus layer is removed as a result of logging
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and forest clearing,
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the basis for plant growth is damaged almost beyond repair
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Ants, insects, fungi, bacteria.
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Every form of life
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has its own specific role in the ecosystem.
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Their multitude of fascinating and beautiful forms
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has developed over millions of years
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in a process of adaption
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to the unique conditions in the tropical rainforest.
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(peaceful music)
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The team of biologists check the butterfly traps.
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Perhaps they'll find a new undiscovered species.
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If Laris finds enough different butterfly species
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during the next two weeks,
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she will know that the biodiversity
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in the region is still intact.
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At first, it frantically moves its legs,
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then it keeps them still.
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And then it's easier to hold it.
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We are taking pictures of it with open and closed wings.
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This one here as well behaved.
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A butterfly family consists
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of various different butterfly species.
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To make our work easier,
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we only define the families
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of which there are 13 in all.
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It would be too complex to define every species,
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even for specialists.
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(peaceful music)
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You realize that the forest here is
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as it should be.
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There's a huge diversity of species and life forms.
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No one tree is like another.
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Even if they are the same species.
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There are tiny saplings
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and there are huge trees towering 60 meters high.
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The sheer range and variety of life
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in the rainforest ecosystem
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is simply fascinating.
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(dramatic music)
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But our children
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and grandchildren will only get to enjoy this diversity
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if we manage to preserve these protected areas
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and prevent their exploitation.
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The journey takes us into the Amazon Delta,
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past the river island of the Ilha de Marajo
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onto the neighboring river system of the Rio Tocantins.
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At the port town of Macapa,
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the Amazon is so wide
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that it feels as if you are standing next to the ocean.
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The equator runs directly through Macapa,
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which is the capital of the state of Amapa.
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(people chattering)
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The busiest part of the day is over
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in the market hall in Macapa.
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Naravin da Silva looks around to see what's left.
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He sells natural produce in his village
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on the outskirts of the city.
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Checking the prices in the market hall gives him an idea
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what to charge.
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What do they cost?
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One real.
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He promised his family
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that he would bring some fish.
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Hello, how much does a kilo
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of this filet cost?
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It's 35 reals per kilo.
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Did that big fish come from this area?
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From further up the Amazon.
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So you only got one of them.
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It's one of our best freshwater fish.
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We call it the piraiba and they can weigh up to 300 kilos.
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Unfortunately, it's been over fished in the Amazon region
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and now we only get them occasionally.
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They only catch a few of them these days.
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(dramatic music)
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Brazilian indigenous peoples,
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Portuguese immigrants, and descendants of African slaves
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have shaped the culture of Northern Brazil.
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These diverse influences can be heard in the music as well.
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Brazil's Amazon region is
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an extraordinary cultural melting pot,
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and the people here are proud of it.
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(upbeat music)
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(people cheering)
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(cars rumbling)
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(insects chirring)
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Just a few kilometers away,
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Naravin is searching for a type of fruit capsule
272
00:16:48,260 --> 00:16:51,330
that he harvests to make a living.
273
00:16:51,330 --> 00:16:54,000
It can be found in the tropical swamp forest
274
00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:56,560
not far from the river.
275
00:16:56,560 --> 00:16:58,411
(suspenseful music)
276
00:16:58,411 --> 00:17:01,411
The water rises up to here
277
00:17:05,250 --> 00:17:06,740
in the rainy season.
278
00:17:06,740 --> 00:17:07,973
From January until early August.
279
00:17:09,090 --> 00:17:11,373
Then it's the dry season until January again.
280
00:17:13,810 --> 00:17:16,513
In the swamps forest of the delta,
281
00:17:18,940 --> 00:17:21,050
known as várzeas,
282
00:17:21,050 --> 00:17:22,610
there's a very humid microclimate.
283
00:17:22,610 --> 00:17:25,280
Naravin knows exactly where to search.
284
00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:28,260
Like most people in this area,
285
00:17:28,260 --> 00:17:30,300
he is the descendant of the indigenous inhabitants.
286
00:17:30,300 --> 00:17:33,391
(birds chirping)
287
00:17:33,391 --> 00:17:36,141
The andiroba seeds have a lot of uses
288
00:17:43,869 --> 00:17:46,080
in medicine and they're also used for skincare.
289
00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:50,120
We river people earn good money by selling them.
290
00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:53,243
That means we definitely won't be cutting down this tree
291
00:17:53,243 --> 00:17:56,043
Naravin lives with his family, his wife,
292
00:18:00,928 --> 00:18:03,400
and two children, on the boundary
293
00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:05,670
of the várzea area in a typical wooden house on stilts.
294
00:18:05,670 --> 00:18:09,950
The elevated design protects them
295
00:18:09,950 --> 00:18:12,100
from floods in the rainy season
296
00:18:12,100 --> 00:18:14,120
and the tides of the nearby Atlantic Ocean.
297
00:18:14,120 --> 00:18:16,683
The fruits and medicinal herbs they find
298
00:18:19,650 --> 00:18:22,270
in the surrounding area provide them with a modest income.
299
00:18:22,270 --> 00:18:26,588
Naravin is a specialist
300
00:18:26,588 --> 00:18:28,120
in the production of andiroba oil.
301
00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:30,360
The oil's anti-inflammatory properties are used
302
00:18:30,360 --> 00:18:33,200
to treat skin conditions or external injuries.
303
00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:36,310
The nuts are boiled after they are harvested
304
00:18:36,310 --> 00:18:38,910
and then stored for a few weeks
305
00:18:38,910 --> 00:18:40,480
to allow them to ferment.
306
00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:42,200
The insides gradually turn into a soft mass,
307
00:18:42,200 --> 00:18:45,210
from which the oil slowly separates.
308
00:18:45,210 --> 00:18:48,519
(stick tapping)
309
00:18:48,519 --> 00:18:51,186
This tradition has almost died out
310
00:18:55,430 --> 00:18:57,410
in the Amazon region.
311
00:18:57,410 --> 00:18:58,960
We're trying to revive it here in our community.
312
00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:01,900
A lot of young people nowadays don't even
313
00:19:01,900 --> 00:19:04,050
know what andiroba is.
314
00:19:04,050 --> 00:19:05,733
We have various ways of earning a living from nature.
315
00:19:07,420 --> 00:19:10,210
Early in the morning, I go to gather andiroba.
316
00:19:10,210 --> 00:19:12,950
After 10 o'clock, I harvest acai from the palms
317
00:19:12,950 --> 00:19:15,637
and in the afternoon, I go fishing.
318
00:19:15,637 --> 00:19:17,653
(dramatic music)
319
00:19:18,726 --> 00:19:21,476
Naravin is traveling
320
00:19:23,010 --> 00:19:24,130
to the other side of the Amazon,
321
00:19:24,130 --> 00:19:26,170
which is almost 50 kilometers wide here,
322
00:19:26,170 --> 00:19:29,190
along with his brother Macajeiro,
323
00:19:29,190 --> 00:19:31,220
a certified skipper,
324
00:19:31,220 --> 00:19:32,770
they want to visit relatives in the town of Afua
325
00:19:32,770 --> 00:19:35,820
where they grew up.
326
00:19:35,820 --> 00:19:36,770
Ships loaded with ore and soybeans from the Amazon region
327
00:19:39,910 --> 00:19:43,840
travel through the delta on their way to the Atlantic.
328
00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,853
(horn toots)
329
00:19:52,338 --> 00:19:54,755
A constant stream of gaiolas pass by.
330
00:20:05,640 --> 00:20:08,670
The multi-decked ships that are the main form
331
00:20:08,670 --> 00:20:11,230
of transport in the delta.
332
00:20:11,230 --> 00:20:13,320
They can hold their own
333
00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:14,460
against the powerful currents far better
334
00:20:14,460 --> 00:20:16,760
than smaller vessels.
335
00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,083
As it leaves the country's interior,
336
00:20:20,360 --> 00:20:22,500
the Amazon flows with a very strong current,
337
00:20:22,500 --> 00:20:25,180
but it's met with equally strong currents from the Atlantic.
338
00:20:25,180 --> 00:20:28,540
These waters can be perilous for small boats.
339
00:20:28,540 --> 00:20:31,630
When the incoming tide from the sea meets the outflow
340
00:20:31,630 --> 00:20:34,640
of the river, there are eddies and waves.
341
00:20:34,640 --> 00:20:37,240
You can easily capsize and drown,
342
00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,110
but the Amazon is part of our life.
343
00:20:40,110 --> 00:20:42,190
It's like a part of our body.
344
00:20:42,190 --> 00:20:43,800
Without it, we can't live
345
00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:47,778
(suspenseful music)
346
00:20:47,778 --> 00:20:50,778
Naravin and Macajeiro
347
00:20:51,820 --> 00:20:53,560
weave through an archipelago of smaller islands
348
00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,500
to Ilha de Marajó,
349
00:20:56,500 --> 00:20:57,457
the largest river island on Earth.
350
00:20:58,300 --> 00:21:00,670
It's roughly the same size as the Netherlands.
351
00:21:00,670 --> 00:21:03,313
In the brackish water,
352
00:21:04,690 --> 00:21:06,230
a few dolphins can be seen splashing around.
353
00:21:06,230 --> 00:21:08,603
(upbeat music)
354
00:21:09,814 --> 00:21:12,397
(boat rumbling)
355
00:21:16,505 --> 00:21:19,172
Afua is a typical small Amazon town
356
00:21:23,893 --> 00:21:26,380
with characteristic wooden houses on stilts.
357
00:21:26,380 --> 00:21:29,480
The locals are celebrating the Festival do Camarão,
358
00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:32,640
the shrimp festival.
359
00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:34,190
For the inhabitants of the delta,
360
00:21:34,190 --> 00:21:36,030
this is one of the highlights of the year.
361
00:21:36,030 --> 00:21:38,549
(upbeat music)
362
00:21:38,549 --> 00:21:41,216
The festival gives the two men a welcome excuse
363
00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,700
to visit their hometown.
364
00:21:49,700 --> 00:21:51,063
(man speaking in foreign language)
365
00:21:56,755 --> 00:22:01,005
Here in this remote part of Brazil,
366
00:22:05,309 --> 00:22:07,750
most people make a living from fishing or agriculture.
367
00:22:07,750 --> 00:22:11,290
Since the former president, Lula,
368
00:22:11,290 --> 00:22:13,430
introduced the Bolsa Familia,
369
00:22:13,430 --> 00:22:15,440
a form of social welfare for families,
370
00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:18,050
even the poorest have a basic livelihood.
371
00:22:18,050 --> 00:22:20,793
In the old days,
372
00:22:24,010 --> 00:22:24,850
we never used to leave here.
373
00:22:24,850 --> 00:22:27,170
Our whole family lived here,
374
00:22:27,170 --> 00:22:28,960
our cousins, nieces, and nephews.
375
00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:31,920
It was our hometown.
376
00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:33,133
Nowadays, life's much better.
377
00:22:36,420 --> 00:22:38,420
A few years ago,
378
00:22:38,420 --> 00:22:39,270
there was nothing going on here,
379
00:22:39,270 --> 00:22:41,000
but now you can see people having fun
380
00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:43,150
and they know how to dress.
381
00:22:43,150 --> 00:22:44,910
Back then, there weren't even any schools
382
00:22:44,910 --> 00:22:46,980
but that's improved a lot now.
383
00:22:46,980 --> 00:22:48,480
Yeah, that's right.
384
00:22:50,250 --> 00:22:51,920
The schools were all far away.
385
00:22:51,920 --> 00:22:53,610
Nowadays, there are more than 40 schools
386
00:22:53,610 --> 00:22:55,730
on the archipelago for the island's children.
387
00:22:55,730 --> 00:22:57,980
(upbeat music)
388
00:23:00,560 --> 00:23:03,143
(peaceful music)
(water whooshing)
389
00:23:07,577 --> 00:23:12,577
The journey continues to Breves,
390
00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,310
of port town in the middle of the delta.
391
00:23:18,310 --> 00:23:20,950
It lies on a branch of the river that connects the Amazon
392
00:23:20,950 --> 00:23:24,380
to the Tocantins river system.
393
00:23:24,380 --> 00:23:26,323
Breves is the largest town on Marajo Island.
394
00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:32,810
By boat, it's an eight hour journey from the mainland.
395
00:23:32,810 --> 00:23:36,410
It's a center of the local boat building industry.
396
00:23:36,410 --> 00:23:39,527
(peaceful music)
397
00:23:39,527 --> 00:23:42,360
Simao Costas Araf decorates boats and ships
398
00:23:44,350 --> 00:23:48,070
of all types with great artistry and imagination.
399
00:23:48,070 --> 00:23:52,060
Every locality in the delta has produced its own style.
400
00:23:52,060 --> 00:23:55,733
Simao's use of color and the form of his lettering
401
00:23:58,090 --> 00:24:01,720
have influenced the typical Breves style.
402
00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:05,167
(peaceful music)
403
00:24:05,167 --> 00:24:07,917
It's all about the form
404
00:24:16,770 --> 00:24:17,900
of the letters and the colors that you choose,
405
00:24:17,900 --> 00:24:20,930
but you need to have a passion for it.
406
00:24:20,930 --> 00:24:22,830
You can only achieve perfection
407
00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:26,920
if you do it with love and dedication.
408
00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:30,160
That's how we Marajo islanders in Breves are.
409
00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:32,787
(bats chirring)
410
00:24:35,884 --> 00:24:38,551
(awe-inspiring music)
411
00:24:42,021 --> 00:24:45,271
The interior of the huge river island
412
00:24:54,410 --> 00:24:56,710
is only accessible through the igapos,
413
00:24:56,710 --> 00:24:59,540
the typical river channels in the delta.
414
00:24:59,540 --> 00:25:02,710
Their water levels are influenced
415
00:25:02,710 --> 00:25:04,790
both by the Atlantic tides and by the rainy season.
416
00:25:04,790 --> 00:25:09,175
(boat rumbling)
417
00:25:09,175 --> 00:25:11,842
(birds chirping)
418
00:25:15,129 --> 00:25:17,160
Like most river dwellers, Jose Consaves
419
00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:20,080
and his wife make a living by selling palm fruits
420
00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:22,720
from their acai plantation.
421
00:25:22,720 --> 00:25:24,383
Due to his short stature,
422
00:25:25,500 --> 00:25:27,090
his friends call him Quadrina for shorty,
423
00:25:27,090 --> 00:25:30,750
though, in his work,
424
00:25:30,750 --> 00:25:32,100
his light weight is a major advantage.
425
00:25:32,100 --> 00:25:34,423
(suspenseful music)
(birds chirping)
426
00:25:35,356 --> 00:25:40,356
Like most boys in this area,
427
00:25:49,070 --> 00:25:50,930
at the age of 12, he started clamoring up palm trees
428
00:25:50,930 --> 00:25:54,580
to harvest the acai berries.
429
00:25:54,580 --> 00:25:57,182
Ilha de Marajó is the world's largest growing area
430
00:25:57,182 --> 00:26:00,790
for this nutritious palm fruit.
431
00:26:00,790 --> 00:26:02,553
Nowadays, his sons and several nephews help out
432
00:26:04,170 --> 00:26:07,810
with the strenuous work of picking the fruit.
433
00:26:07,810 --> 00:26:10,373
Jose won't be able to do this dangerous work
434
00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:14,030
for much longer.
435
00:26:14,030 --> 00:26:15,053
These trees are quite small
436
00:26:24,710 --> 00:26:26,352
but in the jungle they're much taller.
437
00:26:26,352 --> 00:26:28,660
So it's quite difficult to climb them.
438
00:26:28,660 --> 00:26:31,230
I've had a few accidents in the past.
439
00:26:31,230 --> 00:26:33,450
Once I fell from 10 meters up,
440
00:26:33,450 --> 00:26:35,220
but luckily I landed in the river in the mud.
441
00:26:35,220 --> 00:26:38,160
That saved my life.
442
00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:39,433
My cousin wasn't so lucky.
443
00:26:40,820 --> 00:26:42,360
He's in a wheelchair now.
444
00:26:42,360 --> 00:26:43,773
Every family here
445
00:26:48,210 --> 00:26:49,450
has at least one similar story to tell,
446
00:26:49,450 --> 00:26:52,250
but how else can you harvest these berries?
447
00:26:52,250 --> 00:26:54,940
Up to now, no one has come up with a better solution.
448
00:26:54,940 --> 00:26:58,213
Jose's family own several hundred palms.
449
00:27:09,340 --> 00:27:12,750
They keep some of the acai berries for themselves,
450
00:27:12,750 --> 00:27:15,760
but the majority are sold through a cooperative.
451
00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:18,503
Jose's wife, Sonia, soaks the acai berries in hot water
452
00:27:26,020 --> 00:27:29,710
so they become soft.
453
00:27:29,710 --> 00:27:31,520
She uses the flesh of the fruit
454
00:27:31,520 --> 00:27:33,340
to produce the typical sweet-sour purple acai puree,
455
00:27:33,340 --> 00:27:37,290
the most important staple food in the region.
456
00:27:37,290 --> 00:27:40,163
(people speaking in foreign language)
457
00:27:41,122 --> 00:27:45,622
Harvesters bring more baskets.
458
00:27:52,900 --> 00:27:55,013
Acai is considered a super food
459
00:27:56,350 --> 00:27:58,630
because of its high vitamin content and many nutrients
460
00:27:58,630 --> 00:28:01,920
and global demand is increasing.
461
00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,013
The co-operative's boat transports the day's harvest
462
00:28:18,300 --> 00:28:21,350
to the next town.
463
00:28:21,350 --> 00:28:22,830
Jose and Sonia are members.
464
00:28:22,830 --> 00:28:25,013
Using a kind of blender,
465
00:28:28,510 --> 00:28:30,420
Sonia separates the thin pulp from the stones.
466
00:28:30,420 --> 00:28:33,533
All the people in Para like acai.
467
00:28:34,960 --> 00:28:37,680
We always eat it as part of our main meal.
468
00:28:37,680 --> 00:28:40,420
First, a spoonful of rice, then a spoonful of acai,
469
00:28:40,420 --> 00:28:43,993
but I do it differently.
470
00:28:45,210 --> 00:28:46,670
First I eat the main course,
471
00:28:46,670 --> 00:28:48,600
then I eat the acai after.
472
00:28:48,600 --> 00:28:50,403
(peaceful music)
(boat humming)
473
00:28:55,820 --> 00:29:00,820
Jose has an appointment with Iada,
474
00:29:14,350 --> 00:29:16,740
the boss of the acai cooperative.
475
00:29:16,740 --> 00:29:19,720
In the swamp forests,
476
00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:21,110
people live only along the banks of the river.
477
00:29:21,110 --> 00:29:23,570
The Marajo Archipelago, with its labyrinth of waterways,
478
00:29:23,570 --> 00:29:28,140
is a tropical island paradise.
479
00:29:28,140 --> 00:29:30,740
They live in harmony with nature,
480
00:29:30,740 --> 00:29:33,080
without upsetting the balance of the ecosystem.
481
00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:35,813
Jose wants to buy groceries in the cooperative shop
482
00:29:49,670 --> 00:29:52,420
on the Rio Canaticú.
483
00:29:52,420 --> 00:29:53,583
Iada's wife opened the small store just a few months ago.
484
00:29:54,620 --> 00:29:58,340
The cooperative consists of about 100 families
485
00:29:58,340 --> 00:30:01,460
who collectively market their acai berry produce.
486
00:30:01,460 --> 00:30:04,443
I'm an example of how it can succeed.
487
00:30:13,540 --> 00:30:16,190
After the cooperative was founded,
488
00:30:17,530 --> 00:30:19,650
my income increased by about 60%.
489
00:30:19,650 --> 00:30:23,363
We're much better organized now.
490
00:30:27,070 --> 00:30:29,830
It's easier to deal with the accounts and taxes
491
00:30:29,830 --> 00:30:33,000
and we trade in larger quantities.
492
00:30:33,000 --> 00:30:34,723
Before we used to sell our produce individually
493
00:30:35,940 --> 00:30:38,390
at lower prices.
494
00:30:38,390 --> 00:30:40,003
(upbeat music)
495
00:30:42,773 --> 00:30:45,356
Belém, the capital city of the state of Para,
496
00:30:51,330 --> 00:30:54,450
lies on the eastern side of the delta
497
00:30:54,450 --> 00:30:56,840
and is the largest and most important port
498
00:30:56,840 --> 00:30:59,050
in the Amazon region.
499
00:30:59,050 --> 00:31:00,850
The fishing boats dock after midnight.
500
00:31:00,850 --> 00:31:02,893
The peak period is before sunrise.
501
00:31:03,990 --> 00:31:06,910
The fishermen don't only bring catches from the interior
502
00:31:06,910 --> 00:31:09,950
and from the delta,
503
00:31:09,950 --> 00:31:11,340
fish from the Atlantic are also unloaded
504
00:31:11,340 --> 00:31:14,170
at the famous Ver-O-Peso Market in the port city.
505
00:31:14,170 --> 00:31:18,215
(upbeat music)
506
00:31:18,215 --> 00:31:21,399
(motors rumbling)
(birds shrieking)
507
00:31:21,399 --> 00:31:26,399
Here too, piraiba are on sale.
508
00:31:31,130 --> 00:31:34,530
This large type of catfish is one
509
00:31:34,530 --> 00:31:36,570
of the most sought-after predatory fish
510
00:31:36,570 --> 00:31:38,900
in the Amazon region.
511
00:31:38,900 --> 00:31:40,631
(people shouting in foreign language)
512
00:31:40,631 --> 00:31:43,810
David Ferera D'Acosta brings two and a half tons
513
00:31:43,810 --> 00:31:47,380
of fish into the market hall every day,
514
00:31:47,380 --> 00:31:50,600
from midnight until seven in the morning.
515
00:31:50,600 --> 00:31:53,470
With each load, he balances over 100 kilograms of fish
516
00:31:53,470 --> 00:31:57,640
on his head.
517
00:31:57,640 --> 00:31:58,473
He started working as a fish porter at the age of 16.
518
00:31:59,390 --> 00:32:03,170
It's a job that's been done here for hundreds of years.
519
00:32:03,170 --> 00:32:06,550
He's happy in his work because he can relax
520
00:32:06,550 --> 00:32:08,990
for the rest of the day and earn 350 euros a month.
521
00:32:08,990 --> 00:32:12,653
But it took some time
522
00:32:13,750 --> 00:32:14,790
for him to get used to the heavy loads.
523
00:32:14,790 --> 00:32:16,833
It's really heavy work.
524
00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:27,148
I once slipped on a plastic bag while carrying a load
525
00:32:27,148 --> 00:32:29,840
of 100 kilos.
526
00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:31,083
I left the scales with 100 kilos on my head,
527
00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:36,610
and there was this plastic bag lying there.
528
00:32:36,610 --> 00:32:38,783
I slipped, pushing the basket in front of me,
529
00:32:40,900 --> 00:32:43,707
but the edge landed on my foot.
530
00:32:43,707 --> 00:32:45,263
It caused a hematoma which got infected,
531
00:32:46,940 --> 00:32:49,277
and I had to have an operation.
532
00:32:49,277 --> 00:32:51,303
But everything's fine now, thank God.
533
00:32:53,500 --> 00:32:55,363
(birds shrieking)
534
00:32:56,583 --> 00:32:59,416
After sunrise, the jetty empties.
535
00:33:01,170 --> 00:33:04,770
The wholesalers have stocked up
536
00:33:04,770 --> 00:33:06,820
and the normal customers are happy to buy what's left.
537
00:33:06,820 --> 00:33:09,853
Now the fish sales get underway
538
00:33:15,220 --> 00:33:17,410
at the Ver-O-Peso market hall,
539
00:33:17,410 --> 00:33:19,640
one of the most famous fish markets in the world.
540
00:33:19,640 --> 00:33:22,970
The sheer variety and amount of fish
541
00:33:22,970 --> 00:33:25,310
in the Amazon defies the imagination.
542
00:33:25,310 --> 00:33:28,880
The main river and its tributaries are home
543
00:33:28,880 --> 00:33:32,090
to over 2,200 species of fish,
544
00:33:32,090 --> 00:33:35,660
more than in the entire Atlantic.
545
00:33:35,660 --> 00:33:38,433
By comparison, all the rivers in Europe combined
546
00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:43,400
have just 150 species of fish.
547
00:33:43,400 --> 00:33:45,988
(bright music)
548
00:33:45,988 --> 00:33:48,571
In a different part of the port,
549
00:33:55,140 --> 00:33:56,870
the acai boats are unloading their freight.
550
00:33:56,870 --> 00:33:59,810
The port at Belém is the main trade hub
551
00:33:59,810 --> 00:34:02,590
for this valuable fruit.
552
00:34:02,590 --> 00:34:04,560
Part of the harvest from the Delta is shipped
553
00:34:04,560 --> 00:34:07,090
to the country's interior and the rest is transported
554
00:34:07,090 --> 00:34:10,260
to Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro or sold abroad.
555
00:34:10,260 --> 00:34:14,188
(people chattering)
556
00:34:14,188 --> 00:34:17,188
(upbeat music)
557
00:34:23,691 --> 00:34:26,274
Another source of income for people
558
00:34:31,900 --> 00:34:33,720
from the Delta is the sale of medicinal herbs
559
00:34:33,720 --> 00:34:36,750
from the Amazon region.
560
00:34:36,750 --> 00:34:38,960
At the small market behind the market hall,
561
00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:41,510
the herb women offer plant cures based
562
00:34:41,510 --> 00:34:44,260
on traditional recipes.
563
00:34:44,260 --> 00:34:45,773
For example, Mirasi da Silva sells more
564
00:34:52,360 --> 00:34:55,260
than 50 types of leaves, roots, and tinctures.
565
00:34:55,260 --> 00:34:58,350
(women speaking in foreign language)
566
00:34:58,350 --> 00:35:02,767
Herbal mixtures to heal infections
567
00:35:08,020 --> 00:35:10,410
for the prostate or to stimulate the libido.
568
00:35:10,410 --> 00:35:13,463
This elixir here is the Rolls Royce
569
00:35:17,690 --> 00:35:20,050
of my range.
570
00:35:20,050 --> 00:35:21,390
It works for both men and women,
571
00:35:21,390 --> 00:35:23,240
both tasty and good medicine.
572
00:35:23,240 --> 00:35:25,723
Shake it, and drink it three times a day
573
00:35:28,870 --> 00:35:32,030
if you're feeling weak.
574
00:35:32,030 --> 00:35:33,590
It brings you good fortune and raises your spirits.
575
00:35:33,590 --> 00:35:36,273
Professor Wagner Barbosa researches
576
00:35:41,770 --> 00:35:44,120
the indigenous people's traditional herbal remedies
577
00:35:44,120 --> 00:35:46,780
at the University of Para in Belém.
578
00:35:46,780 --> 00:35:49,650
He has known Mirasi for years.
579
00:35:49,650 --> 00:35:51,683
Right now we're selling this plant.
580
00:35:55,470 --> 00:35:57,930
You can make tea with it.
581
00:35:57,930 --> 00:35:59,493
Just wash it thoroughly, crush it,
582
00:36:00,380 --> 00:36:03,320
and we'll mix it with mint.
583
00:36:03,320 --> 00:36:04,670
The whole plant?
584
00:36:06,692 --> 00:36:07,820
No, you only use the bulb.
585
00:36:07,820 --> 00:36:09,430
That's the only part that has healing properties.
586
00:36:09,430 --> 00:36:11,880
I've been coming
587
00:36:14,789 --> 00:36:15,622
to this part of the market
588
00:36:15,622 --> 00:36:17,090
where all the herbal remedies are sold
589
00:36:17,090 --> 00:36:19,390
for the last 20 years.
590
00:36:19,390 --> 00:36:21,440
It's a real treasure trove
591
00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:22,810
of knowledge and experience.
592
00:36:22,810 --> 00:36:24,603
You can find medicinal plants here
593
00:36:25,550 --> 00:36:27,770
that don't exist anywhere else.
594
00:36:27,770 --> 00:36:29,883
It's a cultural treasure
595
00:36:31,100 --> 00:36:32,440
that's based on the experience of the indigenous people
596
00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:36,070
In a lab at the University of Para,
597
00:36:39,250 --> 00:36:41,660
Professor Barbosa and his team are studying
598
00:36:41,660 --> 00:36:44,430
around a dozen different plants from the Amazon region.
599
00:36:44,430 --> 00:36:47,800
They isolate their chemical components
600
00:36:47,800 --> 00:36:50,370
and study their effects.
601
00:36:50,370 --> 00:36:51,940
We've managed to analyze the makeup
602
00:36:59,199 --> 00:37:01,260
of a medicinal plant
603
00:37:01,260 --> 00:37:02,740
with the botanical name Eleutherine plicata.
604
00:37:02,740 --> 00:37:07,710
We've discovered it's active components
605
00:37:07,710 --> 00:37:10,070
and proven that they are efficient against amoebas.
606
00:37:10,070 --> 00:37:13,890
This botanical medicine is now recognized
607
00:37:13,890 --> 00:37:16,250
as a remedy in the official Brazilian pharmacopeia.
608
00:37:16,250 --> 00:37:19,393
(awe-inspiring music)
609
00:37:20,662 --> 00:37:23,829
The Bay of Para lies
610
00:37:25,270 --> 00:37:27,210
in the eastern part of the delta.
611
00:37:27,210 --> 00:37:29,380
It's connected to the Amazon by a tributary.
612
00:37:29,380 --> 00:37:32,780
on this side of Marajo Island,
613
00:37:32,780 --> 00:37:35,140
buffalo farms have displaced many várzea forests.
614
00:37:35,140 --> 00:37:38,703
(insects chirring)
615
00:37:42,797 --> 00:37:45,714
(upbeat music)
616
00:37:56,591 --> 00:37:59,710
The Bom Jesus Farm, not far from the town of Soure,
617
00:37:59,710 --> 00:38:03,560
has a Wild West feel to it.
618
00:38:03,560 --> 00:38:05,323
Around 1000 water buffalo are kept on the farm.
619
00:38:07,540 --> 00:38:11,070
They are very content in the broad pastureland
620
00:38:11,070 --> 00:38:14,010
with its many floodplains.
621
00:38:14,010 --> 00:38:15,427
(buffalo mooing)
622
00:38:15,427 --> 00:38:18,177
The arrival of the buffalo 100 years ago was the result
623
00:38:21,010 --> 00:38:24,750
of an accident.
624
00:38:24,750 --> 00:38:26,150
A ship laden with an Asian water buffalo capsized
625
00:38:26,150 --> 00:38:30,020
just off the coast.
626
00:38:30,020 --> 00:38:31,700
The cattle swam to the shore of Ilha de Marajó
627
00:38:31,700 --> 00:38:35,100
and managed to survive in the wilderness,
628
00:38:35,100 --> 00:38:37,660
among the rich bird life,
629
00:38:37,660 --> 00:38:39,370
including the roseate spoonbill,
630
00:38:39,370 --> 00:38:41,460
the heron, and the scarlet ibis.
631
00:38:41,460 --> 00:38:43,743
Since that time, other buffalo species have been introduced
632
00:38:48,420 --> 00:38:52,270
from countries such as Italy.
633
00:38:52,270 --> 00:38:54,730
Carlos and two other cowboys take care of the herd.
634
00:38:54,730 --> 00:38:58,323
It's my job to watch over the herd every day
635
00:39:03,357 --> 00:39:06,740
and to take care of the farm.
636
00:39:06,740 --> 00:39:08,473
Whenever there are problems with the animals,
637
00:39:10,030 --> 00:39:12,570
we contact our vet, Dr. Ava,
638
00:39:12,570 --> 00:39:15,093
and she comes over to treat them.
639
00:39:16,590 --> 00:39:18,240
Buffalo breeding is a lucrative business
640
00:39:22,040 --> 00:39:24,580
because the meat is highly prized.
641
00:39:24,580 --> 00:39:27,320
The huge herds don't require many staff,
642
00:39:27,320 --> 00:39:30,360
and there is plenty of pasture and water here,
643
00:39:30,360 --> 00:39:33,610
but from the air,
644
00:39:33,610 --> 00:39:34,850
it's clear how much land the farms swallow up
645
00:39:34,850 --> 00:39:38,350
and how much swamp forest has been destroyed.
646
00:39:38,350 --> 00:39:41,309
(suspenseful music)
647
00:39:41,309 --> 00:39:42,142
800,000 water buffalo live in this part of Marajo Island.
648
00:39:42,142 --> 00:39:46,800
This benefits a few hundred wealthy landowners
649
00:39:46,800 --> 00:39:49,830
who employ just a few farm hands
650
00:39:49,830 --> 00:39:52,030
and have the power to assert their own interests.
651
00:39:52,030 --> 00:39:55,091
(suspenseful music)
652
00:39:55,091 --> 00:39:58,091
Environmental activist Joal Miralez is campaigning
653
00:40:01,560 --> 00:40:04,770
for sustainable agricultural practices
654
00:40:04,770 --> 00:40:07,070
that would benefit the wider majority,
655
00:40:07,070 --> 00:40:09,060
while preserving the region's natural resources.
656
00:40:09,060 --> 00:40:11,693
The thing is that the buffalo is a very heavy animal
657
00:40:12,627 --> 00:40:16,570
and so there is a very fragile ecosystem.
658
00:40:16,570 --> 00:40:20,380
It may not look like it, but it's very fragile,
659
00:40:20,380 --> 00:40:23,400
and where they pass in the dry season,
660
00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:25,770
it becomes like a small river in the wet season.
661
00:40:25,770 --> 00:40:29,060
They destroy the local mangroves,
662
00:40:29,060 --> 00:40:30,880
the small parts that are some other ecosystems like forest
663
00:40:30,880 --> 00:40:35,220
like marginal forest from the rivers.
664
00:40:35,220 --> 00:40:37,410
They are just trying from the inside.
665
00:40:37,410 --> 00:40:39,283
Cattle farming is not only a threat
666
00:40:40,250 --> 00:40:42,100
to the delta.
667
00:40:42,100 --> 00:40:43,390
Every year, huge areas of the Amazon region are sacrificed
668
00:40:43,390 --> 00:40:47,550
for meat production,
669
00:40:47,550 --> 00:40:49,060
but due to the poor soil,
670
00:40:49,060 --> 00:40:50,800
the herds can only graze on the pastures for a few years.
671
00:40:50,800 --> 00:40:54,930
After that, the cattle farmers move into new areas.
672
00:40:54,930 --> 00:40:58,543
The soybean farms that produce cattle feed
673
00:40:59,400 --> 00:41:01,700
for Europe and Asia
674
00:41:01,700 --> 00:41:03,530
also result in the destruction of huge tracts of rainforest.
675
00:41:03,530 --> 00:41:07,093
Over the last 30 years,
676
00:41:08,580 --> 00:41:10,420
almost a quarter of the Amazon rainforest has been cut down.
677
00:41:10,420 --> 00:41:14,630
The thin layer of top soil has been irreversibly damaged.
678
00:41:14,630 --> 00:41:18,580
Despite this, the exploitation for profit continues.
679
00:41:18,580 --> 00:41:23,184
(melancholy music)
680
00:41:23,184 --> 00:41:25,477
Joal Miralez writes books about the fascinating biodiversity
681
00:41:25,477 --> 00:41:29,550
of the Amazon basin.
682
00:41:29,550 --> 00:41:31,350
He hopes to open people's eyes
683
00:41:31,350 --> 00:41:33,160
to the natural treasure that they are putting at risk.
684
00:41:33,160 --> 00:41:36,960
Deforestation is the result of cattle ranching,
685
00:41:36,960 --> 00:41:40,560
intensive agriculture, especially for soy,
686
00:41:40,560 --> 00:41:44,460
but also maize, corn.
687
00:41:44,460 --> 00:41:46,250
And that's the consequence that our diets
688
00:41:46,250 --> 00:41:49,340
in the planet is very much based on meat.
689
00:41:49,340 --> 00:41:53,110
If we don't change our diet, that's a planetary diets,
690
00:41:53,110 --> 00:41:56,920
we will have serious climate change,
691
00:41:56,920 --> 00:42:00,610
and of course we lose the Amazon.
692
00:42:00,610 --> 00:42:03,393
(melancholy music)
693
00:42:03,393 --> 00:42:06,310
On Ilha de Marajó,
694
00:42:09,230 --> 00:42:11,050
most of the swamp forest remains practically untouched.
695
00:42:11,050 --> 00:42:15,190
And in those places where there are no buffalo grazing,
696
00:42:15,190 --> 00:42:18,600
the mangroves on the shoreline are still intact.
697
00:42:18,600 --> 00:42:21,983
(insects chirring)
698
00:42:25,856 --> 00:42:28,773
Every day, Sebastian Figueredo and his son take their boat
699
00:42:32,190 --> 00:42:36,630
into the mangrove forest at their doorstep.
700
00:42:36,630 --> 00:42:39,800
They depend on the forest for their income.
701
00:42:39,800 --> 00:42:42,800
Suddenly, they witness a rare sight.
702
00:42:42,800 --> 00:42:45,860
A young panther crossing the river.
703
00:42:45,860 --> 00:42:49,090
These mysterious predators almost always keep out of sight
704
00:42:49,090 --> 00:42:53,340
and they usually only come out at night.
705
00:42:53,340 --> 00:42:55,803
While his son watches the boat,
706
00:43:02,000 --> 00:43:03,900
Sebastian goes in search of crabs.
707
00:43:03,900 --> 00:43:06,640
It's hot, humid, and there are mosquitoes everywhere.
708
00:43:06,640 --> 00:43:11,009
(suspenseful music)
709
00:43:11,009 --> 00:43:14,009
The exposed roots indicate how high the water rises
710
00:43:28,370 --> 00:43:31,680
when the tide comes in.
711
00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:33,400
The Atlantic tides can be clearly felt here,
712
00:43:33,400 --> 00:43:36,510
although it is 40 kilometers from the open sea.
713
00:43:36,510 --> 00:43:39,940
The extreme conditions in the tidal forests have given rise
714
00:43:39,940 --> 00:43:43,620
to a multitude of extraordinary life forms.
715
00:43:43,620 --> 00:43:46,523
Searching for crabs is a laborious process
716
00:44:02,120 --> 00:44:05,400
and there is no guarantee of success.
717
00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:08,070
Nonetheless, it provides Sebastian
718
00:44:08,070 --> 00:44:10,360
with an income of around 200 euros a month.
719
00:44:10,360 --> 00:44:13,313
He never had a chance to go to school,
720
00:44:21,220 --> 00:44:23,960
so he's glad he can support his family
721
00:44:23,960 --> 00:44:26,290
by fishing for the tasty mangrove crabs.
722
00:44:26,290 --> 00:44:29,523
(birds chirping)
723
00:44:29,523 --> 00:44:32,273
At the moment, the crabs aren't much good
724
00:44:39,740 --> 00:44:41,730
because they're molting.
725
00:44:41,730 --> 00:44:42,930
It's difficult to pull them out
726
00:44:44,255 --> 00:44:45,840
because they're more slippery
727
00:44:45,840 --> 00:44:47,950
and it's more difficult to sell them during this phase.
728
00:44:47,950 --> 00:44:50,700
Later on, when they have a new shell,
729
00:44:52,000 --> 00:44:54,300
everything's a bit easier.
730
00:44:54,300 --> 00:44:56,070
I can catch up to 300 a week then,
731
00:44:56,070 --> 00:44:58,263
but it's still not easy.
732
00:44:59,430 --> 00:45:00,830
The restaurants pay us badly,
733
00:45:00,830 --> 00:45:02,870
and sell them at a much higher price.
734
00:45:02,870 --> 00:45:04,763
But when we have a good catch
735
00:45:06,090 --> 00:45:07,490
and can sell them for a good price, I'm happy.
736
00:45:07,490 --> 00:45:09,973
Even today, the majority
737
00:45:15,110 --> 00:45:17,040
of local people get their nutrition
738
00:45:17,040 --> 00:45:18,840
from the fish and crabs in the mangroves.
739
00:45:18,840 --> 00:45:21,493
(awe-inspiring music)
740
00:45:21,493 --> 00:45:24,660
The Amazon estuary lies
741
00:45:37,040 --> 00:45:39,010
on a major migratory route for birds.
742
00:45:39,010 --> 00:45:42,230
Several thousand wading birds from North America
743
00:45:42,230 --> 00:45:45,260
stop over here or stay
744
00:45:45,260 --> 00:45:46,900
for the duration of the northern winter.
745
00:45:46,900 --> 00:45:48,983
The mangrove forests
746
00:45:50,450 --> 00:45:51,900
in the delta are also a popular resting place
747
00:45:51,900 --> 00:45:54,960
and nest site for a variety of ibis species.
748
00:45:54,960 --> 00:45:58,263
In the village of Praia dos Pescadores
749
00:46:07,000 --> 00:46:09,660
in the mangrove forest belt of the Bay of Para,
750
00:46:09,660 --> 00:46:13,180
it feels as if time has stopped.
751
00:46:13,180 --> 00:46:15,433
Generations of local people have made a living
752
00:46:16,930 --> 00:46:19,330
from fishing and harvesting the natural riches
753
00:46:19,330 --> 00:46:21,870
of the tropical forest.
754
00:46:21,870 --> 00:46:23,193
The peaceful, cozy fishing village is also a popular getaway
755
00:46:24,700 --> 00:46:28,850
for tourists from Belém.
756
00:46:28,850 --> 00:46:30,853
(boat buzzing)
757
00:46:39,037 --> 00:46:41,620
Leonilda, Zara, and Sebastiana are going to search
758
00:46:44,036 --> 00:46:47,870
for medicinal herbs in the mangrove belt
759
00:46:47,870 --> 00:46:50,350
near the Atlantic, not far from the delta.
760
00:46:50,350 --> 00:46:53,800
(awe-inspiring music)
761
00:46:53,800 --> 00:46:56,967
They go in the morning at low tide,
762
00:46:59,190 --> 00:47:01,320
so they can enter the tidal forest
763
00:47:01,320 --> 00:47:03,170
without getting their feet wet.
764
00:47:03,170 --> 00:47:04,763
A snake bird stalks its prey.
765
00:47:10,180 --> 00:47:13,010
Here, too, the riverbanks support a rich variety
766
00:47:13,010 --> 00:47:16,350
of bird life.
767
00:47:16,350 --> 00:47:17,850
Blue and yellow macaws and hoatzin,
768
00:47:17,850 --> 00:47:20,890
also known as stinkbirds,
769
00:47:20,890 --> 00:47:22,910
warm themselves in the morning sun.
770
00:47:22,910 --> 00:47:24,853
The Amazon region is home
771
00:47:32,250 --> 00:47:34,180
to several hundred species of parrots.
772
00:47:34,180 --> 00:47:37,210
Their diet consists of seeds, fruits, berries, flowers,
773
00:47:37,210 --> 00:47:41,900
and small insects.
774
00:47:41,900 --> 00:47:43,163
In their free time, the three women work
775
00:47:45,270 --> 00:47:47,740
for the non-profit organization, Erva Vita,
776
00:47:47,740 --> 00:47:51,280
which produces and distributes natural remedies.
777
00:47:51,280 --> 00:47:54,698
(women speaking in foreign language)
778
00:47:54,698 --> 00:47:59,115
They gather bark, leaves, and roots.
779
00:48:06,410 --> 00:48:10,110
They draw on the knowledge of their ancestors,
780
00:48:10,110 --> 00:48:13,020
who survived without modern medicine
781
00:48:13,020 --> 00:48:15,140
in the remote coastal forest for centuries.
782
00:48:15,140 --> 00:48:18,033
This plant is called lacris.
783
00:48:36,480 --> 00:48:38,720
When I was a child,
784
00:48:38,720 --> 00:48:40,040
my mother used the milky extract from the leaves
785
00:48:40,040 --> 00:48:42,930
to treat cuts and injuries.
786
00:48:42,930 --> 00:48:45,100
She would drip the liquid onto the wound,
787
00:48:45,100 --> 00:48:48,520
and then it would heal.
788
00:48:48,520 --> 00:48:49,940
The plant is also used to treat rashes,
789
00:48:56,290 --> 00:48:59,010
skin conditions, and painful infections.
790
00:48:59,010 --> 00:49:01,733
The extract prevents itching and help heal wounds.
791
00:49:02,660 --> 00:49:06,123
(awe-inspiring music)
792
00:49:08,719 --> 00:49:12,240
Even here, on the edge of the delta,
793
00:49:12,240 --> 00:49:14,920
in the bay of the small town of Maruda,
794
00:49:14,920 --> 00:49:17,720
the sediment carried by the Amazon colors the water brown.
795
00:49:17,720 --> 00:49:22,690
This shoreline offers a nesting place
796
00:49:22,690 --> 00:49:24,870
for a huge flock of ibises,
797
00:49:24,870 --> 00:49:27,110
among them, the striking red ibis.
798
00:49:27,110 --> 00:49:29,473
They live in the coastal region of Venezuela
799
00:49:30,510 --> 00:49:33,270
and in the Amazon estuary.
800
00:49:33,270 --> 00:49:35,126
(birds shrieking)
801
00:49:35,126 --> 00:49:37,959
(knives thudding)
802
00:49:44,305 --> 00:49:47,138
The women from Erva Vita meet once a week
803
00:49:52,030 --> 00:49:55,150
to manufacture their products.
804
00:49:55,150 --> 00:49:56,923
Thankfully, there are lots
805
00:49:59,770 --> 00:50:00,810
of people who want to buy our products.
806
00:50:00,810 --> 00:50:03,530
They pass by to say hello and buy things.
807
00:50:03,530 --> 00:50:06,840
Many of them come
808
00:50:06,840 --> 00:50:08,050
because they're feeling better and want to say thank you.
809
00:50:08,050 --> 00:50:11,373
They want to make sure we carry on our work,
810
00:50:12,550 --> 00:50:15,780
that we don't stop producing remedies.
811
00:50:15,780 --> 00:50:19,373
They make not only remedies
812
00:50:25,800 --> 00:50:28,270
but cosmetics as well.
813
00:50:28,270 --> 00:50:29,763
After boiling in water,
814
00:50:33,960 --> 00:50:35,660
the plants are used to make herbal shampoo.
815
00:50:35,660 --> 00:50:38,496
(awe-inspiring music)
816
00:50:38,496 --> 00:50:39,520
They dilute the herbal stock
817
00:50:39,520 --> 00:50:41,110
with soapy water and decant it into bottles.
818
00:50:41,110 --> 00:50:45,440
They produce a total of 20 different natural remedies
819
00:50:45,440 --> 00:50:48,300
and cosmetics in their herbal kitchen.
820
00:50:48,300 --> 00:50:50,855
(awe-inspiring music)
821
00:50:50,855 --> 00:50:54,022
Wide, sandy beaches stretch along the Atlantic coast,
822
00:51:15,900 --> 00:51:19,810
east of the delta.
823
00:51:19,810 --> 00:51:21,600
On the coastal Island of Algodoal,
824
00:51:21,600 --> 00:51:24,340
{\an8}tourists and goods are still transported
825
00:51:24,340 --> 00:51:27,280
{\an8}by horse and cart.
826
00:51:27,280 --> 00:51:28,493
The Amazon Delta remains a fascinating
827
00:51:30,210 --> 00:51:33,440
and largely unspoiled natural landscape to this day.
828
00:51:33,440 --> 00:51:37,799
(awe-inspiring music)
62687
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