
Roberto Brito and his family, who live along the Rio Negro in the Brazilian Amazon, once saw only the monetary value of logged trees. His transition, from cutting down the forest to leading hikes in it, has been dramatic, as has the transformation of his village of Tumbira into a hub of ecotourism. It shows what's possible, and the inspiration has already spread to neighboring villages. In 2008, after the Brazilian state of Amazonas created the Rio Negro Sustainable Development Reserve, organizations including the Foundation for Amazon Sustainability established education and health projects and began encouraging community-based tourism. In 2011, Brito opened his nature lodge. His three-year transition away from logging reflects the foundation's gradual approach to building trust and identifying community priorities.
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