WHERE IS ESTÂNCIA JATOBÁ

It is just inside the Tropic of Capricorn parallel (this manuscript is being composed at the latitude of 22 degrees 39.615 minutes South; longitude 47 degrees 2.323 minutes West; at 600 meters elevation). The land is a vestige of near extinct Floresta Atlântica Brasileira, the great Brazilian coastal rain forest. Less than 5% of that original ecosystem (said to be the richest on the planet, in terms of endemic species) is said to be intact.

On the north side of the property is a cooperative of enterprising Dutch immigrants. The bulk of once small, diversified, family farms has been converted to high-tech greenhouses. Refrigerated Jumbo jets await their floral cargo on the tarmac of a nearby international airport. Before trading opens, a delivery of orchids and other exotic tropical plants will be made to the Amsterdam Flower Market. A few hours later, patrons will sniff Brazilian flowers at their tables in Parisian restaurants.

Economic returns and future prospects for this lucrative international commerce are excellent. The various financial ventures surrounding the industry have also prospered. Likewise, the community has benefited in improved schools, more adequate social services and generally better modern living conditions.

A similar story may be told for the region to the south. The installation of light industry is also strengthening the local economy. Computer, portable telephone, and pharmaceutical factories are spreading out along the interstate highway in the style of Silicon Valley. On the east and west of the property, the desire of the wealthy for gated-condominiums with mansions for weekend recreation and that of a growing middle-class for low-cost housing have provoked a respectable boom in the construction industry. All around, economic progress is strong and seems guaranteed.

These economic and social accomplishments have been gained, in part, at the expense of nature. The prognosis for the environment's regional ills is not encouraging. It has been estimated that some 500 acres have been roofed over to grow the lucrative potted plants and decorative flowers. Thus, a significant quantity of rainwater that was once absorbed by the soil now pours from the roofs of hothouses becoming an agent of erosion and a transporter of contamination. Likewise, factories, homes and asphalt roads also shield the soil from water and sunshine and generate pollution. Copious irrigation and urban demands have also contributed to a scarcity of ground water and depletion of the aquifer. To make matters worse, the principle rivers in the basin are polluted with industrial waste, agricultural poisons and untreated human sewage.

Forested land is increasingly cut up by highways and streets and high-tension electrical lines in o rder to satisfy city values. (In the Amazon, it has been reported that 75% of deforestation occurs within a 50 kilometer swath accompanying the major highways.) Clearing for agriculture and building continues. Many riparian forests have been destroyed, leaving waterways inadequately protected. Every blade of vegetation is shaved from the embankments of rural roads. Although the world has been made safe for tulips, cell phones and delivery trucks, it is increasingly unsafe for itself. A question of concern to this project is, "How can sensible economic necessities be met while preserving vital natural resources?" Many ecological problems (such as domestic waste disposal and city sewage treatment) require public works in order to resolve them. Nevertheless, there is much that individuals can do. Besides putting one's own house in order - conserving water and electricity, recycling domestic waste and maintaining adequate vegative cover - there is an excellent opportunity to understand (and perhaps improve) the dynamics of cultural and social changes which are linked to ecological issues. Such learning could conceivably be transferred to other regions that will encounter similar problems in the future.

One example: The exodus of populations from rural areas swelling mega-cities seems to have slowed or stopped. Agricultural employment continues to drop, but service related activities are picking up the slack in employment. Thus, with different occupations, people appear to be staying in the countryside. Also, disillusioned big-city populations are leaking into rural areas. Depleted of fertile land and agricultural know-how, submitted to the exigencies of newcomers conditioned to be insensitive to their surroundings, these areas may not sustain a quality of life much better than the former city labyrinths. On the other hand, were more known about adaptation to such migrations, these transitions might be accomplished without taking such a heavy toll on the environment or on rural lifestyles and values.