Welcome to

Private Natural Heritage Reserve

Mixed Ombrophilous Forest

Prof. W. L. Roque - SilPe Valley

A PNHR integrating man and nature

The main mission of the Private Natural Heritage Reserve MOF Prof. W. L. Roque - SilPe Valley, is to preserve, restore and support the succession of the natural Mixed Ombrophilous Forest (MOF), mainly formed by araucárias (araucaria angustifolia specie) at the canopy layer, a native Brazilian coniferous tree, maintaining the original characteristics of this ecological environment.

 

The PNHR (Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural - RPPN, in Portuguese), is a non-profitable reserve that has been created with the spirit to contribute to a world with better quality of life. It is a place that integrates man and nature.  By accomplishing its mission, it provides a natural forest at present and a legacy for future generations.

 

W. L. Roque  
December 19th, 2023

Preservation and Recovery

- An action for the man and for the planet -

 

Forests are fundamental for the health of the Earth and lives on it. They sequester and capture carbon, produce oxygen, regulate global temperature and the flow of water, resupply ground water, provide support to soil fertility and act as natural barriers avoiding environmental disasters. They are important too as source of several additional environmental services. The degradation and extinction of forests are destabilizing the natural environmental systems in a scale never seen before in human history. The recent catastrophe occurred in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and in other parts of the planet are evidence of the consequences. Actions are necessary now to allow a future for the planet and, consequently, for the human beings.

 

PNHR MOF Prof. W. L. Roque

The PNHR MOF Prof. W. L. Roque is a piece of land with 20,6 hectare, as part of a 92 ha property, that has been designated by its owner and officially recognized and declared by the Brazilian government (ICMBio) as perpetually devoted to the preservation and regeneration of the original ecosystem according to the bioma where it is located. The PNHR is a non-profitable reserve with an additional aim of promoting activities related to environmental education and sustainability. 

Araucaria angustifolia

An exuberance of nature

broto de araucaria
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Seed propagation

The araucária seed (pinhão) looks like an arrow tip and when it falls down from the tree, it can give an opportunity to a spontaneous vegetative propagation, letting the birth of a new pinheiro, as the araucária is also known.

 

 

Very young araucária

Araucária seeds are recalcitrant, they cannot be stored under normal conditions. For this reason they must be sown soon after they have been harvested. The araucária tree has a slow growth taking around 12 to 15 years to reach its adulthood.

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Four years old araucária

Healty araucária in development with several branches in its natural environment.

Adult araucárias

Araucárias can have a life span of more than three centuries and reach a height between 40 to 50 meters. Only in the adulthood the female threes start their reproductive period with the production of pinhas, where the seeds (pinhões) are found. 

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pinha e pinhões

Pinha, araucárias' fruit

The pinha is araucárias' fruit and inside it are the pinhões, which are the seeds. A pinha to be mature takes around eighteen months. In general, the harvest occur between the end of Brazilian Autumn and during Winter.

Pinhões

The pinhões are one of the products from araucárias. They are very important to some birds and other animals, but they are also very much appreciated in the culinary due to their nice taste and nutrients.

We would appreciate your partnership

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PNHR FOM Prof. W.L. Roque - SilPe Valley

 

The PNHR is part of a rural property that is located in São José dos Ausentes county, in the Campos de Cima da Serra, highlands of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, in Brazil. The PNHR has a beautiful landscape with a nice view to the confluence of the Silveira and Pelotas rivers. São José dos Ausentes is known as the coldest county in the RS, with an annual average temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. It is there where the Monte Negro is located, the highest pick of the State, with 1,403m.   

 

São José dos Ausentes, 95280-000, RS - Brazil

 

GPS: 28°32'56.6"S 49°44'22.4"W

 

 

 

 

 

 

Background view of the property and of the PNHR.