Amazon
“synonymous” with energy, spiritual dimension, which contains everything visible and invisible.
The Amazon, a vast tropical rainforest measuring approximately 6.7 million km2 extending across eight countries, represents the largest ecosystem with the greatest biodiversity on the planet, being a place that defies any adequate description. In terms of magnitude, if the Amazon were a country, it would rank as the seventh largest in the world (WWF, 2023). In addition to its immensity and biological diversity, the Amazon region is home to communities that live in harmony with nature. Recognized not only for its extension, but also for its hydrographic and cultural relevance, the Amazon includes traditional people who hold ancestral knowledge about healing and sustainability. The connection established with nature in this environment can provide a deep understanding of our interdependence and foster environmental awareness. The development of community and faith-based tourism has played a fundamental role in this context, allowing individuals from different parts of the world to experience this special connection and become involved in protecting the planet for future generations.
State of Acre
The State of Acre has 164,173,431 km², corresponding to 4% of the Brazilian Amazon and 1.79% of the national territory, with 85.3% of original forest cover and a population of around 830,026 inhabitants. The majority (73%) live in urban areas, concentrated in Rio Branco (44%) and Cruzeiro do Sul (11%). In the rural area, there are 16% extractivists, 10% riverside dwellers, 20% rural landowners and 48% settlers. The state is home to 16 indigenous peoples in 35 indigenous lands, totaling 23 thousand people. Indigenous lands and conservation units form a mosaic of 7.7 million hectares. The distribution of hectares by category is: Indigenous Lands (14.6%); Extractive Reserve, Public Forests and Environmental Protection Areas (22.7%); Sustainable Development Project (0.1%) and Full Protection Conservation Units (9.5%).
Acre's strategic location makes it an important point in the extreme southwest of the Brazilian Amazon, bordering Peru and Bolivia. The construction of the Transoceanic Railway, expected to be 4,900 km long, will connect Rio de Janeiro to Peru (passing through Acre), significantly reducing (around 10 days) the transport time to the Pacific
JURUÁ VALLEY
The Juruá Valley region stands out for its immense biological and cultural diversity. In this part of Brazil, we find several protected areas, such as Indigenous Lands and Conservation Units, which aim to preserve the environment and guarantee the rights of local people to the land and their culture. Cultural diversity is evident in traditional and indigenous populations, such as the Ashaninka, Kaxinawá and other groups. The demarcation of these areas is the result of historical struggles led by indigenous people and rubber tappers, resulting in the "Forest Peoples Alliance". Acre is divided into two mesoregions, with the Juruá Valley covering 52% of Acre's territory and 80.6% of the state's indigenous lands.
Cruzeiro do Sul
The city of Cruzeiro do Sul, located in the northwest of Acre, borders the municipalities of Porto Walter, Rodrigues Alves, Tarauacá, Mâncio Lima, Guajará (AM), Ipixuna (AM) and the international border with Peru. Belonging to the Juruá region, it stands out for its biodiversity and geological formations. With a population of 94,345 inhabitants, it is the second largest municipality in Acre. The sociocultural background includes indigenous people and migrants from various regions of Brazil, as well as descendants of Syrians, Lebanese and Peruvians. Its economy is based on extractive activities, agribusiness and the production of cassava flour, recognized with a Geographical Indication seal. Furthermore, it is an important tourist hub due to its natural beauty and cultural heritage that is still little explored.
PDS Crôa
The Crôa Sustainable Development Project (PDS Crôa), established by Ordinance No. 34 of November 1, 2012 (SIPRA Code: AC162000), covers an area of approximately 11,753 hectares in the municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, with around 80% of its forest cover preserved.
Located along the banks of the Crôa River and accessible via the BR-364 highway, the territory was designed to integrate environmental conservation, sustainable land use, community strengthening, and low-impact productive activities, in accordance with the socioenvironmental vocation of the Amazonian region.
The PDS is jointly managed by the National Institute for Colonization and Agrarian Reform (INCRA), state environmental agencies, and the local community association.
Currently, approximately 77 riverside families live in the territory, engaging in activities related to agroextractivism, family farming, community-based tourism, handicrafts, regional cuisine, lodging, ecological trails, and the preservation of traditional forest knowledge.
The region is distinguished by its rich Amazonian biodiversity, the dark waters characteristic of the Crôa River, and the presence of emblematic forest species such as the Samaúma tree, considered one of the most iconic natural symbols of the Amazon.
The PDS Crôa has established itself as a regional reference in sustainable community development, environmental conservation, and cultural valorization of traditional Amazonian peoples.
NOVA ERA COMMUNITY
São Sebastião Farm
The Nova Era Community, located at Sítio São Sebastião on the Crôa River, in the municipality of Cruzeiro do Sul, Acre, was founded on January 27, 2001 by Davi Nunes de Paula, on an area of approximately 80 hectares, with around 95% of its native forest preserved.
The territory is home to the Circle of Regeneration and Faith — Temple Flor da Jurema (CRF Flor da Jurema), as well as initiatives aimed at honoring traditional Amazonian knowledge, cultivating medicinal plants, strengthening community bonds, and promoting the connection between human beings, nature, and spirituality.
The community develops activities grounded in environmental conservation, respect for ancestral knowledge, and the building of sustainable ways of life in the Amazon. Over the years, it has established itself as a space for welcoming, cultural exchange, and immersive experiences centered on spirituality, traditional forest medicine, and socioenvironmental awareness.
Recognized for its community organization and mindful use of traditional Amazonian medicinal plants, Nova Era receives national and international visitors seeking cultural, environmental, and spiritual experiences connected to the Amazonian territory.
Since its founding, the community has also been developing initiatives focused on community-based and environmentally responsible tourism, contributing to the cultural valorization of the Crôa River and to the conservation of the Amazon rainforest.