IPCI (International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative)

04/22/2021

On this Earth Day, we are celebrating the natural wonders of our planet and the beautiful tree that gives life to stringed instrument music!

01/08/2021

Dear Friends of IPCI,

We hope this finds you and your loved ones well during this challenging period.

During the past year, IPCI has continued its work in Brazil, principally through the creation of a new partnership with the Center for Agroforestry Sciences (CAS) at the Federal University of Southern Bahia. This project complements IPCI’s pernambuco various reforestation initiatives by assessing the survival, growth rates, and wood properties of pernambuco plantings under different climate conditions and among pernambuco varieties. CAS is also investigating the effects of tree age and diameter on wood characteristics and quality.

Due to the pandemic, CAS is currently limiting the project’s geographic scope to Bahia. Conditions permitting, the project hopes to expand its sampling efforts into four additional states (Paraiba, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, and Rio de Janeiro). This research has the potential to advance pernambuco cultivation through the planting of varieties better adapted to specific climatic conditions or intended uses. It will also provide guidance for the use of pernambuco in forest restoration efforts and the regrowth of commercially useful timbers and products.

While any contribution you would like to make towards IPCI’s work is always welcome, in view of the challenges we have all faced during this past year, we are waiving IPCI’s annual membership fee. As always, we are extremely grateful for your continued support of IPCI and the conservation of pernambuco for future generations.

Very best wishes for a safe and fulfilling year ahead!

IPCI-USA

01/08/2021

A short video of Professor and Dean Daniel Piotto of the Federal University of Southern Bahia's Center for Agroforestry Sciences. Professor Piotto is leading an IPCI-sponsored project to analyze and compare the survival, growth rates, and wood properties of pernambuco plantings under different climate conditions and among pernambuco varieties. The knowledge gained will strengthen pernambuco cultivation efforts. Professor Piotto is seen here testing equipment and taking core samples from two different pau brasil varieties.

04/23/2020

Even when it might feel distant, the natural world surrounds and sustains us, offering solace and inspiration. Happy Earth Day!

12/21/2019

Dear Friend of IPCI,

It’s been a difficult year for the rainforest. Environmental politics in Brazil have taken a dramatic turn for the worse. The Mata Atlântica rainforest, the world’s only home to pernambuco, is at heightened risk, despite the fact that 90 percent of it has already disappeared. And global action to slow climate change is moving too slowly.

A good antidote to these challenges is positive action. IPCI is continuing to work with local Brazilian partners to protect the Atlantic Rainforest, conserve pernambuco, and help build climate resilience. Thanks to your support, we’re making progress.

We are very proud this year to release a short film describing IPCI’s work. Please have a look at it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD_QeF_X9OI We hope you will enjoy it!

Our Brazilian environmental partners, Instituto Floresta Viva in Bahia and Associação Plantas do Nordeste in Northeastern Brazil continue working with local cacao farmers to plant and monitor seedling growth. We have also recently received a proposal from Bahia’s leading forest research center, the Federal University of Southern Bahia’s School of Forestry. The 2.5 year project will compare the growth and wood properties of planted pernambuco under different climatic conditions and across varieties, and will study the effect of tree age and diameter on wood characteristics and quality.

Your support for IPCI helps to secure a future for stringed-instrument music. We hope you will consider making a donation today (www.ipci-usa.org/support.html).

Very many thanks and best wishes to you for the New Year ahead!

John Bennett

The International Pernambuco Conservation Initiative USA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and sustainable use of Caesalpinia echinata, Brazil's national tree, commonly known as pau brasil or pernambuco.

04/22/2019

Happy Earth Day! Thank you to our supporters for making it possible for IPCI to promote the conservation and sustainable use of Brazil's endangered national tree, pau brasil (pernambuco), which is crucial to the future of stringed instrument music. For those of you who would like to contribute to replanting pau brasil in Brazil's Atlantic Rainforest, please click here and accept our thanks in advance: http://ipci-usa.org/support.html

12/07/2018

Dear Amazon shoppers, please consider helping the future of stringed-instrument music and Brazil's Atlantic Rainforest, where pernambuco grows, by signing onto AmazonSmile (https://smile.amazon.com) and designating Ipci-USA, Inc. as your charitable organization of choice. IPCI will receive 0.5% of the purchase price anytime you purchase eligible items from Amazon. Every extra dollar can help IPCI obtain and grow pernambuco seedlings - a great investment for our future!

11/27/2018

On this Giving Tuesday, we hope you will please consider investing in the future of stringed instrument music and conservation of an endangered species by supporting IPCI's effort to regrow pernambuco trees in Brazil's Atlantic Rainforest. Today, Facebook will match your contribution. Thank you!

06/05/2018

Happy World Environment Day! IPCI is working to conserve and restore pernambuco populations in Brazil's Atlantic Rainforest. We are partnering with local environmental organizations and cacao farmers in Brazil to promote sustainable economies and ensure the future of stringed instrument music. Please consider supporting our work today!

05/02/2018

Dear IPCI supporters, Every little bit helps! For those of you who shop regularly on Amazon, please consider going to Amazon Smile, signing up to support IPCI-USA (the sign-up process is simple: just search for IPCI-USA, Inc), and making Amazon Smile your Amazon shopping page. After you're signed up .5% of all of your purchases of eligible items (ones that say "Eligible for AmazonSmile donation") will go to IPCI-USA and will help to support our efforts to conserve pernambuco in Brazil's Atlantic Rainforest. Thank you in advance!

When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to Ipci-USA Inc. Support us every time you shop.