BRAZIL RAIN FOREST PILOT PROGRAM SUCCESS STORY 5 REVITALIZING RESEARCH IN THE AMAZON: THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SUBPROGRAM1 The Innovation During a time of low funding and poor working conditions, the science and technology subprogram targeted improvement of science in the Amazon region by focusing research funding and building up scientific infrastructure. The Impact Scientific research in the region was revitalized through critical infrastructure improvements, technical capacity building and strategic planning at the two most important science centers in the Amazon, the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA) and the Emílio Goeldi Museum of Pará (MPEG), where working conditions had badly deteriorated in previous decades. Through its support for directed research, the Pilot Program's Science and Technology Subprogram has also helped expand scientific knowledge of the region's natural resources, assess the impact of human interventions, and open new opportunities for the sustainable management of Amazonian plants and animals. It is expected that these results will contribute to improved development and preservation strategies for the Amazon. Background Although tropical rain forests contain most of the earth's biodiversity, and perform a range of important environmental services, such as carbon sequestration to offset the effects of global climate change, they remain one of the least understood ecosystems on earth. This is especially relevant in the case of the Brazilian Amazon, the largest expanse of tropical rain forest left in the world. Brazil has a long tradition of supporting research in science and technology. Until recently, however, its investments for environmental research in the Amazon were only a small fraction of total national science and technology funding. Cutbacks in overall national funding for science and technology during the 1980s and early 1990s further limited resources for Amazon research institutions and environmental research. 1 This note is part of an occasional series produced by the Bank's Rain Forest Pilot Program highlighting success stories and best practice examples from projects funded by the Pilot Program to Conserve the Brazilian Rain Forest. The Pilot Program to Conserve the Brazilian Rain Forest aimed to remedy this situation with the Science and Technology Subprogram, which was designed to increase scientific knowledge about tropical forests and their sustainable management and use by focusing research support and helping to improve research centers in the region. Starting in 1995, the subprogram financed a grants program to support research projects evaluated and selected on a transparent, competitive basis according to set priorities. The subprogram also aimed to improve the scientific research and dissemination capacity of the region's two premier science centers - the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA) in Manaus, and the Emílio Goeldi Museum of Pará (MPEG) in Belém. The Initiative The Science and Technology Subprogram included two complementary projects: · The Emergency Assistance Project, aimed at renovating and updating deteriorated infrastructure and equipment in both regional science centers (INPA and MPEG); and · The Science Centers and Directed Research Project - Phase I, aimed at supporting competitively selected research projects through a grants program in the Amazon region; and providing further strategic and infrastructure assistance to the two regional science centers. The grants program under Phase I directed US$5.6 million to three thematic areas: ecosystem studies, sustainable management and technology development, and socioeconomic and cultural studies. Some examples of the projects funded include research on the dynamics of forest fragments in the state of Amazonas (carried out by INPA); agroforestry systems in the state of Roraima (carried out by the Brazilian Enterprise for Agricultural Research, EMBRAPA); and sustainable forest resource use in the state of Pará (carried out by the Institute for Man and Environment in the Amazon, IMAZON). Institutional strengthening of the two research centers under the Emergency Assistance and Phase I projects financed the construction and renovation of buildings; improvement of electrical, telecommunications, computer, water, and sanitation systems; upgrading of scientific equipment; strengthening of institutional management and administration; institutional strategic planning; scientific exchange and specialized training; and improved dissemination of research results. Results · Directed research. A total of 23 directed research projects were funded throughout the Amazon under the Phase I project.2 Twenty-six regional institutions, 17 national agencies based in other regions, and nine international institutions participated in the inter-institutional and interdisciplinary research teams. They collaborated with an additional 51 national and 26 international institutions. A second phase Directed Research Project is currently being prepared to continue funding innovative, interdisciplinary applied research in the Amazon. · Infrastructure and equipment. The subprogram also provided support for improving hydraulic, electric, sanitary and fire-control systems; upgrading library facilities; establishing modern computer networks; and expanding and renovating laboratories and offices. Overall, the infrastructure improvements financed by the subprogram finally provided adequate working conditions for the scientists, and helped energize the staff at both institutions. · Scientific collections. The improvements made during the projects were essential to preserving the globally significant scientific and specimen collections at INPA and MPEG. Both centers used available funding to expand their existing collections, improve storage facilities, enhance museum exhibits, and modernize and computerize the overall cataloguing and management of their collections. · Dissemination of research results. Dissemination activities at both institutions also thrived under the Phase I project. In addition to publishing back issues of scientific bulletins, which were years behind due to funding shortfalls, both centers developed a variety of targeted dissemination activities, such as publishing books and pamphlets, producing videos and other media material, and organizing a number of events aimed at the general public as well as scientists, students and children. · Improved management of Science Centers: The subprogram contributed to defining the centers' strategic objectives; restructuring and prioritizing their research programs, and introducing competitive fund allocation systems to support research projects within each institution. These improvements have resulted in more rational management and increased efficiency in the execution of research projects. · Human resources: Staff training was revitalized at both institutions during project implementation. The number of PhDs increased by 34% at INPA and by 54% at MPEG, while most of the remaining research staff were registered in graduate courses by project completion. The participation of researchers from both institutions in national and international scientific congresses increased significantly, and the post-graduate programs for non-staff researchers at both Centers were also considerably expanded. 2 Another 30 directed research subprojects were funded separately by the European Commission under a second call for proposals in 1998. · Inter-institutional cooperation. Both INPA and MPEG increased their cooperation with national and international institutions. As a result, a number of important research, training and dissemination activities were carried out with technical and financial support from national and international research institutions, universities, government entities, private companies and NGOs, such as the Smithsonian Institution, the Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institution and Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Lessons Learned · Overall, the experience with strategic planning at the two regional science centers shows that it is necessary to carry out participatory analyses of specific institutional roles, research priorities, timing/costs, potential benefits and potential clients in order to more rationally allocate resources. · The long-term sustainability of research operations in Brazil depends on a combination of adequate public funding and fund-raising/development planning which in turn requires a certain degree of institutional autonomy and administrative flexibility to be successful. · The impact of directed research on regional conservation and development issues will likely depend on more precise targeting of research problems within a general framework of research priorities for the region as a whole, the identification of beneficiaries and end users of the research results, the definition of the appropriate scope of research, and improved identification of local and regional research needs. For more information on the Pilot Program to Conserve the Brazilian Rain Forest or to receive copies of the previously published Success Stories, please visit our website at www.worldbank.org/rfpp, or contact our staff in Brasília, (55-61) 329-1015, and Washington, D.C., (202) 458-8012. Success Story No. 1: New Environmental Control System Helps Reduce Deforestation by One-Third in Mato Grosso Success Story No. 2: Innovative Project Contributes to Regularizing 20% of Amazon as Indigenous Lands Success Story No. 3: Fostering "Sustainable" Cosmetics from the Amazon ­ A Private Sector Partnership to Conserve the Rain Forest Success Story No. 4: Lessons from the Rain Forest: Ten Years of Civil Society Participation in the Pilot Program Directed Research Subprojects Evaluation of wild cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) germplasm Data base of aromatic plants and fruits: oils and scents Information base for the sustainable use of forest resources in Para State Biophysical changes associated with agricultural activities in Western Amazonia Ecological studies: native forest management, and rehabilitation of degraded pastures and cropping areas in Acre State The Ticuna universe: territory, health and environment Entomology of malaria in Amazonian settlements Characterization of ecosystems in oil palm plantations Biology dynamics of forest fragmentation Environmental impacts of agroforestry activities on Amazonian ecosystems, and sustainable options Phlebotominae, Triatiminae and Trypanosomatinae: diagnostic and monitoring of biological diversity and interactions with Amazonian populations Conservation and management of Trichechus inunguis (cow fish) in captivity Development of agricultural technologies adapted to Amazonian conditions Development and evaluation of agroforestry systems for the Amazon Population dynamics and generation of endemic diseases Development of agroforestry systems in Roraima State Edapho-climatic zoning for fast-growing forest species in the Amazon Conservation and use of Amazon phytogenetic resources Influence of tide pulsing on the ecologic dynamics of floodable areas in the Amazon Rehabilitation of degraded pastures through agroforestry in Western Amazon Advanced geoprocessing technologies for supporting sustainable development in the Amazon Sequestration of carbon emissions from land use and soil cover changes Energy, water vapor and CO2 balance in Central Amazon forest areas