HOW TO VISIT
This document contains information that will help orient you during your stay so please read the following pages. If you have any questions after reading this, contact the reserve administrator for additional information (contacts on final page).
Scheduling a visit
- Visits to the reserve must be scheduled a minimum of one week in advance. As the plantation security guards must be informed of all visits, unscheduled visitors may not be permitted to enter the reserve. Also, we cannot guarantee that food and lodging will be available for unscheduled visitors.
- If you need to cancel or re-schedule a visit, inform the administrator as soon as possible.
- Each person staying at the CEB must be registered with the administrator so that we have the necessary information in case of an emergency, so do not bring people unless approved beforehand.
Reaching the reserve
The reserve is easily accessible along highway BA-001 between Ituberá and Igrapiúna. Only enter through the Portaria 2 entrance approximately 1 km north of Igrapiúna. Do not try to enter the Michelin office and factory area (Portaria 1). Use the reserve maps to guide yourself once passed the Portaria 2 gate.
Working hours
The reserve administrator and CEB staff work from 7 am-12 pm and from 1-4 pm Monday through Friday, so any activity requiring their services should be scheduled according to this program.
Lodging
The CEB building is equipped to receive individual scientists or groups of up to 23 visitors. The building has dormitories, a dining room, kitchen, bathrooms, inter-net access, and space for preparing fields samples. Michelin provides 2 meals/day, bed sheets, and a towel for visitors staying at the CEB. Inform the reserve administrator of the number of people in your group and how many meals you will need. Please respect the following rules of conduct while staying in the CEB.
- Take off muddy shoes before entering the building
- Keep the kitchen clean (store food in the appropriate places, wash your dishes)
- Silence time is between 10 pm and 7 am, but the volume of music and the television should be kept at a minimum at all times
- Anything broken or damaged should be reported to the administrator
- Do not smoke in the building
- Do not leave the doors open when the air conditioner is turned on and turn off the air conditioner when you leave the room
- If there is no one in the CEB with whom to leave the key, leave it at Portaria 2 (guard gate 2)
- Close all windows and always lock the doors when leaving the building after 4 pm.
- Do not leave valuables lying about, especially outside of the building. Michelin will not be responsible for lost or damaged equipment.
Trail network
The 40 km trail network is designed to enable scientists to sample each of the habitats found in the reserve. Trails are standardized 1 m width, marked with flagging at 100 m intervals. In the abandoned rubber groves and along the wetland edges, the roads serve as the trails. The trails are marked on the reserve maps.
Field help
We can provide temporary field help for researchers during their first visit to the reserve. The purpose of this help is for our staff to show the scientists how to reach their research sites. We sometimes concede help to graduate students to establish their research plots when this work is particularly arduous and they lack other field help. Ask the reserve administrator in advance if you need field help.
Driving in the reserve
- Drivers must follow national driving regulations and those established by Michelin. Obey the 40 km/hour speed limit and do not be deceived by the apparent absence of traffic as large trucks, cars, motorcycles, bicyclists, pedestrians, and wildlife use the roads. Approach the many blind curves cautiously as the roads are narrow and there is no room to maneuver if needed to avoid accidents. Violation of the driving regulations may result in our canceling permission to work in the reserve.
- Due to the shape of the reserve and the distance between the forests and the administrative buildings, most scientists use vehicles to circulate in the reserve.
Reserve Regulations
- All Brazilian laws apply within the reserve.
- The manipulation, collection and transportation of most organisms require permits from SISBIO. Scientists can only collect and transport organisms with valid SISBIO permits and with approval by the reserve administration. Researchers should inform the reserve administrator each time they plan on leaving the reserve with biological material and should be prepared to submit their samples to inspection.
- Only research approved by Michelin may be conducted in the reserve. If you decide to change your research plan, submit a new proposal to the reserve director for approval.
- No trail cutting or any other alteration of the vegetation is allowed without the explicit permission of the reserve director.
- All flags and tags must be marked so that the scientist/project to which they pertain is clearly identifiable and all must be removed when the project is terminated.
- Do not leave litter in the reserve.
- Do not drink any water from the forest streams without treating it.
- Firearms are prohibited in the reserve.
Fees
We charge no lodging or research fees
Contacts
Dr. Kevin M. Flesher – Reserve Director
Tel: 55 73 98133 5359
Email: kevinmflesher@yahoo.com.br
André Souza dos Santos - Reserve Administrator
Tel: 55 73 98102 7942
Email: andre.santos@br.michelin.com
Reserva Ecológica Michelin
Rodovia Ituberá/Camamu, Km 05
Igrapiúna - BA
CEP: 45443-000