Guapi Assu Bird Lodge is situated in the heart of the Atlantic Forest, or Mata Atlântica, in south-east Brazil. Part of the REGUA project, Guapi Assu Bird Lodge was opened in 2004 to provide high quality accommodation for visitors to the reserve. The lodge is non-profit making, with all income generated going towards our conservation work.
Guapi Assu Bird Lodge provides good accommodation for anyone interested in birdwatching, conservation or those who simply wish to experience the rainforest and it's wildlife. The lodge is small, with a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
The lodge is beautifully situated on a small hill at the edge of the restored wetlands, overlooking the forested Serra dos Órgãos mountains, and is set against a fantastic backdrop of forested mountains. Guests have access to low and high altitude forest and the reserve wetlands and they run excursions to a variety of other habitats for species not found at REGUA.
The Atlantic Forest is one of the most threatened biomes on earth with only 7% of the forest remaining. Classified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area and Endemic Bird Area, the Atlantic Forest supports about 680 of Brazil's 1,700 or so bird species and contains some of the highest endemism of any biome on earth, with 199 bird species found nowhere else.
To date over 435 bird species have been recorded at REGUA including 63 Brazilian endemics and 111 Atlantic Forest endemics.
REGUA (Reserva Ecológica de Guapiaçu) protects one of the last stands of tropical rainforest left in the severely depleted Atlantic Rainforest.
REGUA's objective is to protect the remaining forest and biodiversity from deforestation, hunting and over-extraction of natural resources. To be effective there needs to be an understanding of what species are present and their status, and so REGUA is developing a comprehensive monitoring programme. REGUA also aims to improve biodiversity by restoring lost and damaged habitats and reintroducing lost species where practical. Their Environmental Education Programme is critical to the long-term success of the project and they work very closely with local communities, especially children, to convince them of the importance of this work.
