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Welcome to the Reconecta Project!
This is a Wildlife Conservation Project in the heart of the Amazon rainforest!

The Amazon Biome is undergoing a rapid expansion of roads, and we must create intelligent, feasible, and scalable solutions to reduce the impacts of these developments on wildlife.

The arboreal fauna is especially affected by those roads for two main reasons:

When animals come down from trees and try to cross the roads, they become susceptible to being hit by vehicles,

Strictly arboreal species avoid coming down from trees, do not cross the roads, and suffer from the barrier effect (population isolation).

We want to RECONNECT the Amazon Forest by creating a solution to this problem! Thus, we are conducting unprecedented monitoring of wildlife killed on the roads and, until today, we have already implemented 30 canopy bridges on BR-174 Highway with the help of the Smithsonian Institution, the Waimiri-Atroari Indigenous People, UFAM, DNIT, and many other special partners and supporters from Brazil and all around the world!

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With these bridges, we will understand which arboreal species are being benefited, which ones prefer specific bridge designs due to their locomotive types and whether the bridges can restore the forest connectivity lost by highway constructions while reducing roadkill mortality.

The Reconecta is a strong science-based conservation initiative with canopy bridges in Brazil! We are proud to do this using cutting-edge technologies and methodologies combined with traditional indigenous knowledge!

Our mission is to create a new concept of sustainability for road infrastructure, promote science and research in Brazil, and support the indigenous peoples of the Amazon!

Let´s make it happen!
Fernanda Abra

Benefited fauna
Arboreal Mammals

The Amazon, the largest tropical forest on the planet, is home to at least 109 primate species (every year, the number increases with new discoveries), which represents 16% of global diversity. It is disturbing to know that approximately 40% of primate species in Brazil are facing extinction, with primary threats including the impacts of linear infrastructures such as roads.

For the Reconecta Project, we designed the Artificial Canopy Bridges to favor the movement of arboreal animals over the highway, aiming to Reconnect the Amazon Forest at the canopy level to increase structural and functional connectivity and reduce deaths from road mortality.
Many arboreal mammal species are already benefited from the Reconecta Project in our study area, and our main objective is for the Project to grow and be scaled to other areas of the Amazon and other forested biomes in Brazil.
Get to know some arboreal species in our study area!

See the benefited species

Discover how Project Reconnect is turning environmental conservation into reality!

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Wildlife Roadkill Monitoring

The roadkill monitoring carried out by the Reconecta Project is one of the first initiatives to record in a systematic way the wildlife road mortality in the Amazon biome...

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Collection of Biological Samples

Since the Amazon is an immense biome and, in general, little studied, Reconecta, in addition to being an applied conservation project, can also be an exploration project, including the discovery...

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Installation of Artificial Canopy Bridges

We built and installed 30 canopy bridges at 15 locations along BR-174 within the Waimiri-Atroari Indigenous Territory. In each location, there are two different models of bridges so that we...

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Artificial Canopy Bridges Monitoring

For each set of bridges, we have two canopy cameras: one recording video of the animals crossing the bridges, and another facing the forest to record the number of animals approaching...

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Natural Canopy Bridges Monitoring

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Engagement with the Indigenous community

The proposal of the Reconecta Project is to unite traditional indigenous knowledge with cutting-edge science to protect arboreal species in the Amazon through canopy bridges....

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Communication with stakeholders

The Brazilian Federal Transportation Agency – DNIT that manages the highway in our study area is a partner in the Project since 2021. The results that we will obtain with Artificial Canopy bridges and other studies carried our from this Project will encourage...

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Future studies

We expect to understand the composition of the mammal community and its threat level in a portion of the Amazon Forest that is not yet fully comprehended, contributing to biodiversity...

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Our team

Dr. Fernanda Abra

Coordinator of Reconecta Project
Principal Investigator

  • Posdoc fellow at Center for Conservation and Sustainability, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Dr. Tremaine Gregory

International Coordinator
Primatologist and canopy bridge specialist

  • Senior Sustainable Infrastructure Scientist, Forests at World Wildlife Fund

Dr. Alfonso Alonso

International Coordinator 
Wildlife monitoring specialist

  • Center for Conservation and Sustainability, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Dr. Marcelo Gordo

National Coordinator
Primatologist/Herpetologist and canopy bridge specialist

  • Professor at Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM)

Dr. Marcel Huijser

Collaborator researcher
Road Ecologist and specialist on mitigations measures aiming at reducing impacts on biodiversity

  • Researcher and Professor at Montana State University/Western Transportation Institute

Dr. Jessica Deichmann

Collaborator researcher 
Specialist on solutions for biodiversity conservation and data analysis for Audiomoths

  • Researcher at Liz Claiborne & Art Ortenberg Foundation

Dr. Pedro Galeti

Collaborator researcher

  • Proessor at Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR) | Director-President of the BioCGen Research Institute

Dr. Bruno Saranholi

Collaborator researcher

  • Pos doctoral researcher at Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR)

Dr. Herbert Soares

Collaborator researcher
Testing for different diseases in roadkilled mammals

  • Professor and Researcher at University of São Paulo/University of Santo Amaro

Dr. Pedrio Navas Suares

Collaborator researcher 

  • Researcher at Instituto Institute of Infectious Diseases Emílio Ribas/ University of São Paulo

M.Sc. Juliana Martins

Associeted researcher
Assessment of the impact of the BR-174 nighttime traffic restriction on the mammal assemblage 

  • PhD candidate at Imperial College London

Dr. Alexandre Almeida

Collaborator researcher 

  • Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM)

Adriano Gambarini

Photographic and cinematographic documentation of the Project

  • Director of Gamba´s Production and Images and Jupara´s Artistic Productions

M.Sc. Aline Medeiros

Co-coordination of field activities (2021-2022)

  • Construction supervisor - Program Waimiri Atroari

M.Sc. Edson Costa

Field assistant and professional climber

  • Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM)

Luiz Antonio Gambá

Professional climber

  • ViaFAUNA company

M.Sc. Phamela Barbosa

Co-coordination of field activities (2021-Current)

  • Juruá Institute Institute of Ciências Periféricas

M. Sc. Gabriela Farias

Field Assistant

  • National Institute for Amazonian Research

Camila Buitrago

Intern

  • California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Eng. Márcio Arruda

Civil engineer

  • Tectom Company

Fernando Garcia

Professional climber
Canopy bridge building and installation

  • Self-employed

Mack de Araújo Oliveira

Professional climber
Canopy bridge building and installation

  • Self-employed

You can support our work!

We want to grow and expand our project to other Amazon Highways. By donating to Projeto Reconecta you support science, wildlife and help us establish a more sustainable transport network in the Amazon!

Projeto Reconecta – All rights reserved

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Design By:

Jefte Arruda
Web/Graphic Designer

Common English name

Scientific name

IUCN status

Population trend

Guiana spider monkey

Ateles paniscus

Vulnerable

Declining

Golden-handed tamarin

Saguinus midas

Least concern

Stable

White-faced saki monkey

Pithecia pithecia

Least concern

Declining

Northern night monkey

Aotus trivirgatus

Least concern

Declining

Black-capped capuchin

Sapajus apella

Least concern

Declining

Guinan weeper capuchin

Cebus olivaceus

Least concern

Stable

Humboldt’s white-fronted capuchin

Cebus albifrons

Least concern

Declining

Guiana squirrel monkey

Saimiri sciureus

Least concern

Declining

Bearded saki monkey

Chiropotes chiropotes

Least concern

Stable

Guiana red howler monkey

Alouatta macconnelli

Least concern

Stable

Eastern lowland olingo

Bassaricyon alleni

Least concern

Declining

Kinkajou

Potos flavus

Least concern

Declining

Porcupine

Coendou melanurus

Least concern

Unknown

Brazilian porcupine

Coendou prehensilis

Least concern

Stable

Brown-throated sloth

Bradypus variegatus

Least concern

Unknown

Pale throated three-toed sloth

Bradypus tridactylus

Least concern

Unknown

Southern two-toed sloth

Choloepus didactylus

Least concern

Unknown

Silky anteater

Cyclopes didactylus

Least concern

Unknown



Fernanda Abra

Coordinator of Reconecta Project
Principal Investigator

  • Posdoc fellow at Center for Conservation and Sustainability, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

Fernanda is a Brazilian wildlife biologist, with a PhD in applied ecology, and currently a Postdoc Fellow at the Smithsonian Institution. She has been a conservationist road ecologist since 2009, conducting original research on this major threat to wildlife welfare and as well as the effectiveness of mitigation measures. She works with a wide range of stakeholders, including decision-makers at the state and national levels, to implement practical solutions to reduce road mortality and restore habitat connectivity for both threatened and common species. Her research not only seeks to understand this threat, but also to design, test, and scale-up best practices to mitigate it.

“I aim to support Brazil by fostering the development of a sustainable road-network for arboreal mammals in the Amazon. Through working with indigenous and local communities, I intend to create, implement, and evaluate cost-effective strategies to reduce road mortality, and improve connectivity in natural habitats to mitigate biodiversity loss.”

Dr. Tremaine Gregory

International Coordinator
Primatologist and canopy bridge specialist

  • Senior Sustainable Infrastructure Scientist, Forests at World Wildlife Fund

Tremaine Gregory is a Senior Sustainable Infrastructure Scientist at the World Wildlife Fund. Previously, Tremie worked in sustainable infrastructure development at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute for 12 years, developing best practices for transportation and energy infrastructure impact mitigation in sensitive habitats such as the Amazon and Atlantic Forest. She has studied many Neotropical taxa and is an arboreal mammal specialist, having pioneered camera trapping methods in the high canopy and having developed several canopy bridge studies. She holds an MA and PhD in Biological Anthropology from Kent State University.

“Infrastructure development is one of the top threats to biodiversity and ecosystems globally. It is essential to design, test, and implement mitigation solutions for wildlife to allow linear infrastructure to become more permeable and safe for wildlife to facilitate continued ecosystem function.”

Dr. Jessica Deichmann

Collaborator researcher 
Specialist on solutions for biodiversity conservation and data analysis for Audiomoths

  • Researcher at Liz Claiborne & Art Ortenberg Foundation
Jessie is an ecologist and conservation biologist partnering with the private and public sectors and other key stakeholders to address questions of species and ecosystem resilience in the face of anthropogenic change.

Dr. Pedro Galeti

Collaborator researcher

  • Proessor at Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR) | Director-President of the BioCGen Research Institute

Professor Pedro holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Sciences, a PhD in Ecology and Natural Resources. He is interested in Evolutionary and Conservation Genetics, Molecular Ecology, and Biological Conservation, with experience in cytogenetics, population genetics, molecular taxonomy, phylogeography, molecular phylogeny, genomics and environmental DNA, developing projects in various animal groups, with emphasis on fish, birds and mammals.

“Our partnership with the Reconecta project is a rich opportunity to contribute to the precise taxonomic identification (molecular analysis) of a wide variety of groups among Amazonian mammals and to contribute to the enrichment of reference sequence banks for the studied groups, considering the representation of these animals from the Amazon is still incipient in public databases of DNA sequences. In addition, it allows us to be responsible for guarding a huge set of tissue samples from these animals, deposited in the Collection of Biological Samples of the Laboratory of Molecular Biodiversity and Conservation, Department of Genetics and Evolution/UFSCar, which aims to facilitate genetic and ecological studies in the sampled groups.”

Dr. Bruno Saranholi

Collaborator researcher

  • Pos doctoral researcher at Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR)

Bruno has a degree in Biological Sciences and a postgraduate degree in Evolutionary Genetics and Molecular Biology. For the past 12 years he has been working on population genetics and molecular ecology with several mammalian species. He has a special interest in investigating genetic and ecological aspects of species that help in conservation measures.

“The opportunity to be able to use molecular biology techniques and genetic analyzes in the biological samples of the Reconecta project represents a unique opportunity to investigate and better understand the Amazonian biodiversity. Furthermore, by investigating genetic and ecological aspects for different taxonomic groups, we hope to generate information that will help propose mitigation measures.”

Dr. Herbert Soares

Collaborator researcher
Testing for different diseases in roadkilled mammals

  • Professor and Researcher at University of São Paulo/University of Santo Amaro

Doctor Herbert Soares is a Veterinarian, Doctor and post-doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science at the University of São Paulo. He is currently Professor of undergraduate Veterinary Medicine and postgraduate studies in Single Health at Universidade Santo Amaro (UNISA). His line of research is: Parasitic Diseases of Domestic and Wild Animals, with a focus on Zoonoses.

“My participation in the Reconecta Project aims to increase knowledge about the diversity of infectious agents that can affect wildlife, especially those that can influence the conservation of species and have zoonotic potential.”

Dr. Pedrio Navas Suares

Collaborator researcher 

  • Researcher at Instituto Institute of Infectious Diseases Emílio Ribas/ University of São Paulo

Pedro is a Veterinarian from Universidad de La Salle (Colombia), Master and Doctor from the experimental and comparative pathology program at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics at the University of São Paulo. He has an interest and experience in animal pathology, infectious diseases and understanding the balance between pathogens and hosts in nature.

“I hope that the identification of the infectious diseases of roadkilled animals collected in the Reconecta Project can help to understand the presence of these pathogens in the Amazon, a biome that is still little known in this area of science.”

M.Sc. Juliana Martins

Associeted researcher
Assessment of the impact of the BR-174 nighttime traffic restriction on the mammal assemblage 

  • PhD candidate at Imperial College London

“We only love what we know, and we only protect what we love.”

This phrase has always guided me through my academic and professional career. I am a biologist with a master’s in Conservation Project Management. Working at the intersection of social and natural sciences has always interested me. Since September 2022, I have been working at the Reconecta Conservation Project and, currently, I am a PhD candidate at Imperial College. My research aims to assess the impact of the BR-174 nighttime traffic restriction on biodiversity conservation and community safety. My main purpose is to make a bridge between the information from the scientific world, traditional knowledge, and public policies, significantly augmenting the number of people and natural habitats benefited by those programs.

“I hope my work helps to get more people into knowing, and hence, loving nature as I do. In that way, we can build a stronger and wider network that aims to preserve it”

Adriano Gambarini

Photographic and cinematographic documentation of the Project

  • Director of Gamba´s Production and Images and Jupara´s Artistic Productions

Adriano Gambarini has been a professional photographer since 1991, documentarist and editor. Photographic author of 19 books, he graduated in Geology from USP. He documented a hundred expeditions and scientific research in remote areas throughout Brazil and other countries. He has also participated in indigenous projects with dozens of ethnic groups throughout the Amazon since 1996, for the production of documentaries.

“The Reconecta Project is a dialogue between science, conservation actions and anthropology. Understanding that the Amazon depends on this multidisciplinary vision is fundamental for its preservation, uniting the knowledge of the people of the forest with scientific technique. I feel honored to have documented all this because I believe knowledge only becomes wisdom if it is shared”.

M.Sc. Aline Medeiros

Co-coordination of field activities (2021-2022)

  • Construction supervisor - Program Waimiri Atroari

Aline is a biologist who graduated from the Federal University of Amazonas and did part of her studies at the University of Ohio-USA. She has a master’s degree in Ecology from the National Institute of Research in the Amazon, in which she studied road mortality in the highway BR-174. She served as field coordinator in the Reconecta Project between 2021 and 2022 and, more recently, began to act as a work supervisor in the Kinja Environmental Management Program in the Waimiri-Atroari- Indigenous Land.

“The Reconecta Project allowed me to work on something I had wanted for a long time, implementing and monitoring mitigation measures for wildlife within the Waimiri-Atroari territory. The artificial canopy bridges installed by Reconecta are important for wildlife movement. Many years ago, arboreal species had their habitat divided by the BR-174. In addition, the Project, in general, contributes in a special way to the hard work that the Waimiri Atroari have to take care of their territory and local biodiversity. Conservation can only be achieved through partnerships, and Reconecta Project is a great example of this.”

Luiz Antonio Gambá

Professional climber

  • ViaFAUNA company

Luiz Antônio Gambá organizes expeditions in remote areas and adventure sports events, in addition to supporting scientific research projects throughout Brazil. At the Reconecta Project, he was responsible for team safety and equipment logistics, always on the move and attentive to the difficulties of the Amazon biome.

“Being on the Reconecta Project’s team was an enormous privilege and, above all, an intense learning process. Collaborating with the advancement of science and environmental conservation has been a very rewarding experience with each canopy bridge built. Experiencing the joy of the Waimiri-Atroari Indigenous People in reconnecting the forest and reducing the number of road mortality has been the greatest reward!”

M.Sc. Phamela Barbosa

Co-coordination of field activities (2021-Current)

  • Juruá Institute Institute of Ciências Periféricas

Amazonian and born in Manaus, she is a biologist, master in zoology, educator, and socio-environmental activist. She has experience in the areas of zoology, conservation, environmental education, and public science communication. Her work is focused on critical and anti-colonial environmental education.

“The name of the project says it all. It is very satisfying to see how traditional sciences can add to other forms of science and together cooperate towards a common goal, this is how I see the activities of the Reconecta Project”.

M. Sc. Gabriela Farias

Field Assistant

  • National Institute for Amazonian Research

Gabriela is an ecologist from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte and has a master’s degree in Ecology from the National Institute for Research in the Amazon. She has a background in ecology, biogeography and evolution, with an emphasis on herpetology.

“The monitoring of wildlife roadkill is crucial for understanding and mitigating the impacts of human activities on biodiversity. Gaining insight into the patterns and trends of these accidents offers invaluable information regarding the impacted species, critical areas, and necessary conservation measures. Through my involvement in the Reconecta Project, my work contributes to the ongoing endeavor to safeguard wildlife and promote the establishment of a sustainable infrastructure.”

Camila Buitrago

Intern

  • California Institute of Technology (Caltech)

Camila is a recent Caltech graduate with research interests in ecosystem restoration, indigenous rights, tropical forest ecology, and sustainable forest use. She has worked on various research projects related to the anthropogenic impacts on different environmental and cultural systems.

“I recently won Caltech ́s Studenski Award, which is sponsoring my current work with Postdoc Fernanda Abra on the Reconecta Project in the Brazilian Amazon. I was involved in roadkill monitoring, data collection, and organizational app building. I’ve learned invaluable lessons about forest connectivity, community-centered conservation, and indigenous ways of sustainability both through the scientific project and through the brilliant people she met in the Waimiri-Atroari community.”

Eng. Márcio Arruda

Civil engineer

  • Tectom Company

Márcio is a Civil Engineer who graduated from the Federal University of São Carlos. He specializes in the design and installation of ecotourism and adventure tourism equipment and the installation of structures in remote areas.

“It was an immense pleasure to use my professional experience to collaborate in the elaboration of this project. A project with purpose. A project that saves the lives of animals.”

Fernando Garcia

Professional climber
Canopy bridge building and installation

  • Self-employed

Fernando Garcia has extensive experience working with scientific expeditions in the Amazon, especially as a professional climber to collect biological materials at canopy level. He also acts as an environmental education monitor and tour guide throughout Brazil.

“I am happy to be able to support the Reconecta Project, as it is a project that aims to protect the animals of our Amazon. I found it very special that these animals are also sacred to the Waimiri-Atroari community. This is a complete project!”