Young artisans in Brazil receive a masterclass in ‘turning and finishing’

The final in a series of five training courses will conclude this month, delivered through a partnership between the Environment Secretariat of Acre (Sema), Brazil and BVRio. The practical course ‘Turning and Finishing’ was delivered to a group of young artisans belonging to the Association of Rubber Tappers of Porto Dias (ASPD), a project which became known for its wood products produced with the residues of forest management, including the famous ‘gamelas’ (wooden bowls).

Since March 2020, training has been delivered to between 6 and 12 participants per workshop, with some training taking place online due to the pandemic, focused on marketing and commercial management and building good business relationships.

The training is part of the BVRio Design & Sustainable Wood initiative, which aims to create a union between high-end design and social and environmental responsibility. The project supports the participation of Brazilian designers, of international acclaim, directly into the heart of the Amazon, to teach new techniques in the design and construction of furniture and utensils, within a new community workshop, which is under construction.

The Secretary of State for the Environment, Israel Milani, announced recently the maintenance of the local unpaved roads, which will support the ASPD project, and directly benefit BVRio’s Design & Sustainable Wood project.

“As part of Environment Month, the government, through Sema, signed a service order for maintenance of The São Pedro road, in the municipality of Acrelândia. The work is budgeted at R$ 2.6 million and will directly benefit two projects related to environmental management, one of them the ASPD. This work will also help with logistics and improve the quality of life of the population”, commented Israel.

The Manager of BVRio’s Design & Sustainable Wood initiative, Renato Castro Santos added, “In the forest, designers will be able to share their knowledge with the community, especially for the development of high value-added pieces, made from wood of legal and responsible origin.”

BVRio’s Design & Sustainable Wood initiative is supported by the Climate and Land Use Alliance and Good Energies Foundation.