1st edition - June / 2015
URCA can repatriation of fossil removed by the traffic of the Sedimentary Basin of Araripe
The Regional University of Cariri (URCA) has obtained court approval for repatriation of about 3000 fossils, which were held by the Federal Police, Juazeiro seat, and the University of São Paulo (USP), with passed parts for Justice Federal last year. The material was smuggled and taken from the Araripe Sedimentary Basin by an international gang, arrested in 2013 in Minas Gerais. Yesterday, the first shipment of the material was rescued at the headquarters of the Federal Police, in Juazeiro. The other part is still in São Paulo.
The material is different fossil specimens, which will be studied by the team of Paleontology URCA Laboratory. Part of parts, just over 60 fossils, was delivered on Tuesday, 05, Professor Álamo Feitosa, laboratory coordinator, and trustee of the material before the Court, and the Vice-Chancellor of the URCA Professor Patricio Melo. Alamo was in PF headquarters accompanied by students working in the lab.
The other part of the fossil is in the Department of Geography at USP and must be delivered to the Regional University of Cariri (URCA) to then after screening and studies in the laboratory, pass the Museum of Paleontology URCA in Santana do Cariri, and currently houses more than nine thousand fossil specimens from diverse backgrounds.
Professor Alamo celebrating victory, it is the largest refund fossils ever recorded in the area of the Araripe Sedimentary Basin. The Vice-Rector Patricio Melo highlights the importance of this material can return to the place of their origin, to be used in research and studies conducted in the Region.
The material would to build a museum, according to Alamo, and many pieces are very rare, like 'imperator Tupandactylus' a pterosaur presented last year by teachers of USP. "It's one of the most complete ever found in the region," he said. The URCA made the request of the material after the arrest of the gang and sought to sensitize the courts, including highlighting the Sedimentary Basin of Araripe has one of the most important fossil-bearing reserves of the Cretaceous period of the planet, in addition to having one of Paleontology Laboratory, where are It is developed important studies in the area, with records of unpublished findings, and the Museum of Paleontology in Santana do Cariri. Fossils have origins in Crato and Romualdo formations.
The pieces would be taken smuggled to the United States, to compose the collection of a private museum.
Text and photo: Elizângela Santos (Press advisory of Cariri Regional University)
The oldest Brazilian bird
Earlier this month, the journal Nature reported the discovery of Euenantiornithes fossil-bird. The fossil was found in the Sedimentary Basin of Araripe, interior of the State of Ceará and analyzed by the researchers Francisco I. Freitas, Araripe Geopark, José A. Andrade, the National Department of Mineral Production, Ceará, Ismar de Souza Carvalho, the Institute of geosciences at UFRJ, Fernando E. Novas, the Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Federico L. Agnolin and Marcelo P. Isasi, of the Fundación Félix de Azara Natural History.
The fossil of the bird deposed in rocks 115 million years ago is the most complete record of all the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. Birds of the Mesozoic era, the Gondwana, are mainly known through poorly preserved fossils, which usually do not have full details of the anatomy and how were their feathers.
The exceptional preservation of this new fossil, with its brittle bones, feathers and down proves to be the most complete fossil of the Mesozoic era from around the paleocontinent of Gondwana (covering South America, Africa, Antarctica, India, Australia and Madagascar). Its discovery proves to be of great importance for understanding the evolution of birds and extends the documentation of Mesozoic birds with preserved feathers, which were previously known only in a few outcrops of China and Spain.
Text: Thais Nunes de Brito / Photo: Nature Communications Archive
Participation of the Geopark Araripe in the
Brazil National Tourism Marti
The Brazil National Tourism Marti (BNTM) is an international tourism fair that takes place once a year in one of the northeastern states. The BNTM 2015 was held in the state of Ceará, being the capital, Fortaleza, host the event.
The Araripe Geopark attended the event in order to have your increased knowledge by companies and institutions in order to present itself as viable and innovative possibility of tourism product in Cariri.
Having a partner SEBRAE - CE, entrepreneurs caririense the tourism and hospitality network in the region, the Geopark Araripe plays the role of strengthening sustainable tourism initiatives, following the proposal of its creation.
In that event, attended as a representative of Geopark Araripe Coordinator of Sustainable Development Sector, José Wilson Lacerda and the Collaborator Professor, Eugenia Francisca Gomes Duarte, who served as English and Spanish language interpreter to mediate the release of the Geopark with investors foreigners.
Text: Thais Nunes de Brito / Photo: Geopark Araripe Collection
Geosite Riacho do Meio and the traditional cutting
"Pau da Bandeira"
Every year in May, takes place the traditional cutting of the stick of St. Anthony flag, municipality of Barbalha, where is located one of the geosites of Geopark Araripe, the Riacho do Meio.
The traditional celebration involves unique cultural aspects, since that Patron Saint of the city is also recognized by practitioners of the Catholic faith as the "Holy Matchmaker". Thus, the cut is made as a ritual, the wood is prepared by shippers and the party opening day is charged in cleavage site of the procession to the Church of St. Anthony Matrix. As the "stick" goes on, there are breaks to put it on the floor for the rest chargers and women sit on the wood chips or withdraw the same, making requests to the saint in favor of contracting matrimonial union. In the end, the stick is hoisted the flag of the patron saint, in what is called "Dick bed." Then begins the great feast that lasts a week full of local art forms such as gangs of cool stick presentation, Epiphany, capoeira, coconut dance among others.
For the choice of wood are followed several criteria, among the five trees are indicated only one is chosen as the flag stick rod. The rod can weigh about two tons and is about 23 meters long. This is carried by 200 men in the 6 km route from the cutting site, Site Flores, to the Church.
The feast of St. Anthony is one of the most known and traditional in Brazil, reaching receive around 300,000 visitors this time of year.
A few years ago, for each cut made, another tree is planted, aimed at reforestation.
Text: Thais Nunes de Brito and Giane Taeko Mori Rodella / Photo: Elizângela Santos
Course about Geoparks in Greece
The international course on Geoparks will take place between June 23 and July 3, 2015 in Lesvos Island, Greece. The event will worked the theme "Geoeducação in Action: Geoconservation, Geotourism and Sustainable Development".
The course was open to all geoscientists, local development professionals and students involved in geoeducação compared with geoconservation, popularization of earth sciences, Geopark management, geotourism and sustainable development of rural areas.
The event is being co-organized by AEGEAN University - Department of Geography and the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest.
Text: Yara Mabele Rodrigues da Silva
Photos: Geopark of Lesvos Collection (available on the event website)
Team Geopark Araripe
Executive Coordinator
Francisco Idalécio de Freitas
Managing Director
Eugenio Pacelli Coelho de Sá
Executive Secretary
Nivaldo Soares de Almeida
Coordinator of the Territorial Development Sector
José Wilson Lacerda
Communication Sector Coordinator
Giane Taeko Mori Rodella
Coordinator of the Environmental Education Sector
Maria Neuma Clemente Galvão
Drafting Team of Geonews
Editing and textual production
Giane Taeko Mori Rodella
Thaís Nunes de Brito
Organizing photos
Yara Mabele Rodrigues Silva
Design
Carlos Robério
Collaborators
International Relations Office of the URCA - ARI
Press Office
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