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Noé drives Jim & me & an entourage of cars thru CEPLAC & explains something of their research on cacao growing. There is one site of undisturbed forest. One plot with 80 year old cacao that hasn't been touched in 25 years.

He shows us where they initiate cacao processing. Fruit stays in vats covered by flies - rotting essentially - for @ 5 days & then they dry the seeds/beans in  the sun, much like coffee. Brazilians produce an incredible amouth of cacao across the country, but eat little chocolate.

CEPLAC runs the equivalent of an ag-extension service with 400 administrators/ 700 technicians based in nearly every small farming town

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An incredible way to reach Brasilians @ conservation!

In region there are ~ 96 regional extension offices derived from  cacao industry. Their purpose to reach people on the methodology of growing cacao while maintaining environment.

I find Noé annoying. He talks constantly about CEPLAC & is paid by them, but he is supposed to work for IBDF. Jim says that he is at a game warden level educationally. Before Saturnino was hired Noé was responsible (so it seems) for dealing with confiscated animals. He claims to have broken a big smuggling ring wh/ was selling animals (including GHTs) to dealers in Rio & Sao Paulo about 18 mos ago.

Discussed having a harpy eagle in a cage at a filling