Lack of funding threatens UNESCO World Heritage in Brazil

Considered UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Serra da Capivara National Park, located in the Piauí state, is threatened by lack of funding, according to archeologist Niède Guidon, chief executive of the Museum of American Man Foundation (FUMDHAM) and responsible for co-managing the unit. "We will run out of money in two months. It is a difficult situation, I do not know what else to do," she said.

Founded in 1979, the more than 91,000-hectare archaeological conservation area, in the southeast of Piauí, provides the country's most notable example of prehistoric and rock shelters heritage. In 1991, UNESCO included the park on the World Heritage List because of the important rock art records found on site. The park is managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) and the Museum of American Man Foundation (FUMDHAM).

"It is a national park, the federal government must bear the costs," says Niède. According to her, the FUMDHAM, which used to have 270 employees, has now 30. Out of the 28 watchtowers in the park, only six have an employee now. She is outraged at the situation: "We have [similar] heritage [parks] in Africa, with millions of tourists, with five, six star-hotels, earning money from it, and here, it does not happen."

The archaeologist declared that currently the FUMDHAM does not count with permanent transfers. "To bear the park costs, as we did until 2012, we would need $113,000 a month. As it stands today, we would need $28 000. We do not know where we will get money," he said. According to her, the FUMDHAM will receive from Petrobras enough money to bear its costs until the end of the year. "But this money will only be released after August. Since July, we have no funds. "

The researcher took her doctorate degree in prehistoric archeology by the French university Sorbonne. Since 1973, she is member of the Franco-Brazilian Archaeological Mission, focusing her work on the Serra da Capivara National Park.

"The park may suffer several possible cuts and adjustments due to the budget, but it is keeping the management," said ICMBio regional coordinator Daniel Castro. According to him, the lack of funds exerted bigger impact on FUMDHAM, which has not received transfers from the institution since last year. However, there is no risk of closing the park.

Castro explained that an amendment in the Brazilian Congress authorized the transfer of $85,000 to FUMDHAM. "[The money] was forecast in the budget, but the government has not released it," he said. According to him, the problem of lack of money also affects other national parks.

UNESCO comments

In a statement, the UNESCO Office in Brazil stated that they have been working with the federal government and with FUMDHAM, "seeking to cushion the impacts of the cuts of resources allocated to the Serra da Capivara National Park."

According to the organization, all partners are determined "to seek sustainable solutions, by quickly undergoing an overhaul of the current management model. The federal government, through ICMBio and Iphan [National Historical and Artistic Heritage Institute], is mobilized to tackle the situation, despite the current budgetary constraints. "

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta