Project was concluded in March and enabled the regularization of the extraction of caxeta wood, used in the making of musical instruments; 3 craftsmen have already received the permits.
This Thursday (30), the closing of the Caxeta Management Project, developed by Paranaguá Container Terminal (TCP) to regulate the extraction of the wood base for fandango musical instruments, was celebrated. The event took place in Paranaguá and was attended by representatives from the Instituto Água e Terra (IAT), TCP, and Selo Verde; members of fandango groups and the parnanguara community of São Miguel.
Started in June 2022, the project brought together IAT, residents of São Miguel village, fandango groups and technicians from Selo Verde (an environmental consulting company hired by TCP). According to TCP’s institutional manager, Allan Chiang, “this is an old demand from the fandango caiçara that the terminal is proud to have initiated the debate, since regulating the extraction of wood helps preserve local traditions. And this is the company’s main socio-environmental goal: to continue supporting the Parnanguara culture and stimulating the development of the region, always respecting the environment”.
According to the fandangue masters, the making of instruments made of caxeta wood is essential to teach the caiçara youth to play and build the objects, keeping this custom alive. According to the builder and musician, Aorelio Domingues, “after much struggle and debate, we managed to get an ordinance that decriminalizes our craft. TCP’s participation was very important to facilitate the fulfillment of this agreement”.
The publication of IAT Ordinance No. 466, dated December 20, 2022, guarantees instrument makers (called luthiers) the right to request a State Environmental License Exemption (DLAE). The document allows the extraction of caxeta in the São Miguel area in a legally correct way, thus keeping alive the tradition of the fandango on the Paraná coast. Among the instruments built with caxeta wood are the viola caiçara, the machete, the rabelo and the rabeca.
With the new regulation, the environmental agency’s inspection can be done in a more effective and controlled way, ensuring the maintenance of the species in the region, since only the builders can request the DLAE. In addition, the artisans need to prove the link with the fandango groups and the community, and prove that they make the instruments. At the closing event of the project, 3 authorizations were handed out, one of them to artisan Aorelio Domingues.
Caxeta and Fandango, a caiçara tradition
Considered by the Institute for National Historical and Artistic Heritage as Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2012, the Fandango Caiçara is a musical-choreographic-poetic and festive expression that goes from the southern coast of Rio de Janeiro to the coast of Paraná.
According to Aorélio, “the caiçaras have been in this territory for more than 500 years. We developed our culture from the indigenous culture, so we preserve the Atlantic forest and practice a sustainable management economy”.
According to Allan Chiang, TCP also supports the sustainable management and preservation of the caiçara fandango on several fronts. “The company sponsored the National Festival of Fandango Caiçara de Paranaguá in the 2019 and 2022 editions; in addition to the renovation of three spaces intended for the groups’ rehearsals and presentations. Costumes, sound equipment, musical instruments, and wooden boards were also donated. All in favor of encouraging local projects,” explains Chiang.
TCP also supported the radio program “No Vanzeiro do Fandango” and is carrying out the production of the Fandango Caiçara CDs, a project 100% funded by the terminal through the Cultural Incentive Law.
