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My name is Robert Pollhammer and I am the Race Director of this new and exciting race. With this post I want to explain why we have started this project.
I am not a scientist and my knowledge about climate change is not more profound than anyone else’s. I would say, even if you do not believe in everything that’s written or said, you have to acknowledge the changes we are seeing in one lifetime. I grew up in Lower Bavaria and when I was a kid, in winter we had ice on the ponds and snow on the hills. That’s not happening anymore. Where I live now, in the German Alps, the glaciers are pretty much gone and the skiing season is shorter every year. At the same time, extreme weather occurrences happen with a frightening frequency.
I got to know the Brazilian Floresta Nacional do Tapajós (FLONA) 20 years ago, when I worked there for about 6 months. We would go bathing in the Tapajós River every evening. Now, in the summer the river is so hot and low, it’s scary. In the nearby city of Santarém, the temperatures are so high at times that everyone complains. Life there is becoming more and more challenging.
It’s happening all over the world.
Am I doing everything I should to help fight climate change? No. I can still improve on many things. One thing I now will do is to organise the Rainforest Ultra. The main goal is to help the communities in the FLONA and RESEX Tapajós-Arapiuns (RESEX) to generate more income from ecologically friendly tourism. It plays a very important role in the continued protection of existing national parks and, long-term, it will hopefully also help to increase the number of protected areas.
I just visited more than 20 villages in the FLONA and RESEX in September 2024. They are super motivated to work more with tourism. Many small initiatives have already started. Now they need more infrastructure and the world needs to know that they exists, that it’s possible to visit them and to learn about their way of life in the jungle, how they grow small crops, fish and hunt. There are beautiful beaches to enjoy, cool and crystal clear creeks, giant trees, thousands of other plants and animals to discover. It’s a perfect place for endless activities.
That’s where the Rainforest Ultra comes in. We want to help develop a network of marked trails, generate income for people who work with tourism and, most importantly, get the word out about this incredible region.
I am very proud that as of now our website is online. There is still some work that needs to be done but almost all information is online now. Most importantly, as of now athletes can sign up! To get the Application & Waiver, please email me at info@thegreatoutdoors.de. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
