The Project “Honey from the woods: social business for development and nature conservation” and the cooperative of native bees (Acriapa Cooperative) are both headquartered in the Environmental Protected Area (EPA) of Guaraqueçaba, Northern coast of the state of Paraná, Southern of Brazil, just a couple hours from where some three million people live and who directly or indirectly enjoy the ecosystem services provided by this pristine region. The UN Economic and Social Organization (UNESCO) has recognized Brazil's Atlantic Forest as one of the highest priorities for conservation and has designated it a World Biosphere Reserve. The focus area of the Acriapa Cooperative actuation, in other words, where the Project is creating impact, are the municipalities of Antonina and Guaraqueçaba; the region is classified as one of the most poorest of Brazil, the Human Development Index (HDI) of Guaraqueçaba, for instance, is 0,659, the 393º from 399 municipalities in the Paraná State
