Since 1996, the dutch-brazilian foundation Sempre Verde has been trying to contribute to the preservation of the rainforest by creating employment opportunities for the inhabitants of Santa Luzia in ecological tourism. The foundation owns a piece of land in Santa Luzia with a small pousada and since august 1999, 2 members of Sempre Verde together with the inhabitants of Santa Luzia have been developing an infrastructure for eco-tourism and the first guests visited the place.