thor – ACRAA Brazil

Santarém Plateau

thor — Fri, 05 May 2023 16:08:00 +0000

Planalto Santareno Sustainability Project

In February of 2023 we commenced what we intend will be our first integrated Sustainability project, this in an area called Planalto Santareno located about 70 km to the east of Alter do Chão. Here, working closely with FUNAI [1], we have formed a partnership with a group of four indigenous communities [2] of the ethnic Munduruku people, each with it’s own small school .

It was in the Planalto Santareno community of Açaizal that we met with members of the various communities for the first time in early February 2023, and then returned later that month to stay two nights to learn and plan. Based these discussions, we all decided a small agroforestry orchard next to the school in Açaizal would be a good place to start, with the school children involved in the planting. This is important as the community identified environmental education as one of their priotities.

And we have started on this already – group of ACRAA volunteers returned to Planalto Santareno at the end of March (2023), to talk about the environment with children at several of these schools, and help coordinate small tree planting ceremonies (see Enviromental Education).

The planning for the orchard at Açaizal is also underway, with the area mapped and soil analysis done. What we do here will later be replicated at the other schools in the area – including the establishment of a small nursery at each school.

Further in the future we want to work with these communities to develop larger agroforestry systems and to restore the local igarapé (creek) and surrounding deforested lands, leading to a significant increase in forest and agroforestry cover in this area over time.

But there are complex problems to be solved in the Planalto Santareno for this vision to be realized. This area was heavily forested not long ago, however, in some areas now industrial soya farms have pushed up to the edge of homes and communities. This can be detrimental to air quality for these people, when pesticide aerosols drift over during spraying of fields. Where soya fields have pushed too close to streams and rivers water quality may also be negatively impacted, due to runoff of sediment and pesticide laiden water.

At ACRAA we want to help find solutions. We believe an important element is full acknowledgement that the indigenous population here has unrecognised ancestral territorial rights, and then finding a way to see that these rights are honoured and respected. We also believe that with growing global concern about the Amazon forest, coupled with the ever-closer scrutiny of the Brazilian soya industry and the impact this has had on deforestation in the Amazon – ultimately it is in the interest of this industry to honour and respect these rights as well. So there are solutions based on consensus to be found – with the right approach and support.

It will also be noted here also that another priority of the community identified at our meetings is improvement of the roads into these communities, which during the rainy season can be almost impassable. If improved road systems can make forest and agroforestry related economic activity more viable – by reducing transport costs and improving access to markets – then this should be part of the discussion.

Remember, to carry out this sustainable development project we need help from people like you. Please see how you can at our Donate page.

[1] FUNAI: National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples. Santarém office, R. Vinte e Quatro de Outubro, 1915-1711 – Aldeia, Santarém – PA, 68040-010, Brasil.

[2] One of these commuities is Açaizal – the coordinates of the school here are: -2.638594, -54.511559.

GO TO OUR DONATE PAGE TO SEE HOW TO COLLABORATE

MORE GREEN, MORE LIFE!

Rua Everaldo Martins, s/n., Bairro Carauari, Alter do Chão, Santarém-PA, CEP 68109-000.

contact@acraabrazil.org

Ilha do Amor

thor — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 23:58:54 +0000

The Ilha do Amor

Our Ecological Restoration work on the Ilha do Amor – the Island of love – is into it’s second year now. Throughout this period we have been working very closely with Neca Borari, chief of the indigenous Borari comminity in Alter do Chão – she has been an incredible help and is passionate about this project. [1]

Our intent is continue with this work for years to come, planting trees on an annual basis during the period November to January – this when the river level is low. Until now we have planted only one species, this a tree comonly known as Cumandá. All the seedlings we have planted were very large, some 3 meters in height or more. Planting very large stock is seen as important here, due to heavy tourist traffic in this area. We have also successfully propagated the seeds of more than ten other native tree species from this beach, these now growing in our nursery for planting starting in November of 2023.

Our most recent planting work consisted of a series of six planting events, the first on November 19/22 (as part of the annual film festival in Alter do Chão), and led by Neca. Numerous members of the Boarai community also participated. At this event the media was present filming and conducting interviews and there was music and dance throughout.

Notable in this series was our third event, that on Dec.2/22 – here the 5th grade class from the Borari middle school in Alter do Chão came to work with us.

The final event in this series was held on January 14, 2023, bringing the total trees planted over this period to 100.

To read about our very first planting event on the Ilha do Amor (Feb.2022) – click here.

If you are interested to learn more about the Ilha do Amor and the ecological problems this place is facing – click here.

Remember, to carry out these and other restoration processes we need help from people like you that care. Please see how you can at our Donate page.

[1] ACRAA recognises the Ilha do Amor as part of the traditional territory of the indigenous Borari people of Alter do Chão.

GO TO OUR DONATE PAGE TO SEE HOW TO COLLABORATE

MORE GREEN, MORE LIFE!

Rua Everaldo Martins, s/n., Bairro Carauari, Alter do Chão, Santarém-PA, CEP 68109-000.

contact@acraabrazil.org

Biographies

thor — Tue, 18 Apr 2023 17:27:06 +0000

Professional Biographies ACRAA Management Team

Diêgo Figueiredo de Siqueira Simplício (Brazilian)

Email: contact@acraabrazil.org

Diêgo Figueiredo is Brazilian, graduated in Law from the University of Triângulo Mineiro (UNITRI, 2012), and registered with the Brazilian Lawyers Order under number 148.062 MG (2013). Diêgo trained for four years at three different institutions: at the Public Ministry of Claudio-MG (where he worked in the civil area); at the UNIFENAS Legal Assistance Center, in the city of Poços de Caldas-MG (also working in the civil area); and at the Public Defender of the State of Minas Gerais, in the city of Uberlândia-MG (where he worked in the area of criminal executions). During this same period he participated in a complementary course on Introduction to Business Management.

As a lawyer, he has been working for nine years emphasizing further studies in the field of Environmental Law. Diego is also a founding member of ACRAA.

Katiane Araújo Lourido. Natural de Santarém – Pará.

Degree in Full Licentiate in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Western Pará/UFOPA (2016). Master’s in Environmental Sciences, in the area of concentration of bioprospecting of natural products – UFOPA (aguardando). Experience in extraction and bioactivity of essential oils. Teaching Science and Biology and environmental education. Currently working in the field of natural cosmetology.

Katiane is also the lead instructor and manager of ACRAA’s “ACRAA in the Schools” environmental education program. Katiane is also a founding member of ACRAA.

B. Thor Smestad (Canadian) B.S.F.[1], M.Sc.[2], P. Ag.[3]

Email: contact@acraabrazil.org

Thor Smestad is a Canadian reforestation and ecosystem-restoration specialist. He began this career in 1981 as a tree planter in the mountains of British Columbia (BC), Canada, and then later, after completing a degree in forest resources management (1994), continued to work in BC as a silvicultural forester. This work involved managing projects related to all aspects of reforestation and forest management on the vast expanses of public lands in British Columbia.

In 1997 he returned to university to complete a Master of Science degree, specializing in soils. His master’s study was located in western Kenya, where he examined the soil fertility changes associated with short-duration agroforestry fallows (Smestad et al., 2002).[4]

Since completing his masters in 2002, Thor has worked throughout western Canada in the field of ecosystem restoration and soil erosion control. For a short period (2012 to 2016) he also operated his own native plant nursery and ecosystem restoration company.[5] Many of the projects completed during this period were in shoreline and riverbank restoration, and he is now known as a specialist in this area in BC. One of the most exciting projects during this period was the ecological restoration of a small peninsula near Nelson, BC. Here, for a three-day period in each of five consecutive years (2011 to 2015), Thor co-led an annual ecological restoration field-school for the local College’s Integrated Environmental Planning Program.[6]

At present he works seasonally (April-Nov.) as a senior ecosystem restoration specialist for an environmental consulting company in western Canada.[7] He spends his winters in the Amazon region of Brazil where he is a founding member of ACRAA.

[1] Bachelor of Science in Forestry. University of British Columbia (Canada). 1994
[2] Master of Science. University of Saskatchewan (Canada), 2002.
[3] Professional Agrologist. BC Institute of Agrologists (British Columbia, Canada).
[4] For published study results see: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1020501627174
[5] Treebear Native Plants. See https://Treebearplants.ca
[6] Selkirk College, Castlegar, BC. https://selkirk.ca/program/iep
[7] Lotic Environmental Services, Cranbrook, BC, Canada. See https://lotic.co/

Katherin Daniela León Pinto

My name is Katherin Daniela León Pinto. I was born in Lara-Barquisimeto, Venezuela. I am 27 years old.

From a very young age I have felt a strong connection with plants. When I was 5 years old my family traveled to Valencia-Carabobo where my grandparents lived, they work mono-cultivation with citrus, milky and bananas. One day I asked my grandfather to teach me to work the land; that was my first contact, which led me to discover that this is my passion. Since then, a large part of my life has been dedicated to plants.

My family was a bit nomadic so we traveled a lot. We were in various states of Venezuela; we lived in cities, neighborhoods and towns. In each place I met people who shared their knowledge of plants with me, and this is something that I really liked. Every time I had the opportunity I read books about plants, and learned a little about natural medicine among other things.

Like the plants, I felt a great connection with the animals in each place where we arrived, and I rescued the animals that I found on the street and cured them. Most of them were cured with plants, so I practiced my home remedies. Those are my passions, plants and animals.

Of course life goes by and the world goes around and in those turns I lived and learned many things, and I am still living and learning. Now I live in Alter do Chão. Since I arrived here my work with plants has deepened, living two years in Caminho das Pedras, a small community near Alter do Chão that works with agroforestry. There I learned to work with multi-cultivation, agroforestry, and the biodiversity in the humid tropical zone; and with the soil here, which is sandy. This has been a great challenge with great learning.

I have been part of ACRRA for three years now; that is where I work, practicing and sharing everything I have learned. I am still seeking knowledge about plants, including at times taking courses on the internet about agroforestry. Daki is also a founding member of ACRAA.

Waldeir dos Santos Pereira

Brazilian, Paraense, Born in Santarém, Bachelor of Forestry Engineering (2020) from the Federal University of Western Pará – UFOPA, specializing in Occupational Safety Engineering (2021–2022) from Faculdade Única – Grupo Prominas/MG.

Waldeir has professional experience in Forestry Engineering with emphasis on Forest Management, Forest Inventory, Environmental Auditing, Silviculture (Installation of Forest Nurseries), and Environmental Projects with Indigenous Peoples in the Amazon. Member of the Interaction Biosphere Research Group – Atmosphere and Micrometerology in Amazonia – IBAMA/UFOPA.

He carried out graduation course conclusion work with the theme: Estimates of the Environmental and Socioeconomic Impacts of the Last 3 Major Drought Events in the Amazon (2005, 2010 and 2015).

Currently, he works as an Environmental Consultant (Legal Entity (PJ) and Individual (PF)), in addition to being the 1st Administrative Secretary of Public Security of Grande Prainha – CONSEG/PRAINHA in the city of Santarém – PA (2021-2023). Waldeir is also a founding member of ACRAA.

Paulo Ricardo Castro de Alencar

Brazilian, born in the state of Pará and born on June 17, 1986 in the city of Belém.

He began his academic career in 2006, studying Technician in Vegetable Production at the School of Work and Production of the State of Pará (ETEPA).

In 2008 – 2009, he began a technical course in agriculture at the Federal Agrotechnical School of Castanhal.

In 2010 – 2011, he began a technical course in Forestry at the Federal Institute of Pará, Campos Castanhal, where he also began his specializations in Community Forestry Management by Insistindo Internacional do Brasil (IIEB) and Reduced Impact Forestry Management by the Tropical Forest Institute (IFT).

From 2013 to 2015, he began his professional career as a Rural Extensionist at the company EMATER, where he carried out participatory rural diagnosis work in Pará, serving 2,000 families of farmers, fishermen and riverside dwellers benefited by INCRA within the Mãe Grande de Curuça Marine Extractive Reserve located in the northeast of Pará.

In 2015 to 2016, in the period of 12 months, he was a volunteer at the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBIO), where he worked developing socio-environmental and cultural education activities within the Mãe Grande Curuça Marine Extractive Reserve in the state of Pará

From 2018 to 2019, in partnership with Biopalma Reflorestamento S/A, it helped to develop reforestation activities and solid waste composting within family farming in the city of Acará in the state of Pará.

In 2022 and 2023, he worked in partnership with companies such as WGAbio and UNYLEYA, where he developed rural and environmental technical assistance work in the villages of the Middle Xingu affected by the historic Belo Monte dam, where he also participated in the plan to protect the indigenous lands of the Middle Xingu where worked as an operational technician.

Today in the position of Environmental Consultant and Forestry Technician, he has been helping ACRAA to develop reforestation activities, introduction of agroforestry systems and also environmental education in schools and villages in the Baixo Tapajós region.

Thais Thayane da Silva Beltrão de Farias

Brazilian, born in Recife-PE, on 29.09.1993.

Thais is a technician in Business Administration, graduated from the Special Professional Center (2011). Also a makeup Artist – Embeleze Institute (2014), and eyebrow Designer – Center Take Free courses (2018).

Worked as an administrative and commercial assistant at the Objective Engenharia de Eventos in 2012. Commercial Consultant at the Academia Hi from 2013 to 2014. Receptionist and salesperson at the Academia Santé Club (2014 to 2015).

From 2015 to 2017, she worked in the Amazon region as a cook on tourist boats, leading the fusion of regional food with northeastern food.

Also in 2015, she worked as a bartender and cook at the Mãe Natureza Bar and Restaurant (Alter do Chão) and from 2016 to 2017 at the Alter do Chão Gastronomic Space Restaurant.

In 2019, she returned to work in the Administrative and Product Shipping sector at Ekilibre Amazônia.

Thais currently works as an artisan, cook, and secretary and project coordinator for ACRAA. She is also a founding member of ACRAA.

GO TO OUR DONATE PAGE TO SEE HOW TO COLLABORATE

MORE GREEN, MORE LIFE!

Rua Everaldo Martins, s/n., Bairro Carauari, Alter do Chão, Santarém-PA, CEP 68109-000.

contact@acraabrazil.org

Nursery Beginnings

thor — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 22:33:24 +0000

ACRAA Nursery: The Beginning

ACRAA was just an idea until, in late 2019 and early 2020, two lots (side-by-side) were purchased by Thor in Alter do Chão. And the first thing we had to do is clear the jungle which has overgrown these properties. The photos below show Diego and Daki helping with this work in early 2020, this was the very beginning. Note also that the photo at the top-left shows where the nursery is now.

With a small makeshift germination bed in one corner of the property, the ACRAA nursery began at the same time. This with the germination of the first seeds of a tree species know locally as Comandá. These seeds were collected from trees growing on the beaches of Alter do Chão, including the Ilha do Amor. Thor led this early endevour until he returned to Canada in June 2020, but the work was continued by Diego and Daki – who through the remainder of this year (2020) cared for the first 100 or so Comandá seedlings that resulted – these for use in the future restoration of Alter’s beaches.

The initial nursery area [1] was small, only 20 square meters, and the water used to sustain these plants was obtained through hours arduous manual pumping from an existing artesian well on the property. During this period Daki and Diego also propagated seeds from a number of the regional fruit producing trees, these for use in our future agroforestry and urban afforestation projects. As such the seedlings produced by ACRAA were divided early on into two main categories – 1) trees/plants for ecological restoration/reforestation, and 2) trees/plants for use in agroforestry development.

Thor returned to Alter do Chão in January of 2021 for a three month stay, and with Diego’s and Daki’s help the collection and germination of seeds from from the local beaches continued. This included more Comandá, but also other species. Our inventory of agroforestry trees also continued to grow, with medicinal plants and trees important for timber also included. As a result, during this period the nursery was expaneded again – now to a total area of 70 square meters. A water tower/system with a solar powered pump was also installed during this period. See here.

From April until December 2021 Thor was again in Canada. However our inventory of ecological restoration and agroforestry plants kept growing – both in terms of the numbers of plants & species, and in terms of the size of the stock. By the end of 2021 many of our first Comandá were now up to a meter and a half in height (or more)[2], as were some of the agroforestry trees.

[1] The “nursery area” is defined as that area under shade cloth (50% shade). This protection for fragil young seedlings is essential under the intense tropical sun here.

[2] It is the intent to grow very large stock, up to 2 m+ in height, for planting on Alter’s heavily used beaches.

The initial germination bed was located in this corner. The jungle just behind the broken is where we built the first shade structure (see photos below).

The first makeshift germination bed. But it worked well. One should lay out a geotextile fabric before filling with sand, top prevent bugs from coming in from below to eat your seeds.

First Comandá seeds laid in germination bed, before covering. February 2020.

First comandá seeds sprouting. April 2020.

Comandá seedling lifted for potting. April 2020.

Some of the first Comandá seedlings. April 2020.

The first Comandá in the initail small nursery, already transfered to 20L pots. June 2020.

The ACRAA nursery after the 2021 expansion. The water tower is also seen. June 2021.

2022 Nursery Expansion

Thor returned to Alter do Chão at the end of 2021, and work commenced almost immediately with a second expansion of our nursery – this time bringing the total nursery area to it’s present size of 250 square meters. The area for this expansion had to first be cleared and leveled, this also meaning moving about ten fruit trees planted there two years earlier. This work was completed in early March 2022.

2021 nursery filled to capacity. Feb.26/22.

Diego (left) and Paulo moving a fruit tree. Feb.1/22.

Structure completed. Feb.24/22.

Installing additional water taps. Feb.28/22.

2022 nursery expansion completed. Mar.5/22.

ACRAA Volunteers

thor — Sun, 12 Jun 2022 04:44:11 +0000

ACRAA Volunteers

This page is dedicated to acknowledging and thanking those people that have volunteered their time in ACRAA’s nursery and in assisting in our day-to-day activities. The photos show our volunteers at work, and are presented with the most recent first – click on each to see the full-sized image.

However, not included here are the many other volunteers that have stepped forward and helped at our planting and other events – to these people we say thank you very much as well. Many of these people can be seen in photos on our project pages.

A special thanks to Waldeir, ACRAA’s Professional Forester, for organizing students from UFOPA (The Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, Santarém), to help us at ACRAA. A big thank you to Daki as well for giving her Sundays to lead our weekly Volunteer Day at ACRAA.

Comandá seedling ready to be potted. July 17/22.

Leon working hard again. July 17/22.

Neto (left), Leon and Katiane. July 17/22.

Neto (left), Daki and Leon. July 17/22.

ACRAA nursery today. July 17/22.

Katiane making extra aeration holes in potting bag. Jul 17/22.

Neto, a regular volunteer at ACRAA. July 14/22.

Daki and Neto transplanting seedlings. July 14/22.

This is Leon, a tireless volunteer at ACRAA. Thank you Leon! July 14/22.

Daki lifting germinants from germination bed. June 27/22.

Germinants ready for potting. June 27/22.

Marzio and Katiane placing germinants into pots. June 27/22.

Letícia (UFOPA student) and Katiane (ACRAA's biologist) transplanting seedlings into larger bags. June 19/22.

Daki arranging seedling that have just been transplanted. June 19/22.

Letícia (left), Katiane, and Daki (right). June 19/22.

Daki with Paulo, who has contributed many hours of his time to ACRAA at no charge. May 2022

Diego (right) with Waldier, ACRAA's forester. Waldier volunteers both his time and expertice to ACRAA. May 2022

Marzio (taking photo), our volunteer from Italy, with Daki (center) and Gabi, a local volunteer. May 2022

Letícia (holding camera) with Iolanda (center) and Daki. Letícia and Iolanda are students in biology/environmental sciences at UFOPA and regular volunteers at ACRAA. May 2022

Iolanda transplanting seedling. May 2022

Danisa from Argentina transplanting seedlings. May 2022

Danisa (front left) next to Iolanda. Mica, one of ACRAA's associates and a dedicated volunteer, is piloting the boat. On a seed collection mission to the Ilha do Amor. May 2022

Daki, with Iolanda, Danisa and Mica behind. May 2022

June 2, 2022 Planting

thor — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 17:45:12 +0000

Tree Planting at the Escola CEMEI Borari - June 2, 2022

One June 2, 2022 ACRAA associates Diego, Thais and Jaci, along with volunteers Iolanda, ***, *** and *** planted six trees along the road in front of the Escola CEMEI Borari, each fitted with a protective wooden cage. The photos below illustrate this work.

School Ceremony April 20/22

thor — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 17:26:07 +0000

Escola CEMEI Borari - Indigenous Peoples Week Ceremony 2022. April 20, 2022

On April 20, 2022 ACRAA was honoured with a role as part of the annual Indigenous Peoples Week celebration at the Escola CEMEI Borari. This included a wonderful display of indigenous art produced by the children, and small tree planting ceremony which was led by Diego. Music and dancing completed the ceremony. ACRAA associates Andrei and Thais were also in attendance. The photos below illustrate this day. These images show the importance given by the leaders of this school in keeping the Borari tradicions alive.

School Nursery Revision – May 2022

thor — Sun, 29 May 2022 19:45:16 +0000

Nursery Revision at Escola Professor Antônio de Sousa Pedroso

Over the period of several days during the month of May of 2022, ACRAA performed a complete revsion of the already existing (but in state of disrepair) plant nursery at the Escola Professor Antônio de Sousa Pedroso. This involved removing the old and badly torn shade cloth, constructing an inclining top (to better shed leaves), installing new shade cloth, and construction of three raised beds. The photos below illustrate this work.

Escola CEMEI Borari

thor — Tue, 10 May 2022 19:15:44 +0000

Municipal Center for Indigenous Child Education – Professor Marilda Vasconcelos Soares Borari (Escola CEMEI Borari)

The Municipal Center for Indigenous Child Education – Professor Marilda Vasconcelos Soares Borari (Escola CEMEI Borari) is a preschool/kindergarden located in Bairro Novo, a neighborhood of Alter do Chão.

ACRAA Collaboration with this School

ACRAA’s first collaboration with the Escola CEMEI Boarari consisted of assiting with the preparations for, and then attending as honoured guests, celebrations at the school marking Indigenous Peoples Week. This event occured on April 20, 2022. See here for details of this ceremony.

On June 2, 2022 ACRAA planted a number of trees along the road in front of this school, as a token commemorating World Environment Day (June 5). See here for photos.

Escola Professor Antônio de Sousa Pedroso

thor — Tue, 10 May 2022 19:13:39 +0000

Escola Professor Antônio de Sousa Pedroso

The Borari school Professor Antônio de Sousa Pedroso (Escola Professor Pedroso) was opened on May 30, 1985, by decree nº 772/85 – DAD. This school is centrally located in the village of Alter do Chão, on Rua Pedro Teixeira, s/n, Tapajós Region, Municipality of Santarém, State of Pará, Brazil.

In June 2006, the SEMD coordination communicated to the management of this school that the school would function as indigenous education – as the community has always sought to preserve and maintain it’s Borari cultural identity. As of 2022 this school is under full Borari coordination.

ACRAA Collaboration with this School

After initial communications with the management of Escola Professor Pedroso in April 2022, ACRAA’s first collaboration with this school consisted of assiting with the preparations for, and then attending as honoured guests, celebrations at the school marking Indigenous Peoples Week. This event occured on April 18, 2022. See here for details of this ceremony.

Following from this wonderful day, ACRAA, in partnership with the coordination of this school, has initiated an an environmental education program with this institution. The aim of this program is to conduct lessions and workshops with students related to the cultivation of food plants, reforestation & ecological restoration, nursery management, urban tree planting. These activities will be held both at the school and at the ACRAA nursery, which is located only a short distance away (about 1 km).

The first part of this program was the revitilization an already existing plant nursery at the school, which we completed in May 2022. See here for details of this nursery revitalization.

Then in August 2022, under the direction of Katiane Araújo Lourido, we initiated a program of classroom lectures coupled with practicle hands-on lessions in the school nursery. This program has now run one full term at the school (August-December), deivering lessons/workshops to three grade-five classes, once every two weeks. Note: scroll down through the posts on our Instagram Feed page to see photos and videos of these activities.

The construction of a composting and worm farming system will come soon. The compost and worm farming system will use leftovers from the school kitchen and student lunches, instead of going to the garbage – which will then be transformed into fertilizer (compost/worm humus) for production of more food.

See Katiane’s bio here.