project-posts – ACRAA Brazil

Munduruku Indigenous Schools – Planalto Santareno

diego — Thu, 11 May 2023 13:05:29 +0000

ACRAA PROJECT IN SCHOOLS

MUNDURUKU INDIGENOUS SCHOOLS - PLANOALTO SANTERENO

In 2023, we were able to start expanding the “ACRAA at School” project, taking environmental education activities to four Munduruku indigenous communities, these located on the Planalto Santareno (Santarém Plateau), in the Baixo Tapajós region.

The first activities were carried out in the indigenous community of Açaizal, in partnership with FUNAI. Here we gave lectures to students and teachers at the Wapurum-Tip Indigenous School, where we addressed issues related to environmental conservation, and solutions to minimize problems associated with of garbage and water quality.

We also started the planting of an agroforestry system within the school limits, where what is sought is the production of food and products derived from the forest to complement school lunches – and also generate income so that the school can offer better quality education to its students.

In 2023 we intend to carry out more environmental education activities, construct a plant nursery , and continue with the planting of a small agroforestry system.

The other three indigenous schools at which carried out environmental education activities were: the Santa Helena School (Amparador community); the Jose Arlindo Betcel School (Ipaupixuna community); and the São Francisco School (Palhão community).

We need your help to continue carrying out these and other activities!

MORE GREEN, MORE LIFE!

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

contact@acraabrazil.org

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

CEMEI Borari School

diego — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 17:42:46 +0000

ACRAA AT SCHOOL PROJECT

CEMEI Borari

The ACRAA at School project commenced at the CEMEI Borari School [1] in Alter do Chão at the beginning of the 2022 school year.

Here we planted trees inside and outside the educational center to ease the heat, which will transform the school space into a more wooded and cooler environment. The pre-school children participated in the activities, helping with the planting of trees.

[1] Municipal Center for Indigenous Early Childhood Education – Professor Marilda Vasconcelos Soares Borari.

We also held lectures with the CEMEI students and teachers, with the theme of environmental awareness and the importance of children in the process of environmental education of thier parents.

In March 2023 we started building a raised bed for growing vegetables for the student’s lunches, and for medicinal plants. Lectures and monthly activities will soon be held here with children from the educational center and their teachers.

In April of 2023 an initial activity was carried out with the preschool children in the form of a practical class on seed germination. Here they planted vegetable seeds in tubes, these will be used in the school lunches in the future.

We need your help to continue carrying out these and other activities!

MORE GREEN, MORE LIFE!

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

contact@acraabrazil.org

Borari Indigenous School

diego — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 17:30:49 +0000

ACRAA AT SCHOOL PROJECT

BORARI INDIGENOUS SCHOOL

The “ACRAA at School” project began at the Borari Indigenous Elementary School [1] in Alter do Chão in April of 2022 with revitalization of the school nursery. This nursery was sitting unused at this time and in a bad state of repair.

[1] Professor Antônio de Sousa Pedroso Municipal Elementary School.

In August 2022 the project began with lectures and practical classes, working on issues related to environmental education through the school garden theme. Several topics were covered in the form of workshops with three 5th grade classes, each class with an average of 16 students.

At the Borari Indigenous School, the “ACRAA at School” project takes place in partnership with the Notório Saber Project, which sets up schedules for workshops and practical activities that take place throughout the semester. A teacher at the school monitors the project activities, with the aim to involve the school community more in actions promoted by ACRAA.

During 2022 the workshops were carried out on Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, according to the availability of classes in relation to the available times. We started with topics related to the cultivation of vegetables, and medicinal and ornamental plants. Also covered were site selection, soil preparation, seed germination, types of plants and fertilizers, transplanting and pruning of seedlings, and choice of medicinal plants. The year ended with a planting practice for reforestation.

In February of 2023 we completed an expansion of the school nursery. We also enclosed the area with a fence and gate, this to protect the cultivated plants from curious fingers when lessons were not occuring there.

ACRAA, under Katiane’s leadership, began delivering workshops at the school again in April of 2023.

Among other actions planned for the year 2023, in addition to the activities carried out last year, seedlings will be cultivated and donated to students, teachers and guardians – integrating the community into the process. In addition, vegetables produced by the children will be used in the school lunch program. In the future informative booklets on medicinal plants will be developed, combining traditional and scientific knowledge, to be distributed to teachers and students.

In April of 2023 seeds of a local native tree were also germinated, these the students are now growing into seedlings for ACRAA’s reforestation actions in the riparian forests of the Ilha do Amor.

We need your help to continue carrying out these and other activities!

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.

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.