project-posts – ACRAA Brazil

Munduruku Indigenous Schools – Planalto Santareno

diego — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 01:27:21 +0000

ACRAA PROJECT IN SCHOOLS

MUNDURUKU INDIGENOUS SCHOOLS
SANTERÉM PLATEAU

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 2025 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).

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

CNPJ: 50161.510/0001-19

Santarém Plateau

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

Santarém Plateau Sustainability Project

In early 2023, ACRAA initiated a meaningful partnership with the Munduruku indigenous communities of the Planalto de Santarém region, located south of Santarém city. Our collaborative work began with environmental education initiatives and agroforestry support, responding directly to the communities’ expressed needs during our initial consultations.

2023-2025: Building Foundations Through Education and Action

Our first year of engagement (2023), conducted in coordination with FUNAI [1], focused on:

Donating agroforestry seedlings to multiple communities
Conducting environmental workshops at scattered rural schools
Establishing trust through culturally sensitive dialogue

We maintained this support in 2024 through continued seedling donations. By early 2025, we deepened our commitment by helping the Açaizal community [2] establish a permanent nursery infrastructure:

Constructed a seedling-production facility
Installed specialized sand seed-germination beds
Completed the project during intensive workdays on January 14 & 19, 2025

Future Vision: Integrated Landscape Restoration

Our long-term goals with the Munduruku include:

Developing sustainable agroforestry systems
Restoring critical igarapés (forest creeks) and surrounding lands
Gradually increasing forest and agroforestry coverage
Supporting traditional land management practices

The Urgent Challenges of Planalto de Santarém
The region faces complex environmental and social pressures:

Rapid deforestation: Once heavily forested, now dominated by industrial soy farms
Encroachment issues: Agricultural operations often reach community boundaries
Inadequate protections: Stream and river buffers frequently ignored
Unresolved land rights: Indigenous territorial claims remain in limbo

These factors combine to create severe challenges for Munduruku communities:

Limited land base for economic security
Threatened water quality and access
Erosion of traditional livelihoods

ACRAA’s Stance on Indigenous Rights
We firmly believe:

Indigenous peoples hold ancestral territorial rights
Clean air and water are fundamental human rights
The Brazilian government’s demarcation process must:
- Accelerate resolution of land claims
- Prioritize indigenous perspectives on justice
- Provide meaningful protections

Pathways to Solutions
The current context offers potential for progress:

Growing international scrutiny of Brazilian soy supply chains
Industry’s public commitments to sustainability [3]
Opportunities for dialogue between stakeholders

We remain hopeful that through persistent advocacy and partnership, solutions can be found that:

Respect indigenous rights
Support sustainable livelihoods
Balance economic and environmental needs

This work represents just the beginning of ACRAA’s long-term commitment to standing with the Munduruku people in defense of their lands, waters, and future.

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

[2] Commuity of Açaizal – the coordinates of the school here are: -2.638594, -54.511559.

[3] See Agrosoja Brasil website: https://aprosojabrasil.com.br/en/about-us/

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

CNPJ: 50161.510/0001-19

Ilha do Amor

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

Our Ecological Restoration work on Ilha do Amor (the Island of Love) is now in its fourth year, standing as a vital initiative for the environmental recovery of this special area. Since its beginning in 2022, we have worked in close partnership with the Borari people, especially Neca Borari, chief of the Borari Indigenous community in Alter do Chão, whose traditional knowledge and dedication have been key to the project’s success.

As of May 2025, we have planted over a thousand trees, a milestone that celebrates not only forest regeneration but also the union of traditional wisdom and environmental conservation. Our goal is to continue expanding this work in the coming years, carrying out annual plantings between November and January, when the river level is at its lowest.

Initially, we prioritized planting Cumandá, a resilient native species, using saplings up to 3 meters tall to ensure greater resistance to the area’s heavy tourist traffic. Over time, we diversified our efforts: today, our nursery grows more than ten native tree species, all sourced from Ilha do Amor itself, safeguarding local biodiversity.

Community Plantings and Collective Participation

Our planting actions are always collaborative events, involving the Borari community, volunteers, and partners.

One of the most memorable moments was during our first planting in 2022, a true celebration of life, featuring traditional Borari music, circular dances, and extensive local media coverage, marking the rebirth of the degraded area. Since then, each planting season has been a celebration:

– Local schools actively participate, like the 5th-grade class from the Borari Municipal School, who joined us in December 2022;

– New partners have joined the project, expanding our impact;

– In 2024, we reached 800 planted trees, and in 2025, we surpassed a thousand saplings, reinforcing our commitment to the forest.

We believe ecological restoration goes beyond planting: it is an act of resistance, education, and reconnection with nature. We remain steadfast in this mission, deeply grateful to everyone who makes this project possible.

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

CNPJ: 50161.510/0001-19

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.

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.

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

Since then, the ACRAA nas Escolas project has continued its work at CEMEI Borari, further strengthening its bond with the school community and expanding its environmental education activities. Between 2024 and the present, we have maintained regular activities with preschool children, holding monthly workshops in the garden space and delving deeper into topics such as agroecological cultivation, the use of medicinal plants, and the importance of environmental preservation. Now, in 2026, we have completed a new renovation of the school’s nursery, which has been completely revitalized to expand the production of native seedlings, vegetables, and medicinal plants. This improvement will allow us to intensify practical activities with students as well as family involvement, who have begun receiving seedlings cultivated by the children to plant in their homes, promoting the replication of environmental knowledge beyond the school walls.

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

CNPJ: 50161.510/0001-19

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.

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 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.

Since then, the “ACRAA nas Escolas” project has continued its activities consistently, maintaining its commitment to environmental education and integration with the school community. Between 2024 and the present, we have continued to serve an average of four fifth-grade classes annually at the Borari Indigenous School, consolidating the partnership with the Projeto Notório Saber and expanding the impact of the actions. Practical workshops remain at the core of the methodology, addressing topics such as agroecological cultivation, nursery management, production of native and medicinal seedlings, and reforestation practices. Furthermore, we have intensified student participation in joint planting efforts in the riparian forests of Ilha do Amor, strengthening the connection between school learning and the environmental recovery of the territory. The donation of seedlings to students and their families has also become an ongoing practice, encouraging the replication of knowledge in their homes and expanding the project’s community reach.

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

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

CNPJ: 50161.510/0001-19

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.

MORE GREEN, MORE LIFE

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

contact@acraabrazil.org

CNPJ: 50161.510/0001-19

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.

project-posts – ACRAA Brazil

Munduruku Indigenous Schools – Planalto Santareno

ACRAA PROJECT IN SCHOOLS

MUNDURUKU INDIGENOUS SCHOOLS SANTERÉM PLATEAU

Santarém Plateau

Santarém Plateau Sustainability Project

Ilha do Amor

CEMEI Borari School

ACRAA AT SCHOOL PROJECT

CEMEI Borari

Borari Indigenous School

ACRAA AT SCHOOL PROJECT

BORARI INDIGENOUS SCHOOL

Nursery Beginnings

ACRAA Nursery: The Beginning

June 2, 2022 Planting

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

School Ceremony April 20/22

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

School Nursery Revision – May 2022

Nursery Revision at Escola Professor Antônio de Sousa Pedroso

Escola CEMEI Borari

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

ACRAA Collaboration with this School

MUNDURUKU INDIGENOUS SCHOOLS
SANTERÉM PLATEAU