"We think that SGP is an excellent programme which gives great support to local and traditional communities that face strong difficulties to develop their actions toward environmental sustainability, cultural enhancement and livelihood improvement. The programme offers easy communication between the grantee and the NHI team, with flexibility regarding resource application in accordance to the communities' situation."

"We admire SGP because the bureaucracy is simplified compared with other donors in Brazil. This allows SGP to reach communities that no other donor can reach. Combined with the support of the Brazilian Bank Foundation, the project provided the needed co-financing for building our agro-industry to process Cerrado fruits, cassava and sugar cane."

Why and how is SGP important for the NHI?

"Due to our work as NHI of SGP Brazil, we were able to learn and understand deeply the reality of local communities in Cerrado, and then develop an efficient strategy to help conserving biodiversity while helping to improve livelihoods. SGP is the heart of ISPN's work. Based on this experience, we develop actions in advocacy to influence policy making and knowledge management in order to mainstream SGP lessons learned."

Why and how is SGP important for your country?

"SGP Brazil was the first programme to focus efforts in the Cerrado biome which is, at the same time, the most biodiverse savanna in the world and an extremely threatened ecosystem in Brazil. After SGP efforts, many other initiatives started to emerge. The most remarkable ones are: the designing of GEF Cerrado, a FSP still under execution; the inclusion of the Cerrado in the Brazilian voluntary goals for reducing greenhouse emission in 2010 and the recent plan for monitoring Cerrado deforestation. It is easy to connect this progress with SGP results after 15 years in Brazil, where SGP has been acting to improve civil society organizations, supporting and disseminating solutions, encouraging innovative approaches for income generation and nature conservation through the sustainable use of natural resources."