Project Detail

Capacity-Building for Environmental Management of Forest Ecosystems in Rural Settlement Areas in the State of Goiás
Capacitação em Gestão e Manejo Ambiental de Ecossistemas em Áreas de Assentamentos Rurais no Estado de Goiás

This project aims to stimulate and disseminate sustainable practices for natural resource management in the Canudos Rural Agrarian Reform Settlement, in the Palmeiras municipality, state of Goiás. Qualification, training and environmental education of the families viewing conservation and recovery of the local biodiversity are the main goals. Participative and integrated activities with the families for socio-environmental and economic use of the resources will add to the usual farming practices of the smallholders in the region. Family production in conjunction with conservation of local biodiversity is believed to be and important driving force for sustainable local development.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Associação de Cooperação Agrícola no Estado de Goiás

Country:

Brazil

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

Phase 2

Grant Amount:

US$ 23,737.00

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 11,676.60

Project Number:

BRA/02/30

Start Date:

1/2003

End Date:

12/2003

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

Children will follow their parents? example in making rational and sustainable use of the natural resources, guaranteeing continuity of the initiative in the long run. Conservation and recovery of the resources and its sustainable management will insure that the families have income from the conservation activities, and thus sustainability of their livelihoods will be secured.

Notable Community Participation

The 350 families inhabiting the settlement had been discussing the need for conservation and recovery of the natural resources in its area since its start in the year 2000. Before becoming a settlement, the area was used for large-scale agriculture, with a monoculture that degraded the soil and local environment for years. The inhabitants of the settlement had to commit themselves to conservation of the local resources in natural reserve areas before moving into the area. This project is the result of these discussions.

Project Results

The following activities were undertaken during execution of this project: workshop on preparations for production of native Cerrado plant species; collection and laboratory analysis of different crops for recovery of pasture areas; seed exchange with governmental organization; monitoring and irrigation in the experimental planting area; project evaluation for assessment of the need for adjustments; beekeeping course; soil sampling workshops for study of impacts on the soil of the use of different fertilizers; systematization of the demand for seedlings for the backyards; planting in the nursery and micro-aspersion irrigation; seminar o production, cooperation and environment in the Canudos Settlement; green composting experimental area and biological control of the Spoodoptera frugiperda caterpillar; collection of seeds in the native forest areas of the settlement; reception of visitors from different institutions interested in the initiative; visit to the alternative medicine hospital in Goiânia, with a course on production and use of medicinal plants; monitoring of plant nursery implementation; planting for recovery of springs; publication of educational material. The main difficulty faced was in the determination of correct use and management of the plant nursery, which called for the contracting of a specialist. A partnership which promised to deliver seedlings for the formation of backyards did not materialize. The importance of technical assistance and diversification of partnerships were lessons learned from these difficulties. The immediate benefits to the environment resulting from this project were many, due to an increased conscience in the smallholder families in the settlement. The development of alternative technologies for rational and sustainable use of natural resources is a commitment the families have worked hard to fulfill. Damage to the environment has begun to be reported, and public policy for environmental protection in the area is sought. A significant improvement in the quality of life for the settled families is expected in the mid to long run. The potential for replication is high, with dissemination of the activities and lessons learned to other communities.

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