Project Detail

Cerrado Popular School: the start of the university we wish for Escola Popular do Cerrado: o início da universidade que queremos ter

Use and management of medicinal plants as a strategy for Cerrado sustainability is sought, due to the threat posed by the expanding agricultural frontier and agribusiness monocultures for export. Production of medicine and medicinal plants, definition of regional criteria for self-regulation of popular medicinal plant pharmacies, construction of a permanent learning center (Cerrado Popular School) with infra-structure, equipment and basic technical references for management and manipulation of medicinal plants, development of a pilot experience for manipulation of cosmetics from Cerrado medicinal plants, in the persepctive of developing a product for the market and contribute to generation of income for small farmer families are all planned activities.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Associação PACARI

Country:

Brazil

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

Phase 3

Grant Amount:

US$ 50,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 25,697.42

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 62,059.00

Project Number:

BRA/05/18

Start Date:

11/2005

End Date:

3/2007

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Policy Influence

Participation and contributions in discussions for three public policy programs by representatives of 81 community groups belonging to the Pacari Coordination were made possible by the project. The programs were as follows: National Medicinal Plant and Phytotherapeutical Policy; National Policy for Sustainable Development of Traditional Peoples and Communities; and Policy for Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing.

Replication of project activities

Project activities themselves are not replicable, since a unique set of community groups and current public policy regarding use of medicinal plants by local communities are involved. Nevertheless, emphasis placed on good practices and positive influence on public policy, as well as the participative method of project development and execution, make effective contributions to replicability of this type of project

Capacity - Building Component

Sixteen community groups will receive capacity-building in good popular medicinal plant management and manipulation practices. In addition, capacity-building will be offered to communities involved through construction of the Cerrado Popular School. great emphasis was placed on capacity-building in good handling practices for medicinal plants and phytotherapeutical production, with the objective of improving safety in medicinal plant and phytotherapeutical use during primary health care attention

Project sustainability

This project contributed to sustainable community use of medicinal Cerrado plants by means of community empowerment and influence on public policy. In all, the 81 community groups which took part in the project were strengthened by knowledge and influence regarding the main instruments for relevant public policy. Furthermore, the focus on good handling practices for medicinal plants and preparation of phytotherapeuticals contributed to improved quality in the services rendered by community groups and more safety in use of the medications.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

This project is aimed at conservation of the Cerrado through sustainable use of medicinal plants as a strategic resource for health, generation of income and popular cultural expression. the project is aimed at sustainable use of Cerrado resources, and is regarded as an example of sustainable management of native medicinal plants

Planning non gef grant

Upscaling and sustainability are planned in the project, by means of generation of income by community pharmacies. Income from sales of medication at affordable prices to low-income populations provides support for families which are directly involved. Income is also generated from sustainable wild collection of medicinal plants, an activity which pays people and groups which sustainably manage native Cerrado medicinal plants, as well as landowners who sell sustainably collected plants from private Cerrado areas.

Gender Focus

although composed of othe men and women, the Association is predominantly made up of women, especiaally in productive activities

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

establishment and exchange of experiences in a regional network of community groups, associated with health care for low income populations and sales for those who can afford it makes it possible to generate income and economic sustainability for community pharmacies.

Policy Impact

influence is exerted on the National Medicinal Plant and Phytotherapeutical Policy Program, making evident the need for recognition of community use of medicinal plants and phytotherapeuticals as an important instrument for access of local communities to primary health care.

Notable Community Participation

representatives from 81 community-based groups which make regular use of native Cerrado medicinal plants in production of phytotherapeuticals for primary health care of populations in need.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

this project has high potential for increasing public awareness of the global and regional environment

Project Results

81 community groups benefitted directly, in the states of Minas Gerais, Goiás, Tocantins and Maranhão, with capacity-building offered for 210 representatives of these groups, 179 of whom were women and 31 men. 324 families were directly benefitted with generation of income, and 16.2 thousand indirectly, from primary health care dispensed.

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