Médio Juruá Territory Forum presents progress in the region
The Médio Juruá Territory Forum gathered for its 21st annual meeting on February 18 and 19 in Carauari. The Forum brings together public and private organizations engaged in the Médio Juruá region strengthening cooperation and integration. The Forum is an important body in organizing community and conservation activities in the Medio Jurua region, and coordinating actions between different partners. The forum works to improve the quality of life of traditional peoples and communities, expand value chains, and increase conservation of biodiversity in their territory.
The event attracted 47 people from 20 different organizations, including local cooperatives and associations, government agencies, civil society organizations, universities and private companies. The Forum addressed topics of social strengthening and inclusion; education and culture; quality of life, health and well-being; environmental conservation; and income generation. The objective was to present the successes of past activities and plan for next steps.
“The Forum has a very important role in managing Conservation Units and developing traditional communities. It is also important for those outside Conservation Units, as the Forum brings together all institutions, companies and civil society organizations that engage in the Médio Juruá community. It enables wider discussions on activities and helps set priorities for the region. As a result, we can save resources and attract new resources, addressing bottlenecks that have been a problem for the region” said Manuel Cunha, ICMBio Manager at the Médio Juruá Extractive Reserve.
During the Meeting, the Territory's vegetable oil chain was discussed, including andiroba and murumuru oils that are sold to Natura, and the prospects for new initiatives under the Médio Juruá Territory Program. In addition, the results of the new survey on the Carauari Social Progress Index (SPI) were presented. The SPI is a methodology used to measure the impact of public and private investments on the well-being of communities and the environment. In Médiu Juruá it is also used measure impact of the action by the Médio Juruá Territory Program. “The Carauari Communities SPI introduced some innovations in 2019, especially in relation to riverine areas. These led to significant improvements in the general index, and in those related to basic human needs, the foundations of well-being and opportunity. All results reflect the impact of local policies introduced in the region in recent years, such as the Sanear project, the Médio Juruá Territory Program and the incorporation of higher education offered by the State University of Amazonas,” pointed out Graziela Castello from The Brazilian Center for Analysis and Planning (CEBRAP).
"The Médio Juruá Territory Program is generating expressive results for communities in the Médio Juruá and strengthening biodiversity conservation. The most recent SPI data shows that we are on the right track. So it is with great enthusiasm that we have begun to deliberate on the work of the Médio Juruá Territory Governance Forum and develop a continuing Médio Juruá Program,” concluded Roland Widmer, SITAWI's Philanthropic Funds and Program Manager.
The Forum is a governance body with community decision power rather than a top down decision process. Created in 2014 comprised of public and private organizations in the Médio Juruá Territory. Its governance includes a Steering Committee, both supported by an Executive Secretariat. Currently, the Forum is composed of 20 member organizations, and SITAWI acts as the Executive Secretary.
Learn more about the TMJ
The Médio Juruá Territory Program has been supporting several actions such as support for planning Pirarucu monitoring, aimed at protecting socio-biodiversity and improving the quality of life of local populations, as well as contributing to improving the coordination and engagement of local organizations in the Forum's meetings. The program is USAID supported under an initiative led by Natura and Coca-Cola Brazil, SITAWI coordinates the initiative within the Carauari municipality, in the Médio Juruá river region in the state of Amazonas, in partnership with the TMJ Forum. The objective of the Program is biodiversity conservation through implementation of a Territorial Development Plan in the region, bringing together a wide range of actors to amplify scale and impact of conservation and development activities in social, environmental and economic areas. Learn more about the program here.