Médio Juruá: Results in Favor of Biodiversity and People
October/November, 2024 - A legacy of strengthening strategies aimed at territorial development that is firmly rooted in the leadership and protagonism of Médio Juruá’s community-based organizations. This is the summary of the ‘Impact Report’ for phase two of the Médio Juruá Territory Program (PTMJ). Located in the state of Amazonas, the region is a prosperous one and is very important in terms of biodiversity, including both Conservation Units as well as Indigenous Lands.
Phase two of the PTMJ, which was focused on the continued implementation of local projects, showed significant results, with R$10.8 million in resources mobilized (between direct investment, counterpart funding and project income), contributing to the economic improvement of 4,200 local residents and the conservation of more than 1 million hectares of Amazon rainforest. During this stage, between 2021 and 2024, three main activities were developed: the promotion of the bioeconomy; territorial protection and the strengthening of community governance.
The program is coordinated by Sitawi Finanças do Bem and it has USAID, the Partnership Platform for the Amazon (PPA), Natura and the Green Climate Fund as its strategic partners. It also has the institutional partnership of the Alliance Bioversity/CIAT and other organizations, as well as with local associations that act as implementers.
The biodiversity conservation efforts of the program focused on six species, with highlights going to the pirarucu. Sustainable management of this fish has transformed the lives of local communities, which, despite being a long way from major urban centers, have managed to achieve positive marketing results. Led by the Carauari Rural Producers Association (ASPROC), the work has generated income for families, with payments above the average for the state of Amazonas. The results include more than 20 tons of pirarucu processed, 180 lakes monitored and a R$ 6,300 increase in each family's annual income.
As part of the institutional strengthening process, the review of the strategic planning of the Association of Agro-Extractivist Women of the Médio Juruá (ASMAMJ) is also one of the highlights. Through the PTMJ, the two community entrepreneurship centers - one focused on biocosmetics and the other on oilseeds - underwent logistical adjustments, administrative structuring and production improvements. A training course was held and a booklet was produced to publicize the materials produced by the women (this can be found here).
There was also an increase in the oilseed production chain, with activities ranging from training in good production practices and occupational safety to the production process of the products, with the acquisition of industrial and safety equipment and the installation of solar energy in order to promote the autonomy of administrative processes..
“The social organization arrangements of the Médio Juruá, which are also being strengthened by the PTMJ, represent a complex and highly efficient territorial management model, reconciling academic science and traditional peoples. This model also plays a crucial role in protecting the territory. Strengthening this organization, by means of its community-based institutions, is proving to be the best strategy for territorial development in the Amazon region,” states Ronnayana Silva, Territorial Program Coordinator at Sitawi Finanças do Bem.
Access the full report on the Sitawi Finanças do Bem website.
