Amazon Conservation Team

ACT WORKS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES OF TROPICAL SOUTH AMERICA TO IMPLEMENT CONSERVATION STRATEGIES.

LAND RIGHTS, PROTECTIONS & MANAGEMENT IN 2023 IN COLOMBIA, ACT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE CREATION OF 35,929 HECTARES AS INDIGENOUS RESERVE LAND IN COLOMBIA THROUGH OUR LEGAL, TECHNICAL, LOGISTIC, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT. THESE ACHIEVEMENTS ADD TO THE 2.6 MILLION ACRES OF INDIGENOUS RESERVE LAND ACT HAS ALREADY HELPED ESTABLISH IN COLOMBIA. IN THE CAQUET AND LA GUAJIRA REGIONS OF COLOMBIA, 4,500 ACRES OF FRAGMENTED ECOSYSTEMS WERE RESTORED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN 2023. DURING THIS PROCESS, 349 FAMILIES HAVE DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES IN THEIR TERRITORIES, INCLUDING THE PLANTING OF 59,561 TREES WITHIN AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS. TO CREATE AND EXPAND INDIGENOUS RESERVES IN COLOMBIA, UPDATED SOCIOECONOMIC DATA ON THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE LIVING IN THE PROPOSED RESERVE MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE COLOMBIAN NATIONAL LAND AGENCY. TOWARD THAT END, IN 2023 ACT COMPLETED A CENSUS OF THE KANKUAMO PEOPLES LIVING IN THE SIERRA NEVADA DE SANTA MARTA IN ORDER TO EXPAND THEIR RESERVE IN THE FUTURE. THIS CENSUS COLLECTED INFORMATION FROM 15 COMMUNITIES, TOTALING 8,791 FAMILIES AND 28,743 INDIVIDUALS. TO COMPLETE THE CENSUS, ACT TRAINED 75 INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ADMINISTER THE CENSUS. IN BRAZIL, ACT PROVIDED LEGAL GUIDANCE AND ADVICE TO THE WA CANOEIRO PEOPLE ON THE RECOVERY OF THEIR TRADITIONAL TERRITORY (THE TANGO WA INDIGENOUS LANDS), LEADING TO A JUDGEMENT IN FAVOR OF THE PEOPLE THAT MANDATES GOVERNMENT AGENCIES' FULFILLMENT OF RELOCATING SETTLERS. BY JOINING ANCESTRAL INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE AND WESTERN SCIENTIFIC TRADITIONS, OUR SPECIAL INITIATIVE, ANCESTRAL TIDES, WORKS TO CONSERVE SEA TURTLES WITH A NETWORK OF INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES FROM COLOMBIA TO MEXICO. IN 2023, THREE INDIGENOUS-LED MONITORING PROJECTS WERE LAUNCHED, AND THREE SEA TURTLE HATCHERIES WERE CONSTRUCTED. TO DATE, ANCESTRAL TIDES' NETWORK OF INDIGENOUS TORTUGUEROS HAS CARRIED OUT MORE THAN 500 BEACH PATROLS AND IDENTIFIED OVER 900 NESTS ACROSS FIVE BEACHES; MORE THAN 660 OF THESE NESTS WERE MOVED TO NURSERIES TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL HATCHING WITHOUT PREDATION.

GOVERNANCE AND CULTURE THE MAPPING AND STORYTELLING INITIATIVE OF OUR ACT-GUIANAS PROGRAM EXPANDED TO GUYANA AND FRENCH GUIANA IN 2023, HELPING TO STRENGTHEN FOUR COMMUNITIES' CULTURAL LINKS WITH THEIR TERRITORIES. DURING A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS, ACT INTRODUCED MAPPING AND STORYTELLING METHODOLOGIES TO ALUKU, MACUSHI AND WAYANA COMMUNITIES, CONDUCTED INITIAL PARTICIPATORY MAPPING ACTIVITIES, AND TRAINED 37 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE USE OF AUDIOVISUAL AND MAPPING EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE. IN TOTAL, MORE THAN 500 PLACES WERE MAPPED AND MORE THAN 100 STORIES RECORDED. MAPPING AND STORYTELLING WORK WAS ALSO ADVANCED WITH TRIO COMMUNITIES OF SOUTHERN SURINAME, WHO HAVE MORE THAN 150 STORIES AND 50 PLACES INTEGRATED INTO THE TERRASTORIES MAPPING APPLICATION, NOW DEPLOYED WITHIN THE COMMUNITIES. IN SURINAME IN 2023, ACT HAS BEEN FACILITATING A COMMUNITY-BASED BIOCULTURAL LIFE PLAN PROCESS IN THE TRIO COMMUNITIES OF KWAMALASAMUTU, SIPALIWINI AND ALALAPARU. THIS TOOL, HONED BY INDIGENOUS GROUPS IN COLOMBIA, INTRODUCES AN ENDOGENOUS YET COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS WHERE COMMUNITIES DEFINE ON THEIR OWN TERMS WHO THEY ARE, WHAT THEY WANT AND HOW TO SHAPE THEIR FUTURES. TOPICS INCLUDED EXTERNAL RELATIONS AND NEGOTIATION SKILLS, INTERNAL GOVERNANCE, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, LAND USE PLANNING, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, AND THE PRESERVATION OF CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND TRADITIONS. THE PROCESS IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE SELF-DETERMINATION THROUGH VISIONARY COMMUNITY PLANNING INTEGRATED WITH GOVERNMENTAL REGIONAL PLANNING. IN 2023, THE COMPLETED LIFE PLAN DOCUMENT OF THE KWAMALASAMUTU VILLAGE (HOME TO 800 PEOPLE) WAS COMPLETED AND LAUNCHED IN A HIGH-PROFILE NATIONAL EVENT BY TRIO LEADERS, ACT AND THE PRESIDENT OF SURINAME. TO STRENGTHEN INDIGENOUS GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP IN THE AMAZONAS REGION OF NORTHWEST BRAZIL, IN 2023 ACT FINANCED THE PARTICIPATION OF A DELEGATION OF SEVEN LEADERS FROM ALL VILLAGES OF THE PARAN DO BO BO INDIGENOUS LANDS TO PARTICIPATE IN AN APIAM (REGIONAL INDIGENOUS ORGANIZATION OF AMAZONAS) WORKSHOP ON TERRITORIAL MONITORING IN COLLABORATION WITH FUNAI AND THE BRAZILIAN PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. IN THE XINGU RIVER REGION OF CENTRAL BRAZIL, ACT PROVIDED SUPPORT TO THE ULUPUENE INDIGENOUS ASSOCIATION (AIU) ASSEMBLY, HELPING TO FACILITATE A SMOOTH TRANSITION BETWEEN ASSOCIATION PRESIDENTIAL TERMS. ADDITIONALLY, ACT FINANCED THE PARTICIPATION OF NINE INDIGENOUS LEADERS FROM FOUR TERRITORIES AND THE XINGU INDIGENOUS ASSOCIATION (ATIX) IN THE FREE LAND CAMPTHE LARGEST INDIGENOUS MOBILIZATION IN BRAZIL THAT HAS OCCURRED SINCE 2004, AND ONE THAT HAS BEEN HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT IN PROMOTING INDIGENOUS RIGHTS. IN BRAZIL IN 2023, ACT HAS BEEN GUIDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW INDIGENOUS MEDICINE PROGRAM IN THE VILLAGE OF URUNAI IN NORTHERN BRAZIL. THIS PROGRAM WILL HELP DOCUMENT, REVITALIZE, AND TEACH YOUNGER GENERATIONS THE ANCESTRAL HEALING KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR PEOPLE. A NEW PHYSICAL CENTER IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING CONSTRUCTED TO HOLD MEETING SPACES, WORKSHOPS, AND CULTURAL EXCHANGES. THIS BUILDING WILL ALSO HOUSE INDIVIDUALS FROM NEIGHBORING VILLAGES WHO TRAVEL TO TAKE PART IN THE PROGRAM. THE CENTER HAS BEEN NAMED CENTER FOR GUARDIANS OF ANCESTRAL KNOWLEDGE, AND DIRECTLY BENEFITS 210 PEOPLE FROM URUNAI AND THE NEIGHBORING VILLAGE OF KUXARE.

COMMUNITY LIVELIHOODS AND WELL-BEING ACT SUPPORTS INITIATIVES WITH PARTNER COMMUNITIES ON STINGLESS BEEKEEPING OF NATIVE BEES (MELIPONICULTURE) ACROSS ITS PROGRAMS IN SURINAME, COLOMBIA AND BRAZIL. THESE INITIATIVES PROMOTE HONEY AND PROPOLIS AS MEDICINE AND FOOD, AND COMMERCIAL HARVESTING WHEN SUITABLE. STINGLESS BEE PROJECTS ALSO ENCOURAGE THE APPLICATION AND RECOVERY OF CULTURAL MEMORY (TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE) ABOUT NATIVE BEES AND THE PROTECTION OF THE STANDING FOREST REQUISITE FOR NATIVE BEES TO BE PRODUCTIVE. IN 2023, THE STINGLESS BEE-KEEPING PROJECT IN THE KWAMALASAMUTU VILLAGE WAS THE MOST PROFITABLE AMONG ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOOD INITIATIVES IN THE VILLAGE. THERE ARE CURRENTLY ~400 HIVES OF SEVERAL SPECIES BEING MANAGED BY 77 BEEKEEPERS IN THREE VILLAGES, WITH POTENTIAL FOR BEEKEEPERS TO EARN UP TO $200 PER QUARTERLY HARVEST. OVER THE PAST YEAR, THE PRODUCTION OF PROPOLIS (MEDICINAL PLANT RESIN) AND HONEY HAS INCREASED BY 250% AND PROFITS HAVE INCREASED BY 300% PER BEE-KEEPING FAMILY. ACT CONTINUES TO SUPPORT VITAL INFRASTRACTURE PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE COMMUNITY HEALTH AND THE WELL-BEING OF OUR INDIGENOUS PARTNERS ACROSS BRAZIL. IN 2023, WE COMPLETED STAGES 4/5 OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE URUNAI ANCESTRAL KNOWLEDGE CENTER, AN IMPORTANT TRADITIONAL HEALTH CLINIC LOCATED IN AN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY IN AN EXTREMELY REMOTE REGION OF NORTHERN BRAZIL. ACT ALSO SUPPORTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF SIX TRADITIONAL HOUSES IN THE ULUPUENE VILLAGE ON THE XINGU RIVER AFTER MUCH OF THE VILLAGE WAS BURNT DOWN DURING THE 2023 FIRES. IN COLOMBIA, ACT HAS BEEN A KEY IMPLEMENTER IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERCULTURAL INDIGENOUS HEALTH SYSTEMS (SISPI) THAT INTEGRATE TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND MEDICINAL PRACTICES INTO WESTERN HEALTH SYSTEMS. THE STATED COMMITMENT OF THE COLOMBIAN GOVERNMENT TO INCLUDE SISPI IN THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN IS AN IMPORTANT RECOGNITION OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINES. IN 2023, 63 COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM EIGHT COMMUNITIES WERE TRAINED AS INTERCULTURAL HEALTH PROMOTORS. IN TOTAL, ACT HAS NOW ACCOMPANIED 87 COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE INITIAL DEVELOPMENT PHASES OF THIS INITIATIVE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE KOREBAJU, EMBERA, PASTO AND MURUI MUINA PEOPLES. IN COLOMBIA IN 2023, 356 SOLAR LAMP KITS WERE INSTALLED IN 34 COMMUNITIES IN THE MIDDLE AND LOWER CAQUET RIVER REGIONS OF COLOMBIA AND IN THE AMAZON RIVER REGIONS OF PERU. 29 COMMUNITIES ARE LOCATED IN COLOMBIA AND 4 IN PERU. IN TOTAL, 1,529 PEOPLE FROM 356 FAMILIES BENEFITED. UPON THE DELIVERY OF THE SOLAR LAMPS, FAMILIES SAW A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THEIR FINANCES. ON AVERAGE AMONG THE 3 GEOGRAPHIES, A SAVING OF 64.6% IN EXPENSES WAS REPORTED DUE TO A REDUCTION IN CANDLE, BATTERY, GASOLINE, DIESEL, AND GENERATOR EXPENSES.