Last week, ISPN initiated the mobilization and coordination cycles of the “Integrated Environmental and Territorial Management of Indigenous Lands in Eastern Amazonia Project,” implemented with the Indigenous Work Center – CTI and with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The objective is to contribute to the conservation of the region, in the state of Maranhão and northern Tocantins, through integrated territorial and environmental management. The actions involve 10 Indigenous Lands, inhabited by approximately 19 indigenous people and totaling more than 2 million hectares.
“By training Indigenous peoples and equipping them with management tools, we hope to improve the governance and protection of these Indigenous Lands, ensuring their contribution to biodiversity conservation and the maintenance of ecosystem services,” explained João Guilherme Nunes Cruz, coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples Program at ISPN.
The project will also contribute to the implementation of the National Policy for Environmental and Territorial Management of Indigenous Lands – PNGATI, using instruments and tools recognized by the Policy, such as Territorial and Environmental Management Plans (PGTAs), Ethnomapping and Ethnozoning.
“This project brings hope to us, from the Araribóia Indigenous Land, especially for future generations, because the idea of development for us, indigenous people, has a different logic. We hope that the actions proposed in the project will strengthen our culture, our traditional food with food security, and promote territorial protection. The proposal is that these initiatives seek the conservation and protection of rivers and forests, something very important for our social organization, since most of our lands have already been burned and invaded,” emphasized Cíntia Guajajara – a member of the Coordination of the Commission of Chiefs and Leaders of the Araribóia Indigenous Land – Ccocalitia.
The initiative is part of the ISPN Indigenous Peoples ProgramIn Maranhão, it has the support of the Coordination of Organizations and Articulations of Indigenous Peoples of Maranhão – Coapima, the Articulation of Indigenous Women of Maranhão – Amima, the Wyty Catë Association and Ccocalitia, in partnership with the National Indian Foundation – Funai, especially the Regional Coordination of Maranhão.