The environmental restoration of indigenous territories, traditional communities, and settlements, conceived from the perspective of agroecology and the worldviews of these peoples, aiming at the integrated management of landscapes, is the focus of the course “From the backyard to the landscape: Training in agroforestry, restoration and integrated management in the Gurupi Mosaic.The training is divided into five modules and aims to discuss the landscape-scale benefits of environmental restoration when carried out through agroforestry practices that combine trees with food crops and promote food security, income generation, and community well-being. The training is conducted by the Institute for Society, Population and Nature (ISPN), in partnership with the Center for Indigenous Work (CTI), through the Indigenous Landscapes project, with support from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad), via the Norwegian International Climate and Forestry Initiative (NICFI).
In order to begin this training journey, the first module of the course was held in Santa Inês (MA), between November 28th and December 3rd, 2022, with approximately 30 participants, including representatives from the indigenous lands of the Gurupi Mosaic, the Gurupi Biological Reserve, the Landless Workers' Movement (MST-MA), and the Quilombo do Onça (MA). The focus of this stage of the course was the importance of agroforestry backyards as the starting point of these processes, also highlighting native trees as the main protagonists of environmental recovery initiatives. Learn more below.
It all starts in the backyard.
“The primordial backyard” was the highlight of the first module, reflecting on how this space is the starting point for thinking about environmental recovery on a larger scale. “We often observe that neither academia nor public policies give much value to backyards, but today we know there is much to discover. The farmer becomes an experimenter; he is already conducting research in his backyard before expanding planting to larger spaces, such as cultivated fields, for example,” stated Robert Miller, technical advisor at ISPN and one of the course coordinators. Backyards, therefore, are “laboratories” where farmers test, store, and multiply new plants, being components of the agricultural systems of each culture or people. For Miller, experiences in backyards also help maintain networks of plant exchange and knowledge that contribute to community social life.
Two indigenous experiences presented stimulated discussions among the course participants about the use of cultivated spaces, where certain species are selected for specific uses, whether associated with rituals, income generation, community infrastructure, among others. The first of these was the cultivation of guarana (Paullinia cupana) or sapodilla, as it is known by the Sateré-Mawé people of the Amazon, who, through their traditional knowledge, maintain centuries-old guarana groves intercropped with fruit trees and timber species. The second experience dealt with the queenwood tree (Centrolobium paraensisThe ginger tree, cultivated by various indigenous peoples of the Roraima Lavrado (savanna), is primarily used in house construction. “What we plant in our backyards is also shared with our neighbors, as our grandparents taught us,” said Valdeir Tembé, sharing his personal experiences. “Besides that, it (the backyard) provides such beautiful shade for us, whether in the morning or afternoon, we stay under the trees where it's all cooler, so we take care of these trees because they also take care of us,” he added. Marina Cíntia Guajajara highlighted the aspect of maintaining community health and mentioned backyards as important actors in these processes. “My grandmother and mother dedicate themselves to planting medicinal herbs in our backyard and distribute these seedlings throughout the community. When the pandemic came, these plants helped us treat the symptoms of Covid, such as our native ginger,” she reported.
According to Maria Sales, from the Sigra/Lagoa Grande settlement (MA), backyard gardens can be an important alternative source of income for farming families, while simultaneously promoting reforestation and environmental awareness in future generations. “In our backyard gardens, we prioritize planting fruit trees, but we also have vegetable gardens, medicinal plants, and small livestock, as all of this contributes to family income in addition to food security. Furthermore, in the settlements, we try to use backyard gardens as starting points for reforestation of larger areas, and it is very important to involve children in these processes so that they grow up with this awareness of environmental preservation and the importance of diversity,” she stated.
Trees as protagonists
The module also discussed trees as key players in restoration processes. Beyond their biological functions, trees are important parts of indigenous cosmologies, where they are responsible for generating life in the forest, rivers, and nature as a whole. To further this discussion, the experience of the Tikuna people of the Amazon was presented, whose... "Book of Trees"The text discusses the value and significance of various native species, both for physical and cultural survival. "It's very important to hear the stories of other Indigenous relatives to reflect on our own. For us, trees are living heritage that carry with them the history of the creation of our humanity, both human and non-human, because animals, rivers, and nature are also humanity. That's why we cherish our trees so much," emphasized Iracadju Ka'apor.
But which trees would be most suitable for restoration initiatives? One of the points discussed by everyone was the use of species by both people and animals in the forest. “Without trees there is no fruit, and without fruit there are no animals, and without animals there is no game, which is very important for our survival,” stated Valdir Krahô. The return of the fauna also means obtaining fundamental elements for the practice of various rituals and celebrations, such as the Festa do Moqueado of the Guajajara people, which depends on hunting. Besides being sources of protein, animals also help in seed dispersal and contribute to accelerating restoration processes.
Learning about the recovery experiences of the Rio Pindaré Indigenous Territory.
The course participants had a field day in the Rio Pindaré Indigenous Territory (MA), where they learned firsthand about various experiences in environmental recovery, management, and indigenous territorial protection. They were welcomed by the Guardians of the Forest, firefighters, and the Wiriri Kuzá Wá women's group. These three groups make up the "triad" of territorial management of the Rio Pindaré Indigenous Territory, whose actions are coordinated by the Mainumy Community Indigenous Association.
By speedboat, the visitors traveled to Lake Bolivia, a heritage site of the Indigenous Territory, which is the scene of constant tension between Indigenous people and non-Indigenous invaders who enter the territory to hunt and fish illegally. From the Guardians' support base, they walked through the forest to see one of the springs that is being reforested by the Indigenous people and which, for more than five years, has become a perennial source again. The place is considered an example of resilience and the return of biodiversity to the territory. “This walk in the forest is very emotional for me, because where I grew up it was like this, but now it's all pasture. Being here with Indigenous relatives and seeing this recovery work they do shows the strength of these people; our struggles are very similar,” said Mr. João da Cruz, from the Quilombo do Onça.
In the Piçarra Preta village, they also learned about the reforestation experience of Samanta Guajajara's family, who associate their affection for the recovered forest with the memory of their ancestors. "I want to feel what my grandmother felt, I want this area to be as she described it; here we feel her presence and the spirits of the forest. We will continue taking care of everything she left for us," she emphasized.
The course participants also visited Mr. Pita Guajajara's backyard, which incorporates a variety of native forest species. The Forest Guardians also explained how they organize themselves and carry out their territorial protection work. indigenous firefighters They also spoke about their important work in controlling the arson fires that were recurrent in the Indigenous Territory. The group of Indigenous women explained how they plant trees for the reforestation of degraded areas and raise awareness in the surrounding community. And at the end of the visit, the hosts concluded the day with a Guajajara song.
“It was great to receive this group of course participants, to have this immersion in our work; it helps with visibility and strengthens our actions,” stated Arlety Guajajara, president of the Mainumy Association.
Seed and seedling fair and inter-module practices
As a final activity to promote intercultural dialogue and the exchange of knowledge, the module concluded with a seed and seedling exchange fair among the participants. Seeds from various crops, such as heirloom varieties of beans, rice, broad beans, and pigeon peas, and native trees like mahogany, aroeira, bacuri, and araribá, among others, were shared. Each participant also put together a "kit" of various fruit and timber tree seedlings acquired from a local nursery. The fair connects with the activities that the participants will carry out during the break until the next module, including planting and observing the performance of both the seeds and seedlings in their backyards and fields.
Among other inter-module activities, participants will also be required to conduct a study of a representative backyard, surveying the trees and plants found and making observations about their use, management, and cultural value. To this end, they received, as part of the teaching materials, the “Multilingual Guide to the Trees of the Gurupi Mosaic,” which aims to assist in identifying priority species for planting, whether due to their importance for human use (food, medicine, crafts, construction, etc.) or as food for wildlife. In the next module, everyone will present the results of their backyard studies and their work on the trees.