Brazil
Programme Summary
More than 70,000 seeds were distributed to producers during 2008, these were outplanted from the nurseries to fields during the following spring and by winter 2009 the trees were flourishing. A further 230,000 seeds were distributed during Autumn 2009. To date 108 producers (including 30 children) have been trained in nursery management, 24 nurseries established, educational materials developed and provided in Portuguese.
Partners Network
- Asilo São Vincente - Association of Small Farmers - Assentados Paraná State - Amor de Mae - Assentados São Paulo State - Cooperativa Sul Brasil - Marília Oriente Bee Association
Background
São Paulo State maybe one of the of the richest regions of Brazil.and on the surface appear to the outsider not to be in immediate need of support However this is not the case as the divide between the rich and the poor is vast, the richest 20% of Brazil's population has 64% of Brazil's riches, while the poorest 20% only has 2% of the country's riches. And whilst traveling through the region, you will notice large farms of thousands of hectares, but you will also see farmers pushing their small plots of land to their limits to make a living.resulting in poor health and poor land for the poorest people of the region. The Brazilian government is trying to help by creating laws forcing land owners to reforest their lands, which in the end, will restore the land's health and benefit people. However, the government has not supplied any monetary or informational assistance, thus making it even more difficult on small land holders livelihoods
In addition to the cutting down of the forests in the region the production of sugar cane in the area also leads to hectares and hectares of land being burned every year.thus exhausting the land further cattle ranchers move in,causing further significant erosion and even greater land degradation.lands dry up,soil is washed away local springs become arid and are of little use,leading to the fall in agricultural production
plants and animal specials disappear leaving the people of the area with virtually nothing
São Paulo State contains some of the last vestiges of the Atlantic Rainforest - only 7% of the original Atlantic Rainforest remains today.
The Response
A long-term program developed to address environmental destruction, low agricultural production, and rural poverty,. Historically the greatest impediment to sustainable land management was a lack of local capacity to solve agricultural and environmental problems. Therefore, a significant portion of this initiative will be aimed at developing local capacity in agroforestry techniques that address issues endemic to Brazil such as overgrazing and the deforestation of waterways.
Program update
Winter 2009
Preparation is underway for the transplanting season. The trees from last year are growing rapidly now that Brazil has received consistent rain. Some of the people say their trees have doubled in height in the past six months. It is an exciting time in Brazil with the largest transplanting season to date beginning this month. When weather permits regular visits are scheduled to check on the progress of transplanting. The ‘downtime’ in February will be used to develop a training video to accompany the agro forestry training program. A strategy will also be developed for evaluating the project’s impacts at the end of 2010 when people’s trees are approximately one year old.
Autumn 2009
The busiest time for the project in Brazil is third quarter .All training workshops have been completed and are now distributing seeds and starting nurseries.In late September The South American Coordinator visited Brazil and together with a Brazilian Technician distributed approximately 230,000 seeds to 70 families. The Brazilian technician is the key to success of the program during these demanding times, and in January will continue to distribute more seeds and will work with community members to establish nurseries and to transplant seedlings.
Spring 2009
The team in Brazil outplanted all of the trees from 2008 nurseries to the field.The demonstration plot is starting to take form and farmers now have live fences of moringa trees that will flower for bees in the near future, and also more forage options for their animals.There are three double rows of trees following the contours of the land. These trees will provide seeds for projects in the future and farmers will be able to visit the area
to learn about agroforestry techniques. The Portuguese agroforestry manual is being updated to include new techniques for propagation and to include native species that will be used in projects in 2009.
Throughout 2008
A partnering organisation has sent seeds to individual producers in Brazil in the past, but during 2008 the organisation took steps to truly address environmental and social issues in Brazil. In January 2008 individuals and organizations working in agro forestry and development in Brazil were contacted. By June, farmers organizations were visited, informed and joined in the plight.
The environmental constraints that producers face in both São Paulo state and in north eastern Brazil were examined. Producers demonstrated their commitment to improving their agricultural systems through the addition of trees. In less than a year, hundreds of farmers and their families were reached, training workshops conducted and more than 70,000 seeds distributed. Educational materials in Portuguese were also provided.
Demonstration This area will be used to teach agroforestry Nursery established
Plot techniques and will supply seeds for projects
Individual These producers will use seedlings for green 3 nurseries established
producers fertilizer, food, and fuel wood. 3 producers trained in nursery
management, management, 2,000 seeds distributed
Moringa This project provides vitamin-rich leaves to 1 nursery established,
Afterschool improve household nutrition. 30 kids trained in nursery management,
1,000 seeds distributed
Oriente Bee This association will reforest a stream bank 1 nursery established,
Association with flowering species. 15 producers trained in nursery management,
2,500 seeds distributed
Oriente Forest People from communal housing will tend 1 nursery established,
Garden the area and benefit from its products. 15 producers trained in nursery management,
5,000 seeds distributed
Small Farmers will use seedlings to create live 15 nurseries established,
Farmers' fences, to reduce erosion, and to provide 30 producers trained in nursery management,
Association animal fodder and timber 60,000 seeds distributed
Spring These seedlings will be used for live fencing 2 nurseries established,
Reforestation around springs that need to be reforested 5 people trained in nursery management,
with native species. 5,000 seeds distributed
So to increase the likelihood of seedling survival all of these projects were started in the dry season and afterwards they are transplanted to the field in the rainy season. The trees will be transplanted in January 2009.Although communities were visited in both the southern and northern regions of Brazil, due to organisational constraints and the timing of the rainy season, only projects in the South were developed. All projects are currently located in Oriente, São Paulo state, which is about 400 km from the city of São Paulo.
On hand is a national representative who provides day-to-day assistance to producers and is developing a plan to reach nearly twice as many people in 2009. Early in 2009, producers in Paraná state will be visited and will further develop our relationship with organizations in the northeast.