Partner institutions and organizations hold seminar with community leaders from Conservation Areas covered by program to discuss and coordinate initiatives
To strengthen the sustainable socioeconomic development of traditional peoples and Amazonian communities involved in social and biological diversity production chains, encompassing products such as Brazil nuts, açaí berries, pirarucu fish, babassu palm, vegetable oils and sustainably managed timber, the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) and Fundo Vale have launched the Sustenta.Bio program. This pioneering alliance aims to bolster social and biological diversity economies in extractive reserves and other types of protected areas where resident families and associations are permitted to engage in sustainable activities.
The program was officially launched during a meeting called “Confluence of Knowledge – First Seminar on Integrating Sustenta.Bio Initiatives,” held in February in Manaus. Over the course of three days, technicians, community leaders and representatives of partner institutions participated in the event, which was structured around three main pillars: a presentation of the project’s results to date, a discussion about social and biological diversity production chains, and a pooling of knowledge to promote the socio-bioeconomy.
By 2027, Sustenta.Bio is expected to invest around R$24 million in 14 protected areas, spanning over 10 million hectares of the Amazon Rainforest in the states of Amazonas and Pará. The program’s objectives include promoting shifts in the economic paradigms of community enterprises, improving the quality of life of people living in and around Conservation Areas, strengthening the governance of organizations, cooperatives and associations, improving infrastructure, providing technical training, and expanding market access for products.
“Strengthening social and biological diversity production chains has been a priority for Fundo Vale for 15 years. We recognize the vital role these activities play in keeping the forest alive and ensuring the dignity of the people who live in it. This is especially critical given the growing potential of these value chains in the Brazilian market, and, more ambitiously, their scope to reach international markets,” said Patrícia Daros, Fundo Vale’s director.
“Fundo Vale firmly believes in the potential of the socio-bioeconomy as a strategy that not only protects forests but also improves the quality of life of the people living in these areas,” added Márcia Soares, Fundo Vale’s partnerships and Amazon manager.
According to ICMBio, this pioneering partnership reinforces the leadership of communities in protected areas in advancing the socio-bioeconomy. “Through Sustenta.Bio, we aim to integrate nature conservation with income generation and well-being for Amazonian communities. By keeping the forest standing, these populations are safeguarding one of the planet’s greatest biological and cultural treasures,” said Tatiana Rehder, general coordinator of ICMBio’s Socio-Bioeconomy Public Policy Area.
Connection with public policies and global agreements
Sustenta.Bio is aligned with important national public policy guidelines and commitments made by the Brazilian government through international agreements aimed at conserving biodiversity and mitigating climate change. Related Brazilian government initiatives in this area include the Action Plan to Prevent and Control Deforestation in the Amazon, the Guaranteed Minimum Price Policy for Social and Biological Diversity Products, the National School Meals Program and the Food Acquisition Program. Sustenta.Bio will also contribute directly to eight of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Sustenta.Bio in action
Sustenta.Bio began to be structured in 2023, as the result of a partnership between ICMBio and Fundo Vale. It involves six partner organizations that have been working in the Amazon region for many years, with recognized results: the Amazon Conservation and Sustainable Development Institute (Idesam), the Rio Iriri Extractive Reserve Residents’ Association, the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Institute, Operation Native Amazon, the Carauari Rural Producers’ Association and the Tropical Forest Institute.
Over the course of 2024, these organizations carried out dozens of strategic actions to strengthen collaboration and governance in production chains within traditional communities. To date, around 850 people have directly and indirectly benefited from Sustenta.Bio, through actions such as technical training, infrastructure investments, equipment purchases, the construction of a fishing warehouse and the licensing of community furniture factories. Additionally, meetings have been held for strategic planning, institutional strengthening of associations and exploring new business opportunities.
During the seminar, Mônica Fonseca, Fundo Vale’s sustainability analyst, who monitors Sustenta.Bio’s activities, highlighted the importance of the event in Manaus, which had been eagerly awaited by everyone involved in the project. “This is the result of a very intense first year of work. We are seeing how the actions we support have effectively contributed to forest conservation. ICMBio relies on these local communities to protect these areas, and this is the most efficient mechanism we have. It’s the people who live there who are responsible for maintaining these parts of the Amazon, which are so rich in traditional knowledge and biodiversity,” she said.
What representatives of extractive communities participating in Sustenta.Bio have to say
“This project has significantly improved our quality of life, particularly with the construction of a carpentry workshop in the community. This is essential for achieving our main goals: keeping young people in the community, strengthening production within our Conservation Area and increasing the value of our products. I would like to thank ICMBio, Fundo Vale – which has been a great partner – and Idesam, which has supported us in all our actions within the Conservation Area. Our primary goal is the development and protection of our region.”
Laureni Barros Flores, president of Ituxi Extractive Reserve Association
“This initiative has had a very positive impact on the lives of people and families living along the river. I would like to thank Fundo Vale from the bottom of my heart for this partnership, as well as the Tropical Forest Institute, which provides the training we need to develop our production chains, improve their quality and build a brighter future.”
Emanuel, Green Forever Extractive Reserve
“Among our production chains, pirarucu fish management is our top priority. On behalf of our communities, I would like to thank ICMBio and Fundo Vale for their support in helping us achieve our dream and improving the quality of life for our families. With their help, we built a fish warehouse in Carauari to add value to our products and better compensate our workers. Although the warehouse recently had an accident, we are rebuilding it thanks to these partnerships, which have been fundamental in bringing this project to fruition. We know that protecting our forest and the environment is only possible if families can live and thrive in the forest. This partnership allows us to maintain this harmonious cycle, preserving and sustainably benefiting from natural resources.”
Manuel Cosme Siqueira, financial director, Carauari Rural Producers’ Association
“We have been supported by the Tropical Forest Institute, an essential partner, and Fundo Vale, which is currently supporting us on this journey. For us, it’s very gratifying to know that we have partners that see us and recognize our identity as a traditional community and value our sustainable products and practices. We need to strengthen these chains and value our resources, which go beyond the financial aspect; they are part of our history, our identity and our affirmation as traditional peoples and communities. Today, we are becoming stronger, and I look to the future with the certainty that we still have a lot to learn and build. When we pursue something with seriousness and dedication, we realize that there are partners who can strengthen us and look at us with respect.”
Maria do Livramento, president of Mapuá Extractive Reserve Cooperative
“Fundo Vale has been essential, especially in the construction of infrastructure and ongoing technical assistance, in partnership with the Tropical Forest Institute and ICMBio, which have been training our group of workers. These professionals do fundamental work in the production chains for timber, açaí berries and other forest products. This collaboration with Fundo Vale has helped us gain visibility, add value to our production, seek out new markets and strengthen our capacities. All of this has come at an important time, as our region, Marajó, is one of the most neglected in Brazil, with some of the worst human development ratings in the country. Despite being rich in natural resources, we face great inequalities. This partnership has raised our profile, added value to our products and put us on a new level. This is fundamental for us, because the forest is ours, and we need to protect it for ourselves, our children and future generations.”
Samuel, president of Arióca Pruanã Extractive Reserve Cooperative