Conserving the Amazon: map, manage, protect A conservation strategy 

Summary

The Strategy...... page 03

Context ...... page 04

Map, Manage, Protect: A Summary ...... page 09

Map ...... page 10

Manage ...... page 11

Protect ...... page 13

ACT’s Publication Series: Map, Manage, Protect...... page 14

© ACT Editions Reproduction of this publication is permitted when the source is referenced 2nd edition. Printing: 500 exemplares Publication of this edition: May 2008

ACT Brazil

President Vasco van Roosmalen Vice President Almir Narayamoga Surui Publication and editorial project Ana Carolina Kalume Maranhão Drafting and graphic production Masanori Ohashy - Idade da Pedra Diagramming Alexandre Lemos (Intern) Idade da Pedra Review and translation: David Stone and Renata Carvalho Giglio de Oliveira Photograph ACT Brazil´s files © Bento Viana/ Oikos Image Agency/ ACT Brasil Editions © Fernando Bizerra/ BG Press / ACT Brasil Editions 

The Strategy Based on successful bio-cultural conservation experiences and relationships in the field, ACT and its partners have designed a multi-year, 140 million acre rainforest conservation strategy along three regional axes in the and based on a three-step approach: Map, Manage, Protect. This innovative and effective conservation strategy focuses on the need to increase indigenous and local capacity to manage and protect the Amazon’s remaining rainforests while also addressing the urgent survival needs and well-being of indigenous communities.

Amazon Conservation Team’s area of expertise

Parque Nacional Terra indígena Uru-Ueu-Wau-Wau Resguardo Cozumbe das Montanhas do Tumucumaque Terra indígena Zoró Resguardo Niñeras Terra indígena 7 de Setembro Terra indígena Kwamalasamutu Resguardo São Miguel Terra indígena Igarapé Lourdes Terra indígena Tepu Resguardo de San Marcelino Terra indígena Médio Rio Negro II Terra indígena Wajana Resguardo y Cabildo Inga-Camza Terra indígena Nhamundá-Mapuera Assatrizy Resguardo y Cabildo Inganos del Cauca Terra indígena Parque do Tumucumaque Cabildo Inga-Camza Resguardos e Cacijagos Coregajes Terra indígena Parque do Xingu Resquardo del Caquetá Terra indígena Trombetas Mapuera Resguardo Buena Vista América do Sul 

Context

The Area

The Amazon basin is characterized by a large network of river systems flowing through the world’s largest extent of tropical rainforests. Covering territories in nine different countries in , the rainforest is assailed by deforestation on a great number of fronts driven by mega infrastructure projects and large-scale conversion to crop and cattle lands. Its most pristine territories are located in the remote border regions of the Amazonian countries and those places where still make up a large part of the forest’s inhabitants. In the zones of destruction, indigenous lands make up a majority of the areas still forested and protected. ACT and its partners intend to work along three important axes of standing rainforests where ACT already has a strong presence and relationship with local communities:

The northeast Amazon including French Guiana, , Guyana and northeastern Brazil; The northwest Amazon including and Brazil; The central Amazon along the Brazilian Amazon states of Rondônia, Mato Grosso and Amazonas.  

The Actors

Indigenous communities are the main actors within this unique conservation strategy, involving government, NGOs and local communities. These Indians inhabit, intimately know and manage large swaths of rainforest including crucial headwaters and high areas. Today, indigenous chiefs, shamans, institutional representatives, men, women, young and old are working for the protection of their forests and the well-being of their communities. ACT, its staff and its partners have longstanding relationships with the indigenous communities with whom they work and extensive experience in the implementation of community-led programs.

Facts

Over 20% of the Brazilian Amazon has been demarcated as indigenous territories; Over 50% of Suriname rainforests have been mapped and are used by indigenous peoples; Indigenous peoples are the main conservation actors in the some of the world’s most remote forests; Indigenous communities have mapped 50 million acres of previously unknown forest regions in great detail; Indigenous lands are often the last remaining forested lands in the arc of deforestation. 

The Steps Toward Destruction

History has shown that the destruction and conversion of forests move more quickly than the ability to turn forests into protected areas. Logging and mining operations arrive first with the first roads constructed or even where there are no roads in the case of mining. These inroads are soon followed by frontier farmers and principally cattle ranchers. The continued improvement of roads and infrastructure then allow the implementation of large-scale monocultures such as soybeans, cotton and rice. Indigenous peoples living in these regions are over- run, co-opted or become the last defenders of the last remains of forests. Cultures, livelihoods and communities are all decimated and with them, their forests. The threats and conditions that force indigenous communities to make life-changing choices for themselves, their children and their forests are imposed from one day to the next without providing these peoples with a clear understanding of what these conditions will mean for the future. 

The Consequences

The global public – especially the inhabitants of the Amazon region – are beginning to see the consequences of this unbridled expansion of deforestation. Environmental degradation, erosion, drought, poverty and social upheaval are all part of the reality of the Amazon region today. Indigenous and local conservation leaders live under threat but receive only limited assistance in their struggle. Indigenous communities in areas that already have gone through full conversion to cropland have lost their lands and forests and depend on government handouts and day labor jobs for their continued survival. In Brazil, over 200 indigenous languages and their communities have gone extinct and, with them, more than 10% of the Brazilian rainforest (an area the size of France) has already disappeared without hope of return. 

Map, Manage, Protect: A Summary One does not transform a standing forest into an effectively-safeguarded protected area overnight. Nor can one expect an indigenous community to transform itself into a protection force of its traditional territories from one day to the next in the face of ever-increasing pressure from the outside. These transformations require a concerted effort with clearly outlined strategies and goals. 10

Map

ACT’s experience has repeatedly demonstrated that any strategy seeking to provide real protection to traditional lands must begin with the generation of a detailed area map. ACT and its partners have developed and implemented a number of different methodologies to work with indigenous communities to map their traditional territories and evaluate both challenges and opportunities. These tools include cultural and land use maps, risk maps, ethno-environmental surveys, remote monitoring and local capacity-maps.

Why map?

Secure ; Goal Create a foundation for ACT will work with its partners in mapping 140 million sustainable management of acres of indigenous rainforest lands by 2012. territories; Create a foundation for Facts real and effective protection Through 2006, ACT and its partners have trained over of forests; 150 indigenous cartographers and helped 20 ethnic Identify and diagnose groups map: threats; Identify and implement 50 million acres of rainforests; solutions; 8.000 indigenous place names; To legally create and or 120 indigenous villages; expand protected areas. Hundreds of sites of cultural and historic importance; Thousands of sites of traditional resource use. 11

Manage

Any strategy that contemplates the preservation of the Amazon’s forests needs to identify means to ensure their proper management with real benefits for those performing that management, whether this involves economically and ecologically sustainable extraction activities or a more hands-off, pure protectionist approach. Together with the Why Manage? maps produced, communities can Provide basic incomes for communities in a sustainable sit down and discuss internally manner, ensuring the protection of their forests and how to best move forward as biodiversity values; well as how to negotiate with Get ahead of uncontrolled and destructive extractive potential partners and explore activities and create real incentives for protection; sustainable ways to ensure income Because the inhabitants of these forests are the ones generation for the community who know and understand these forests and have the while maintaining and protecting greatest stake in their fate; their forests and traditions. Allow the protectors of the forest to live according to Management also involves the their culture and effectively deal with the changes wrought sustainable use of scarce biological by contact with the outside world. resources, flora and fauna as well as proper management of systems. ACT specializes in the implementation of programs Goal that focus on the strengthening ACT will collaborate with indigenous communities in of such systems, with emphasis designing and implementing sustainable management on improving community health, plans in every indigenous territory area mapped by 2015. education and food security. Facts

ACT and its partners have helped train over 400 indigenous representatives in computing, institutional operations, project administration, and other essential skills for the proper management of their traditional territories; ACT and its partners have helped construct and operate four traditional health clinics and numerous traditional health brigades combining the best of western and ; ACT and its partners have helped set up Shamans and Apprentices Programs which engage over 100 shamans and apprentices; ACT supports the design and implementation of indigenous development plans with indigenous associations in Colombia, Brazil and Suriname. 12

Park Guards Trained

park guards 2005 22

park guards 2007 56

park guards 2010 270 13

Protect

It is of no constructive use to help map bio-cultural values without also working with indigenous communities to help them protect these values. Developing a sustainable management plan also has no effect if one can not enforce it or protect one’s forests from illegal activities. Real protection requires much more than just mapping and monitoring. ACT seeks innovative protection strategies that are compatible with local realities and the Why Protect? needs of indigenous people who see “protection” of their homelands from The most pristine areas of the Amazon are usually also a very different perspective. As result, the most remote. More and more indigenous people know in some case entire families are given that when they lose their lands and culture, they have few tools to perform vigilance activities while other options for survival; in other cases ACT has partnered with A healthy future for their children likely depends on their the International Ranger Federation and ability to protect their forests and communities today; regional government agencies to develop To ensure the protection of crucial headwater areas, park guard courses specifically designed to carbon sinks and high biodiversity areas for future train indigenous peoples in dealing with generations. the realities of protecting their forests and bio-cultural resources.

No person, indigenous or non-indigenous, Goal is born a professional protector; however, ACT and its partners will help our indigenous partners when their homeland is under threat, these design and effectively implement integral and people are the ones who will defend the effective protection plans for all areas mapped by forests. To help them with these pressures 2012 and work with all involved to ensure the financial and effectively deal with the complex sustainability of these initiatives. issues that relate to the protection and management of large territories, they must have the proper tools, technology, Facts training and skills. By helping indigenous Indigenous Park Guards trained over the last two people master and gain access to years – 40 representatives from 11 indigenous groups technologies such as GPS, GIS, computers, from Brazil and Suriname; infrastructure, internet, Google Earth, Non-indigenous Park Guards trained – 28 officials interpretation of satellite imaging, and by from 15 institutions (governmental and non- combining those tools with knowledge of governmental organization); their ancestral territories and deeply vested 25 Professionals from 13 institutions participated as interest in the protection of these lands, instructors in the Park Guard Training courses; ACT and its partners have helped create a All of the courses are certified and accompanied by new generation of protectors, able to work the International Ranger Federation (IRF). in both our world and theirs. 14

ACT’s Publication Series: Map, Manage, Protect

ACT and its partners have created a publication series called Map, Manage, Protect. The publications that will make up this series are based on successful collaborative field experiences with indigenous and traditional communities. The series will include primers and how-to guides on the following subjects: cultural maps; risk maps; indigenous park guard training; vigilance plans; individual management plans; and indigenous institution-building (including both traditional knowledge networks and new bodies such as their representative associations).

Written and edited by the technicians and the indigenous professionals who have implemented the actual projects, these manuals contain the step-by-step procedures for the implementation of these successful collaborative methodologies. Written for the leaders of indigenous communities and for the institutions which partner with them, these manuals are an attempt to bring much needed practical and technical knowledge directly to the populations that need it most: the indigenous communities in the field.

The series will also include supporting materials such as a code of ethics for park guards; indigenous park guard field manuals; GIS manuals and mapping manuals for cartographers; and maps and publications describing the actual situation of indigenous communities and their forests in the Amazon basin.

ACT’s Publication Initiative is supported by the Richard & Rhoda Goldman Fund, the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation, and the Carl & Roberta Deutsch Foundation. Collaborators include local NGOs, academic institutions, and most instrumentally the indigenous associations and communities themselves.

The successes of the efforts to date have been possible only through sincere and effective collaboration between tribes, cultures, nationalities, and disciplines. We hope that the publication of these manuals will foster more of these collaborative efforts. Partners

Associação de Defesa Etnoambiental Kanindé Consejo Regional Indígena del Orteguaza Medio Coreguaje Rondônia, Brazil Caquetá, Colombia

Asociación de Autoridades Tradicionales Indígenas de la Environmental Battalion of Amapá Zona de Yapú Amapá Brazil Vaupés, Colombia Fundação Nacional do Índio (Funai) Asociación de Cabildos indígenas del pueblo Siona Rondônia and Amapá, Brazil Putumayo, Colombia Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Asociación de Cabildos Nukanchipa Atunkunapa Alpa Naturais Renováveis (Ibama) Cauca, Colombia Amapá and Brasília, Brazil

Asociación de Cabildos Tandachiridu Inganokuna International Ranger Federation – IRF Caquetá, Colombia Organization of the American States – OAS Organização Metareilá do Povo Indígena Suruí Associação dos Povos Indígenas Tiriyó, Kaxuyana, e Rondônia, Brazil Txikiyana (APITIKATXI) Amapá, Brazil McMaster University Programme for Indigenous Studies Hamilton, Ontario Associação dos Povos Indígenas do Tumucumaque (APITU) Tumucumaque, Brazil Medische Zending Suriname Paramaribo, Suriname Associação dos Povos Indígenas Tiriyó, Kaxuyana, e Txikiyana Military Police of Amapá Amapá, Brazil Amapá, Brazil

Associação Indígena Hopep (Trumai Community) National Aboriginal Health Organization Xingu, Brazil Ottawa, Ontario

Associação Indígena Moygu (Ikpeng Community) Pan American Development Foundation Xingu, Brazil Washington, DC

Associação Indígena Myrená (Kamayurá Community) Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Xingu, Brazil Bogotá, Colombia

Associação Indígena Tulukai (Waurá Community) Stichting NANA Xingu, Brazil Paramaribo, Suriname

Associação Jakui Tareno ma Wajanaton-Akoronmato (TALAWA) Kalapalo Community (Organization of Trio and Representatives of Xingu, Brazil Southern Suriname) South Suriname Cabildo Inga Kamtzá De Mocoa Caquetá, Colombia Unidad Administrativa Especial del Sistema de Parques Nacionales Naturales Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment, Bogotá, Colombia McGill University Montreal, Quebec United States Agency for International Development Washington, DC Centraal Bureau Luchkartering Paramaribo, Suriname Universidade Federal do Amapá Amapá, Brazil Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario Bogotá, Colombia United States Agency for International Development – USAID AMAZON CONSERVATION TEAM ACT BRASIL 4211 N. Fairfax Dr. SAS, Quadra 03, Bloco C, Arlington, VA 22203 Ed. Business Point - Salas 301 a 306 Phone: 703-522-4684 Cep: 70.070-934 - Brasília- DF Fax:703-522-4464 Phone/Fax: (561) 3323-7863 e-mail:[email protected] e-mail: [email protected]

ACT COLOMBIA ACT SURINAME Calle 38, No 8/12, Oficina 402, Nickeriestraat #4, Bogotá DC, Colombia Paramaribo, Suriname Phone/Fax: (57) (1) 323-0460 Phone/Fax: (597) 401-264 Cel (57) 310-609-6921 (597) 401-268 e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]