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Project

High Juruá

Association of the Ashaninka of the Amônia River (Apiwtxa)

Project official website
Total project value
R$ 6,597,581.00
Total support amount
US$ 2,289,952.10
Concluded

Presentation

Objective

(i) To promote agroforestry management and production in traditional and indigenous communities, so as to build a sustainable economic alternative to deforestation; (ii) to provide support for territorial control and monitoring; and (iii) to strengthen local community organization

Beneficiary

Close to 720 indigenous people that live in the Kampa do Rio Amônia indigenous land (TI), represented by the Apiwtxa; and another 600 indigenous people in the Kaxinawá-Ashaninka TI by the Breu River; and 50 communities on extractive reserves from Alto Juruá; in addition to dialogue strengthening activities with Ashaninka communities in Peru by means of exchange programmes

Territorial scope

Region of Alto Juruá in the state of Acre

Description

CONTEXTUALIZATION

The Ashaninka indigenous people are concentrated predominantly in territories located in Peru. In Brazil, the ethnicity is present in the state of Acre, where TI Kampa of the Amônia River is located, in the municipality of Marechal Thaumaturgo (AC), near the Alto Juruá Extractive Reserve (Resex), on the Brazil-Peru border. More dispersed concentrations are also found in four other indigenous lands, all discontinuous, but also located in the Alto Juruá region.

The Ashaninka people on the Amônia River have a remarkable history of facing deforestation and forest degradation that are a threat to their territory¹. The Alto Juruá project is a part of that effort for the preservation and sustainable use of the forest, contemplating actions for the benefit not only of the Ashaninka people, but also indigenous and nonindigenous communities living in the surroundings of the referred TI.

The project was presented by the Ashaninka Association of the Amônia River (Apiwtxa), an agency representing the inhabitants of TI Kampa of the Amônia River that was formally registered in 1993, one year after the demarcation of this TI,  that has a total area of 87,205 hectares, in which about 720 indigenous people live.

Apiwtxa has a long history of accomplishments, having even prepared, in 2007, the Territorial and Environmental Management Plan (PGTA) of TI Kampa of the Amônia River, in a collaborative manner and aligned with the National Policy for Territorial and Environmental Management of Indigenous Lands (PNGATI). 

THE PROJECT

The project was made up of two components and was based on the experience of the Apiwtxa people. The objective of the plan was to promote efforts involving the population from the surrounding areas
of the Kampa do Rio Amônia TI in terms of building alternative means for sustainable development and also to preserve the common territory.

The first component involved the offering of advice, training and the implementation of agroforestry systems, bringing together activities needed to consolidate and expand agroforestry production. The objective of the second component was to provide support for territorial and environmental management in indigenous and traditional communities in the Alto Juruá region, based on environmental educational strategies and participative surveillance. The project also forecasted actions of cross-sectional institutional development and of community organization, related to the efforts to be employed for the sustainable development of the Alto Juruá region. 

INTERVENTION LOGIC 

The project falls under  the components “sustainable production” (1) and “land-use planning” (3) from the logical framework of the Amazon Fund. The direct effects expected by the projects’ actions were: (1.1) “economic activities for sustainable use of the forest and agroforestry identified and developed in the TIs Kampa of the Amônia river and Kaxinawá-Ashaninka of the Breu river and the Alto Juruá extractive reserve (Resex);  (1.3) “management and technical capabilities expanded in agroextractive production in the TIs Kampa of the Amônia river and Kaxinawá-Ashaninka of the Breu river and the Alto Juruá extractive reserve (Resex); (3.2) “institutions and leaders strengthened in territorial and environmental management””; and (3.2) “territorial protection structure implemented.”

By investing in the consolidation of sustainable productive activities and land-use planning in the Alto Juruá region, the project sought to create favorable conditions so that the indigenous peoples and surrounding populations may continue to fulfill their relevant role in the conservation of forests, which directly contributes to the general objective of the Amazon Fund, namely, “reducing deforestation with sustainable development in the Brazilian Amazon”.

Click on the following image to view its objectives tree, that is, how the project's outputs and linked to the expected outcomes and impact.
quadrologico_EN

¹ The oldest confrontation known resulted from illegal deforestation activities in the 1980s, prior to the demarcation of TI Kampa of the Amônia River. This issue had legal consequences that extended for 40 years and resulted in the recognition of the rights of the Ashaninka people through the Conciliation Term, under the mediation of the Federal Public Ministry (MPF), signed on March 30, 2020. See http://www.mpf.mp.br/pgr/noticias-pgr/acordo-historico-garante-reparacao-a-povo-indigena-ashaninka-por-desmatamento-irregular-em-suas-terras. The copy of the Conciliation Term is at http://www.mpf.mp.br/pgr/documentos/documentoassinado.pdf

Evolution

Date of approval 02.24.2015
Date of the contract 04.16.2015
Date of conclusion 06.22.2020
Disbursement period 39 months (from the date the contract was signed)
approval
02.24.2015
award
04.16.2015
conclusion
06.22.2020

Disbursement

date amount
1º disbursements 08.13.2015 R$1,505,462.00
2º disbursements 04.11.2016 R$1,589,644.51
3º disbursements 05.12.2016 R$288,000.00
4º disbursements 09.28.2016 R$2,172,980.55
5º disbursements 11.16.2017 R$553,871.92
6º disbursements 05.25.2018 R$487,622.02
Total amount disbursed R$6,597,581.00

Total amount disbursed in relation to the Amazon Fund’s support

100%

ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED

In relation to sustainable production, Apiwtxa prioritized the activities necessary for the consolidation and expansion of agroforestry production, focusing on actions that would increase its economic attractiveness. 

A plant nursery and a seed bank were built in the Yorenka Ãtame Center (CYÃ)¹, the former to house the production of 70,756 seedlings of various species and the latter for the production of seedlings of native fruit trees used in agroforestry systems. 

This activity was complemented by the preparation of the management plan, which made it possible to identify species with seed production potential within TI Kampa of the Amônia River. Based on this plan, three seed collection locations were demarcated in a total area of 550 hectares, 14 species having been selected for management. 

It is important to note that the creation of a seed bank demanded the construction of an air-conditioned room with equipment to receive, dry, clean and safely store the seeds until the planting season. The production of seeds and their respective commercialization are regulated activities, which made it necessary to submit the management plan to Ibama and obtain a certificate of registration of the Ayõpare Cooperative in the National Registry of Seeds and Seedlings (Renasem), linked to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply. 

Additionally, a cold storage unit to store fruit pulp was built in CYÃ, as well as small local fruit storage structures, and a refrigerated barge was purchased to transport the fruit from the communities to the industry. These structures were equipped with solar panels, and seven members of the Apiwtxa community were trained to perform maintenance services. These items were intended to complement the installation of the fruit pulp industry, conducted with resources from another project.

Regarding training in agroecology and good management practices for the implementation of SAFs, three programs were carried out, involving a total of 154 participants from Tis Kampa of the Amônia River and Kashinawá-Ashaninka of the Breu River, as well as the Alto Juruá Resex. 

The programs were carried out between 2015 and 2017 at CYÃ’s headquarters and in specific workshops in communities of the Resex, ensuring greater engagement of the multipliers and beneficiaries. They covered agroecological practices such as sowing, building nurseries, collecting seeds counting and monitoring seedlings, as well as technical support for implementing SAFs, techniques for recovering degraded areas, new soil management methods, and alternative practices to burning. 

Additionally, 57 individuals were trained in good management practices for commercialization, focusing on establishing  the productive potential of the species and good harvesting, storage and transportation practices.

In relation to the support for territorial and environmental management in the indigenous and traditional communities of Alto Juruá, priority was given to training, management and territorial surveillance and an exchange of experiences, in addition to activities related to cross-border dynamics in regions occupied by the Ashaninka people. To support territorial protection actions, three monitoring bases were built in strategic locations of TI Kampa of the Amônia River, all equipped with radio stations for communication between surveillance teams and various government bodies such as Funai, the Federal Police and the Army. These bases also supported and accommodated 18 surveillance expeditions carried out throughout the project.

In order to raise other actors’ awareness, an updated training program for nonindigenous environmental monitors was held at the Alto Juruá Resex, with the participation of 42 individuals, addressing the legislation applicable to extractive reserves, their use plan, and the public agencies’ delegations in their management.

Five meetings between Ashaninka communities on both sides of the Brazil-Peru border for monitoring and control took place under the coordination of Apiwtxa, including two editions of the Transboundary Seminar on the Territorial and Environmental Management Process. As a result of this initiative, it was agreed to draw up a joint work plan and it was discussed the possibility of signing a cooperation agreement to strengthen community organizations and manage indigenous territories. 

An additional set of activities aimed at institutional strengthening and the training of employees at Apiwtxa, at the Association of Rubber Tappers and Farmers of the Alto Juruá Extractive Reserve (Asareaj), and of representatives of the Kashinawa-Ashaninka peoples of the Breu River. The activities included investments in infrastructure that allowed opening a new headquarters for Asareaj and the headquarters used jointly by Apiwtxa and the Ayõpare cooperative, which is the unit responsible for the storage and sale of fruit pulp managed by the Ashaninka people of the Amônia River. 

As for institutional actions, the strategic and action plans of the two Associations were carried out, with the participation of representatives of TI Kashinawa-Ashaninka of the Breu River, which proved to be important in the organization and good execution of the project’s other activities.  A total of 135 producers of the Resex were trained in the management and governance of community organizations, including the legal aspects of the creation and operation of an association (bylaws, minutes, meetings, functions of the board of directors and the fiscal council); the differences between an association and a cooperative; community leadership, organization and unity; preservation of cultural identity; and fundraising strategies. 

Finally, institutional communication actions were performed with the assistance of specialized external consultants, including an audiovisual course with the participation of an Ashaninka filmmaker and the resumption of posting and content creation on the blog and Facebook page². In order to internalize technical skills at Apiwtxa, a training course in communication was held, and the branding and brand management action was prioritized, contributing to the expression of the identity and value of the products and services developed by the Ashaninka community.

¹ The Yorenka Ãtame – Saberes da Floresta Center (CYÃ) is a space located near the head office of the municipality of Marechal Thaumaturgo. Created in 2007, CYÃ integrates the assets of Apiwtxa, containing a community technology center with internet access and facilities equipped to receive and accommodate about 200 people. It carries out various activities aimed at registering and disseminating practices for the sustainable use of natural resources, as well as training based on the experiences of the Ashaninka and other traditional populations.
² See https://www.facebook.com/ashaninka.apiwtxa/

 

 

 

Final Evaluation

RESULT AND IMPACT INDICATORS

The activities of the project contributed to the results related to the components “sustainable production” (1) and “land-use planning” (3) in the Logical Framework of the Amazon Fund. 

The results of the main indicators used to monitor the expected outcomes are presented below. 

Direct effect 1.1 and 1.3: “Economic activities for sustainable use of the forest and agroforestry identified and developed in the TIs Kampa of the Amônia river and Kaxinawá-Ashaninka of the Breu river and the Alto Juruá extractive reserve (Resex)” and “management and technical capabilities expanded in agroextractive production in the TIs Kampa of the Amônia river and Kaxinawá-Ashaninka of the Breu river and the Alto Juruá extractive reserve (Resex).” 

  • Number of seedlings produced in the nursery implemented by the project (output indicator)
    Target: 60,000 | Result achieved: 70,756 
  • Reforested area through the agroforestry systems implemented by the project (outcome indicator)
    Target: 100 ha | Result achieved: 97 ha 
  • Directly managed forest area (outcome indicator)
    Target: undefined | Result achieved: 550 ha 
  • Number of individuals trained in agroecology and good management practices for commercialization (output indicator)
    Target: 150 | Result achieved: 211 
  • Number of community organizations with adequate physical structure and strategic planning (output indicator)
    Target: 2 | Result achieved: 2 

Direct effect 3.2: “Institutions and leaders strengthened in territorial and environmental management” and “territorial protection structure implemented”. 

  • Number of individuals effectively using the knowledge about community organization management acquired through training (outcome indicator)
    Target: 60 | Result achieved: 135 
  • Number of nonindigenous monitors effectively using the knowledge acquired through training (outcome indicator)
    Target: 60 | Result achieved: 42 

The partial achievement of this goal is explained by the fact that the training program took place in the initial phase of the project, when the engagement of Asareaj was not yet fully consolidated. Adaptations to the mobilization strategy were promptly carried out, such as moving the course’s location to the Resex itself, resulting in greater involvement at the end of the project. 

  • Number of community organizations strengthened for territorial and environmental management (outcome indicator)
    Target: 3 | Result achieved: 3 
  • Number of surveillance rounds carried out (output indicator)
    Target: 36 | Result achieved: 18 

The number of rounds below the target was justified by the increase in costs in relation to the budget (fuel and other inputs) and by the reduction in the number of members in the team. However, it subsidized the realization of rounds paid by other partners that were not registered as a complementary activity. In the final report, Apiwtxa concluded that there was a reduction in the incidence of irregular activities in the territory during the period of execution of the project and that, therefore, the intended purpose was fulfilled. 

As a general result, the execution of the project benefited 1,365 indigenous and 1,140 nonindigenous inhabitants of the Alto Juruá region, in the state of Acre. 

The table below shows the evolution of deforestation in the last five years in the three areas affected by the project, in addition to the total area deforested since the respective demarcations. There is a growing deforestation trend in the Alto Juruá Resex, and relative stability and preservation of integrity in both TIs, which reinforces the need and relevance of projects aimed at the protection and sustainable use of the forest, combined with permanent involvement from local communities and representative agencies. 

 

Area (km2)

Total deforested (km2)

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

Resex Alto Juruá

5,379

180.25 (3.4%)

8.99 (0.2%)

2.72 (0.1%)

1.96 (0.0%)

1.76 (0.0%)

0.18 (0.0%)

TI Kampa of the Amônia River

907.3

3.42 (0.4%)

0.07 (0.0%)

0.00 (0.0%)

0.07 (0.0%)

0.08 (0.0%)

0.00 (0.0%)

TI Kashinawá-Ashaninka of the Breu River

324.8

2.18 (0.7%)

0.00 (0.0%)

0.00 (0.0%)

0.00 (0.0%)

0.07 (0.0%)

0.00 (0.0%)

(values in parenthesis = % of the total area)
Source: dpi.inpe.br/prodesdigital/prodesuc.php. 

Institutional and administrative aspects

The execution of the project has allowed Apiwtxa to improve its management capacity and performance, highlighting, among other aspects, the development of its strategic planning, the creation of its own brand for its products and services, and the training of its members in institutional communication techniques. 

The successful execution of the project was made possible by the mobilization of several partners. In addition to the partnerships established with Acre’s state government and several of its secretariats, the monitoring activities involved close cooperation with the Brazilian Army, the Federal Police, and the municipality of Marechal Thaumaturgo. Finally, the seminars held with the Asociación de Comunidades Nativas para el Desarrollo Integral de Yurua (Aconadiysh) and the community of Sawawo/Peru were also relevant, incorporating cross-border dynamics into the territorial management agenda.  

Risks and lessons learned

The project has allowed the incorporation of new skills and knowledge by Apiwtxa and its associates, with the development of a nontimber forest management plan and subsequent management of a seed bank. This activity, in addition to expanding the scope of economic activity of local populations and representing an opportunity to add value to the results of the association, reinforced the commitment of the Ashaninka people to the defense of the forest and preservation of its native species.

From an administrative point of view, Apiwtxa identified the importance of detailed planning of budgets and schedules, considering the increase in cost over time and delays due to climatic or other reasons beyond its management possibilities. On the other hand, it was noted that the possibility of adjusting the strategy during the execution of the project allowed achieving its objectives.

The importance of the project’s monitoring activities stands out. As an example, the 1st Module of the Course in Agroecology, in 2015, had the participation of fewer individuals from the Resex than expected. During a monitoring visit, difficulties in engaging residents in the planting activities were identified. Apiwtxa mitigated this issue by conducting five workshops on agroecological practices in strategic communities of the Resex and performing monitoring visits to complement the practical portion of the training program, increasing engagement and, consequently, planting rates. 

Sustainability of results

The project has developed favorably. In terms of results, all the products and services planned were implemented, and all their objectives were achieved. 

Such results tend to be sustained over time, as the SAFs consolidate themselves as  income options for these populations. It is expected that production and revenue will reach new heights as a result of the sale of seeds and, mainly, due to the processing and distribution of fruit pulp.

This way, the construction of surveillance stations in TI Kampa of the Amônia River and the exchanges between the Ashaninka communities on both sides of the Brazil-Peru border point to the expansion of forest surveillance and protection actions. This same partnership has the potential to strengthen community organizations and the management of indigenous territories in both countries, contributing to the sustainability of the project’s results. Finally, it is important to remember that the year 2020 has been severely impacted by Covid-19. In addition to the serious risks to the health and physical integrity of indigenous peoples, the scope and long duration of the pandemic pose additional challenges to the sustainability of the results of this and other projects, which reinforces the need for a closer perspective and the permanent search for alternatives to minimize its effects.

 

Collection

In this area we offer some PDF files with the main publications generated by the project. Click the filename to start the download.