outubro, 02 2023

By Daniely Lima, from WWF-Brazil

The world's most biodiverse savannah was at the center of political discussions in Brasília. From September 13^th to 16^th, around 8,000 people, including representatives from traditional populations and communities from nine Brazilian states, gathered in the federal capital to participate in the 10^th Cerrado Peoples' Meeting and Fair.

Organized since 2001 by the Cerrado Network, which includes various organizations, including WWF-Brazil, the event celebrated the theme "Connecting Peoples, Cultures, and Biomes'' with a program filled with debates, workshops, cultural activities, and a fair showcasing products from the biome. Topics discussed included sociobiodiversity, tools for strengthening and recognizing traditional territories, communication, and youth.

"This meeting is super important. People from various states and territories, which are their places of life, come to showcase the richness of the biome. Bringing everyone to the center of Brasília is a way to draw the attention of the authorities [to the pressures that the Cerrado and its populations face]," emphasizes Maria de Lourdes de Souza Nascimento, known as Dona Lourdes, the general coordinator of the Cerrado Network.

Some activities took place in tents named after species of animals, plants, and other elements of the Cerrado. For example, the "Araticum" Tent, named after the fruit, which also names the "Articulation for Cerrado Restoration", a collective that has been strengthening local organizations and promoting public policies for the past 3 years, was one of the highlights.

Seed collectors exchanged experiences at the location, where there was also an exhibition of native seeds and dialogues with government representatives and civil society. All of this was aimed at reinforcing the importance and pointing the way for Cerrado restoration.

"Restoring a landscape goes beyond planting trees: it involves income, food, productivity, culture, species diversity, and people, it involves colors, both in skin and in flowers. Restoring native vegetation brings life back to degraded areas," emphasizes Veronica Maioli, a Conservation and Restoration specialist at WWF-Brazil.

Zero Deforestation

In the "Veredas" Tent, one of the main topics discussed was combating deforestation,  currently one of the most impactful problems on the biome. State public policies, the advance of agribusiness, threats to the Cerrado and its peoples' extinction, the European Union-Mercosur Agreement, the regulation on imported deforestation, and water resources were on the agenda.

Deforestation in the Cerrado surged in the first 15 days of September, reaching 286 km² - a 136% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the most recent data available from the Deter System of the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe). In the cumulative data for 2023, from January 1^st to September 15^th, the biome has already lost 5,768 km². This represents a 23% increase compared to the same period in 2022 when 4,696 km² were deforested.

With this scenario, the importance of a strengthened Cerrado at the center of political discussions, with the involvement of traditional peoples and communities, who are the guardians of the biome and the primary affected by its losses, is reinforced.

"We need to consider the social context of deforestation in the Cerrado. It is urgent to eliminate deforestation and strengthen the struggle of local peoples and communities because traditional territories are fundamental conservation areas", says Ana Carolina Crisostomo, a Conservation specialist at WWF-Brazil, who participated in one of the thematic panels.

Federal government representatives also took part in the discussions, including Sônia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Marina Silva, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, and Paulo Teixeira, Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Farming.

"The Peoples' Meeting is a moment to make commitments, celebrate achievements, but also make demands. I am committed to all of Brazil's biomes, and we will combat deforestation, period. Nature doesn't distinguish between legal and illegal deforestation. We can be an agricultural powerhouse without having to cut down one more bush," declared Marina.

Festival of Flavors and Cultures

The Fair of the Cerrado Peoples' Meeting marked the 2023 edition with a celebration of flavors, cultures, and the rich diversity of productive chains in the biome, along with the traditions of local communities. The event featured the participation of 272 exhibitors from nine Brazilian states. Over four days, the 22 stalls attracted 7,800 visitors and raised nearly R$ 300,000.

Highlighted products included handicrafts, food derived from fruits like baru, babaçu, and buriti, as well as traditional medicine items and cosmetics. It was a true celebration of Cerrado culture and resources.
In addition to promoting a festival of colors and flavors, the public also enjoyed cultural performances by artists from the biome on the main stage of the event.

WWF-Brazil at the Peoples' Meeting

WWF-Brazil supported the organization of the 10^th Peoples' Meeting, facilitating the participation of over 90 representatives and community leaders from the biome in Brasília. The organization also participated in thematic activities, such as roundtable discussions and workshops on zero deforestation, sociobiodiversity of baru, restoration, the importance of community philanthropy, and communication.

"Strengthening the biome and its community organizations in such a politically charged space as the capital of the country is essential for our organization. Cerrado conservation is an urgent and indispensable priority to ensure the preservation of Brazil's biodiversity, water security, and the ways of life of its traditional peoples and communities," concludes Bianca Nakamato, a Conservation specialist and leader of the Cerrado strategy at WWF-Brazil.