Project
Biodiversity protection in Brazil. Land and income for traditional communities in the Cerrado region
Theme(s): Forest
Géographie: South America
Duration: January 2023 – December 2025
Partner: Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER)
Objective
To ensure that traditional rural communities in the Cerrado region receive recognition of their land rights and can effectively participate in democratic and economic life.
Context and Challenges
Local communities in the Cerrado have practiced environmentally respectful agriculture and wild plant gathering for generations. However, the expansion of large-scale agro-industrial and mining projects threatens to expropriate them, putting their livelihoods and sources of income at serious risk.
Why It Matters
This project is essential for preserving sustainable ways of life and the fragile ecosystems of the Cerrado, one of the most endangered regions in South America. Securing land rights for traditional communities promotes both environmental protection and social justice, while preserving traditional knowledge and practices.
Key actions
- Securing land rights and recognition of traditional practices
- Market access and income generation
- Strengthening civil society to claim access to public services and policies
Partner Organisation
Swiss Church Aid (HEKS/EPER) is a charitable organization founded in 1946. It supports development cooperation projects in over 30 countries, with a focus on climate justice, the right to land and food, asylum and migration, and social inclusion. Since the 1980s, EPER has been
Project gallery
Pictures © Valda Nogueira, CGS, Codecex
