Roberto Brito de Mendonça, 48, a community leader from Tumbira, inherited the logging trade from his father and grandfather. For 26 years, he endured many hungry nights in the forest. By day, he cut down trees that would sell for a fair price in the market. This all changed in 2010 when the Bolsa Floresta Program (PBF), a public policy from the Brazilian state of Amazonas, provided resources and training for the community to develop sustainable, community-based businesses, including tourism.
Today, this community, located 64 kilometers from Manaus, is home to a lodge that serves three meals a day with ingredients from the Amazon and offers tours and Wi-Fi. "Transitioning to a new way of working was a huge challenge for me, but it led to positive changes. We began to see a viable economic alternative," Roberto recalls.
He remembers Tumbira as a fragile community of 25 families that gradually witnessed remarkable changes: "Education began to thrive within the community... Tourism brought income and comfort, and it gave us the luxury of sleeping in our own beds and having regular meals."
Also in Tumbira, on the banks of the Rio Negro, is Izolena Garrido's workshop where she creates and sells vibrant bio-jewelry made from seeds and other materials from the forest. As a teacher and artisan, Izolena remembers key milestones in the community's journey to better living conditions since the 1980s.
"We experienced a significant boost in the handicraft sector, and people's lives improved. It's incredibly rewarding to hear someone say they're earning more by doing sustainable activities than they did by logging in the forest," she says with pride. For Izolena, an important goal is for Amazonas communities to become self-sufficient. "It's about believing that 'yes, I am capable. I can continue to be a forest entrepreneur with or without investment. I will continue to be the person who can keep the forest standing,'" she says with conviction.
Tumbira is part of the Rio Negro Sustainable Development Reserve, a state-protected area where families have land-use rights enabling them to engage in sustainable economic activities and seek investments.
The stories of Roberto and Izolena are among those highlighted by Bolsa Floresta since its establishment in 2007 by the Amazonas Sustainable Foundation (FAS). The program rewards traditional populations that commit to zero deforestation through four components: income, association, family, and social.
The PBF Income component supports small businesses focused on sustainable production models. The Association component helps local associations manage collective bioeconomy enterprises like tourism, fishing, crafts, cocoa cultivation and processing Brazil nuts and vegetable oils.
The Bolsa Floresta Family initiative began by providing a monthly stipend of R$50 ($10) to mothers in riverside families living in forest conservation units who commit to avoiding slash-and-burn practices in primary forests while keeping their children in school participating in local associations attending workshops on climate change environmental services The Bolsa Floresta Social invests education health communication transportation tailored needs local population
The World Bank's support for Bolsa Floresta—now known as Guardians of Forest—started December 2020 part First Amazonas Fiscal Environmental Sustainability Programmatic Development Policy Financing With $200 million loan Amazonas restructured public finances increased administrative transparency strengthened environmental conservation prepared REDD+ system forest concessions
These funds also helped extend Guardians Forest reach 14 500 families up from 9 602 supported development community infrastructure such small river ports throughout state Werner Kornexl World Bank project manager emphasizes supporting payments environmental services feature Guardians Forest one many efforts recognize contributions bioeconomy-dependent communities Feeling State other institutions acknowledging efforts significant form recognition states
Seventeen-year-old Ana Lice Chagas helping shape inclusive sustainable future Amazon economy As prepares graduate high school Tumbira received investments Bolsa Floresta aspires continue education not traditional sense I'd rather learn English other languages better welcome visitors says having introduced both Brazilian international tourists traditional craft making cassava flour
Ana Lice also involved production chain cupuaçu Amazonian fruit enjoyed fresh juices ice cream On family's small farm produce base crystallized cupuaçu cupulate latter treat chocolate flavor hints coffee nuts These artisanal products part larger array demonstrates Amazon biological creative potential
To further support forest entrepreneurs World Bank Amazonas preparing new project This initiative include reviewing state bioeconomy legislation reforming Tax Circulation Goods Services ICMS Portuguese reward environmental conservation efforts structuring REDD+ mechanism compensate communities preserve forests
The project also aims strengthen capacity state environmental agencies considering public policies needed adapt climate change These improvements eagerly anticipated not only communities near Manaus like those Roberto Izolena Ana Lice but also those more remote areas
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