CONTEXTUALIZATION

The collection and cracking of the babassu coconut, which by its own form of social organization, use of territories and practices transmitted from generation to generation, characterize women who historically perform this economic activity as a "traditional community". The breakers work daily for the conservation and democratization of the access to natural resources, placing the culture of the babassu as an alternative to the practices of deforestation, burning and illegal occupation of public areas.

The Interstate Association of the Movement of Women Babassu Coconut Breakers has as its origin the union, from 1991, of these groups of women babassu coconut breakers, and was formalized as an association in 2002. The organization aims, in short, to preserve the (babassu areas) forest, generate productive income from family agro-extrativism and improve the living conditions of the families of babassu coconut breakers, as well as spread the knowledge of their rights.

The mobilization of the coconut breakers contributes directly to the recognition of the coconut breaker's way of life, to develop capacities and promote entrepreneurship among these women and to strength their organization, promoting reflection on gender issues in their communities and the building of joint solutions to their main problems.

THE PROJECT

The project "Preserving the Babassu Forest" aims to contribute to the protection of native babassu forests and the improvement of the living conditions of the agro-extractivist families. The territorial scope of the project corresponds to 59 municipalities in the states of Pará, Tocantins and Maranhão. In a large part of this area, the forest environment of the babassu areas, intermingled with other agro-extractivist activities, represents the only formation with remaining native forest species.

The main component of the project is the strengthening of the Babassu Fund’s performance, created by AMIQCB in 2012. R$ 2,000,000.00 will be allocated to this fund in order to announce two public calls for the selection of socio-environmental projects of agro-extractivist communities.

In addition to the projects to be supported by the Babassu Fund, the "Preserving the Babassu Forest” project has a component that focuses on the promotion of community organization processes in the territory covered by the project. Meetings and exchanges will be held in order to foster dialogue, reflection and collective solutions building to the existing problems. With such actions, it is expected to guarantee transparency and wide participation of the target public of the project and to raise demands that can generate community initiatives to be supported by the Babassu Fund. It is also planned to design a Training Center in Socio-Environmental Projects and the realization of six classes to train a total of 150 women and young people among the target audience of AMIQCB. 

INTERVENTION LOGIC

This project falls under the “Sustainable Production” (1) component of the logical framework of the Amazon Fund.

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.

ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED

A structure was created for managing and executing the project's activities, including personnel hiring, vehicle acquisition, and the purchase of IT equipment.

Three meetings of the Babaçu Fund Management Committee (GCFB) were held, along with a workshop for the strategic planning of the proposed training center and visits to partner organizations already supported by the Amazon Fund to exchange experiences in management tools and accountability for socio-environmental projects.

As a result, the 6th and 8th Babaçu Fund Calls for Proposals were launched, with resources from the Amazon Fund, to support projects from groups or community organizations working in agro-extractivist communities of babaçu nut breakers in the states supported by the project. The themes covered by the calls include: conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in babaçu forests; access to and management of traditional babaçu nut breaker territories; and strengthening agro-extractivist production chains based on agroecology.

Promotional actions for the calls included headlines and bulletins, in-person awareness meetings in communities, radio spots, and a live stream on MIQCB's YouTube channel.

On July 11, 12, and 13, 2023, the IX Inter-State Gathering of Babaçu Nut Breakers was held in Augustinópolis, a municipality located in the state of Tocantins, gathering 358 participants. During the event, participatory workshops and a General Assembly were held to elect the General Coordination. Five regional meetings were also held, with 699 people participating.

The Babaçu Nut Breakers Training Center was inaugurated in São Luís (MA), in a building provided by the Government of Maranhão. Furniture and equipment were purchased to support its operations. The first in-person module of the training course for the first class, composed of 29 students, women babaçu nut breakers, was held. The revision of the Pedagogical Plan has begun. Technical cooperation with the Maranhão State University (UEMA) and the Maranhão Federal Institute (IFPA) is underway to strengthen the Training Center.

A Communication and Transparency Plan was also developed.

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS OF AMIQCB IN PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION