CONTEXTUALIZATION

The Sustainable Amazon Foundation (FAS) is a non-profit civil society organization founded in 2008 and headquartered in Manaus, Amazonas. Its mission is to contribute to the conservation of the Amazon biome by promoting the value of standing forests and their biodiversity, while improving the quality of life of populations living in the region.

FAS’s continued presence in the territories has enabled gradual progress in the development of various productive chains. The results, driven by structuring projects - including two previously supported by the Amazon Fund - have significantly increased the market value of pirarucu, added value to tourism activities, and fostered human capital linked to 16 sociobiodiversity chains and the protection of 11 million hectares of forest.

Although improvements can be observed in the territories supported by previous initiatives, the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme climate events have intensified local challenges. It is therefore necessary to take action to resume the growth trajectory and consolidate these gains. Diversifying the productive base is also essential to increase resilience and reduce risks associated with production failures and price fluctuations, which directly impact income generation.

THE PROJECT 

In alignment with the implementation of key public policies—including the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon (PPCDAm), the Amazonas State Plan for the Prevention and Control of Illegal Deforestation and Burning (PPCDQ-AM), the National Policy for Territorial and Environmental Management of Indigenous Lands (PNGATI), and the National Policy for Territorial and Environmental Management of Quilombola Lands (PNGTAQ)—this project will directly benefit over 14,000 families living in 22 protected areas in the State of Amazonas. These include 16 State Conservation Units (UCEs), 5 Indigenous Lands (TIs), and 1 Quilombola Territory (TQ), covering a total of more than 20.7 million hectares.

These protected areas span 29 municipalities in Amazonas, with one Indigenous Land also extending into two municipalities in Pará. Among these, the following municipalities are listed as priorities for deforestation and forest degradation prevention and control actions, as defined by Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1,202 of November 11, 2024: Itapiranga, Lábrea, Manaus, Manicoré, Maués, and Novo Aripuanã, all located in Amazonas.

The project will be structured around five key components:

1. Development of Sociobiodiversity Productive Chains

This core component aims to strengthen and scale up productive chains that have historically shown strong income-generation potential and community engagement. Targeted value chains include:

• Cocoa in the Sustainable Development Reserve (RDS) of Rio Madeira
• Guaraná in the Maués State Forest (FE)
• Managed timber in the RDS of Rio Negro
• Açaí in the RDS of Rio Madeira, RDS Juma, RDS Piagaçu-Purus, and the Catuá-Ipixuna Extractive Reserve (RESEX)
• Pirarucu in the RDS Amanã, RDS Cujubim, RDS Mamirauá, and RDS Piagaçu-Purus

Support actions will include strengthening productive organizations, capacity building, infrastructure improvement, market access support, value chain monitoring, and dissemination of results.

2. Development of Community-Based Sustainable Tourism

This component will support the expansion of Community-Based Sustainable Tourism (CBST) in the RDS of Rio Negro, RDS Puranga-Conquista, and RDS Uatumã. CBST is a strategic activity due to its post-pandemic recovery and its capacity to generate employment and integrate other sustainable value chains. Planned actions include infrastructure improvement, training of tourism stakeholders, support for community tourism enterprises, and monitoring of tourism’s contribution to conservation.

3. Promotion of Amazon Sociobioeconomic Entrepreneurship

This component aims to foster community enterprises rooted in the Amazon sociobioeconomy, promoting prosperity through income diversification and local economic dynamism. It will include affirmative actions to support female, youth, and Quilombola entrepreneurship. Activities will include entrepreneurial training, business plan development, incubation and acceleration of sociobioeconomic and CBST ventures, monitoring of business growth and entrepreneurial ecosystems, and strategic communication.

4. Promotion of Indigenous Prosperity

Focused on Indigenous Lands in Amazonas, this component includes:

• Floresta em Pé Indígena Call for Proposals: support for 5 Indigenous sociobioeconomic initiatives with up to R$250,000 each
• Integrated Indigenous Centers: physical spaces to facilitate project implementation and public policy articulation in the Vale do Javari and Nhamundá-Mapuera TIs
• Support for the development and implementation of Territorial and Environmental Management Plans (PGTAs) in the Pinatuba Rio Mataurá, Lago do Jauari, Caititu, and Nhamundá-Mapuera TIs
• Training of Indigenous leaders
• Dissemination of information on sustainable Indigenous economies

5. Local Empowerment for Sustainable Development

This component will strengthen social and representative organizations in communities and territories by training leaders and providing support to reduce structural vulnerabilities. It aims to enhance their capacity to advocate for their rights, manage conflicts, and respond to external threats. It also includes digital connectivity infrastructure to improve interaction with institutional actors and logistical support for participation in decision-making spaces.

Expected Outcomes

• Consolidation of priority productive arrangements
• Increased income for Quilombola, Indigenous, and traditional community families
• Strengthened social and productive organizations in traditional communities and Indigenous Lands
• Enhanced community-based and Indigenous socio-environmental governance
• Reduction in deforestation and forest degradation

INTERVENTION LOGIC

This project falls under the following components of the Amazon Fund Logical Framework:

(1) Sustainable Production, contributing to the following direct effects:

• 1.1 Economic activities based on the sustainable use of forests and biodiversity identified and developed;
• 1.2 Value-added chains of agroforestry and biodiversity products expanded;
• 1.3 Managerial and technical capacities strengthened for the implementation of economic activities based on the sustainable use of forests and biodiversity.

(3) Territorial Planning, contributing to the following direct effect:

• 3.2 Protected areas with consolidated infrastructure, territorial protection, and management.

(4) Science, Innovation, and Economic Instruments, contributing to the following direct effect:

• 4.2 Economic instruments aimed at biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, deforestation monitoring and control, and territorial planning developed, disseminated, and utilized.