In the heart of the state of Amazonas lies one of the best preserved regions of the Tropical Forest: the Médio Juruá – a place where socioeconomic development and biodiversity preservation occur together. This phenomenon is only possible due to one factor: the collective mobilization of residents with local and external organizations. It is in this context that the associations of Médio Juruá have grown stronger. Today, we will learn more about them.
The reality of the Middle Juruá was not always this way. A few decades ago, in the 1970s, the region's community members suffered from slave-like labor and the intense exploitation of their natural resources. With the arrival of organizations that promoted popular awareness, the power of the Middle Juruá returned to the hands of its people. The formation and development of associations were essential to this process.
The “boom” of associations
In the Médio Juruá, the various activities and production chains form groups of people who have similar professions and realities, such as rubber tappers and fishermen. After the creation of the Médio Juruá Extractive Reserve (Resex) in 1997, the communities realized that collective mobilization was a strong way to gain space.
From there, they formed associations that sought strategies to produce and sell products at a fair price and that valued the traditional way of life. Since then, some local community organizations have emerged. Learn more about each of them:
The main collectives of the Middle Juruá
- ASPROC – Association of Rural Producers of Carauari
It was the first association created in Médio Juruá, responsible for representing more than 800 families and defending the co-management of natural resources of great importance to the community, such as Pirarucu and rubber.
- ASMAMJ – Association of Agroextractivist Women of the Middle Juruá
ASMAMJ embodies the strength and presence of women in the region. This all-female community organization is responsible for promoting social equality in the region and empowering women and girls through income generation.
- AMECSARA – Association of Extractive Residents of the São Raimundo Community
AMECSARA focuses on training young leaders and Volunteer Environmental Agents. These trained professionals support actions to combat the misuse of natural resources and the conservation of turtles.
- AMARU – Association of Agroextractivist Residents of the Uacari Sustainable Development Reserve
AMARU produces raw materials for cosmetics and has a partnership with Natura. In addition, it also participates in research on the sustainable management of Pirarucu and turtle nests.
- CODAEMJ – Mixed Cooperative for Sustainable Development and Solidarity Economy of Médio Juruá
It represents the oilseed production chain of Médio Juruá. This organization collects raw materials, processes, produces and transports the final product. The result of this work is the generation of income and improvement in the quality of life of its members.
- ASPODEX – The Association of the Deni People of the Xeruã River
It is an association of more than 1,000 indigenous people from the Deni ethnic group, who live in 5 villages in the Médio Juruá. This collective is responsible for guaranteeing the rights of the indigenous peoples of the region and also coordinates territorial protection activities.
Results of collective mobilization
The combined efforts of all these groups resulted in the Médio Juruá territory as we know it today: a region governed by its own people, where improving the community's living conditions promotes nature conservation. Together with projects such as the Médio Juruá Territory Program, coordinated by Sitawi and with strategic partners USAID, PPA and Natura, and institutional partnerships with Alliance Biodiversity & CIAT and CGIAR, 950 thousand hectares of forest are preserved and 3,695 families benefit from socioeconomic improvements.
Learn more about the work of organizations in the territory in the new report of the Médio Juruá Territory Program – referring to the 2nd year of phase 2 of the project.
