On April 9 and 10, in the Médio Juruá region (Amazonas), another edition of the Médio Juruá Territory Forum meeting took place — a space for collective articulation and strengthening of local governance. Community leaders, grassroots organizations, support institutions and authorities met to assess the progress of territorial initiatives and chart new paths for the sustainable development of the region.
The Juruá Middle Territory Program (PTMJ), Coordinated by Sitawi Finanças do Bem and conceived by the TMJ Forum, works to strengthen the autonomy of local communities, expand the community-based bioeconomy and promote solutions aligned with forest conservation and improving quality of life.
Strengthening grassroots organizations
The leading role of local associations was one of the highlights of the meeting. Representatives of 11 organizations from the municipalities of Carauari and Itamarati presented experiences in strengthening associations and structuring sustainable production chains. Examples include community management of oilseed processing plants and Pirarucu warehouses and the implementation of business models focused on income generation and territorial protection.
Among the advances presented is the achievement of a subsidy for the andiroba chain, which allowed local associations to market products with greater added value. Based on this experience, expansion to new species, such as murumuru, is already being planned for 2025. Another milestone was the creation of the Kulina people's association of the Ueré River, reinforcing indigenous representation in the territory.
Furthermore, sociobioeconomy chains, such as pirarucu, rubber, vegetable oils and açaí, gained new momentum with the renewal of contracts and strategic partnerships.
Climate change and conservation: a call for recognition
The Forum was also a space to reflect on the impacts of climate change on the lives of communities. The extreme droughts of 2023 and 2024 caused significant impacts on production chains and bring the need for a more in-depth collective discussion.
“Despite playing a central role in climate regulation, local communities are among the groups most vulnerable to the effects of climate emergencies. Aware of this, the Forum members have been working together to develop strategies to minimize their impacts and promote actions to boost the livelihoods and income generation of this population.” highlighted Ronnayana Silva, Coordinator of Territorial Programs at Sitawi.
Safeguards and strengthening of rights
The discussions also addressed the strengthening of territorial governance and the recognition of environmental services provided by communities. Local leaders defended the importance of expanding instruments such as payment for environmental services (PES) and reinforced the need for public policies that value those who care for the forest.
“The Forum is a space for listening and collective construction. Our goal is to guarantee quality of life for communities, strengthening those who protect the Amazon every day”, stated Quilvilene Cunha, director ASPROC.
About the Juruá Middle Territory Program
The Médio Juruá Territory Program (PTMJ) is an initiative for territorial strengthening and socio-environmental conservation, carried out by the TMJ Forum and coordinated by Sitawi Finanças do Bem. It is financed by the Partners for the Amazon Platform (PPA), Mott Foundation, Natura and Green Climate Fund, in addition to institutional partnerships with Alliance Biodiversity and CIAT, the Floresta+ Amazônia Project, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA).
