On World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, celebrated on June 17, the Quilombola Community of Santo Antônio dos Pretos, in Codó, Maranhão, hosted the launch of the Redes pela Conservação (Networks for Conservation) Project, an international initiative funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Government, aimed at protecting Brazil’s biomes, addressing climate change, and strengthening traditional communities.
With a total investment of €30 million over six years, the project will be implemented across all Northeastern states of Brazil and in Minas Gerais, promoting actions to combat deforestation and conserve the Cerrado, Caatinga, Pantanal, Atlantic Forest, and Pampa biomes.
IKI is one of Germany’s main instruments for international climate cooperation and supports innovative projects worldwide focused on biodiversity conservation, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and climate change adaptation. Funding for Redes pela Conservação is provided through the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN).
In Brazil, the project is implemented by a consortium composed of Caritas Germany, the Brazilian Semi-Arid Articulation (ASA), Rede Cerrado, and Rede Ecovida, in partnership with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA). In Maranhão, implementation is carried out by the Associação Solidariedade Libertadora (Assolib).
In the state, approximately 500 rural families will benefit from the project. In addition to the Quilombola Community of Santo Antônio dos Pretos, the initiative will also serve the Quilombola territories of Santa Joana and Matões dos Moreira, both located in Codó. Activities include strengthening family farming, promoting sustainable land-use practices, supporting climate adaptation, advancing territorial rights, and fostering the solidarity economy.
The launch of the project highlights the importance of international cooperation in addressing global environmental challenges and demonstrates how climate investments can generate tangible benefits for local communities, contributing simultaneously to ecosystem conservation and sustainable territorial development.
