Learning from Indigenous Amazonian Communities

* FOR EVERY DONATION, I WILL PLANT A TREE *

Hola a todos,

I am Alba. I will be graduating from my Master Forest and Nature Conservation in August this year. After graduating, I will have the chance to head to the Amazon Rainforest to work and learn from and with indigenous communities in Colombia. For this reason, I thought of initiating crowdfunding, but first let me tell you a little bit more of the projects I will be supporting ...

Context:

The Amazon Basin has the greatest diversity of freshwater fish worldwide with fishing being the main source for income and subsistence for riverine and forest dwelling communities. Overexploitation of this ecosystem poses risks for food security of the communities that depend on it while simultaneously decreasing ecological ecosystem functioning and household income. When addressing these threats and strengthening fishing practices, in-depth involvement of local fishing communities is needed.

In the Colombian Amazon region, I will be in close collaboration with the Foundation Grupo PROA, a Colombian NGO committed to territories and communities. Especially in the Amazon region, these communities have suffered various socio-environmental conflicts resulting from climate and global change. Therefore, Grupo PROA seeks strategies aimed at improving the social well-being of communities and the conservation of the ecosystems. The NGO supports community initiatives for the conservation of biodiversity, traditional ecological knowledge and sustainable territorial development.

Furthermore, I will especially support the activities of TIKA, a local organisation of artisanal fishermen. They belong to the seven communities of the aquatic system of the Yahuarcaca lakes. My main tasks and responsibilities will include community and biological monitoring. Community monitoring meaning visiting seven indigenous fishermen communities in order to explore their communities' situation, current issues, practices and values. Biological monitoring refers to biological fish identification, fish measurements and ecosystem dynamics. Monitoring will also be carried out in the wetlands, where the so-called ´Pepeaderos´ are to be found - tree species which provide habitats and food sources for many of the local fish and thus also food security to the Amazonian communities. Additionally, I will be involved in reforestation of several Pepeaderos tree species.

But now back to the purpose of telling you all this. Financial capital is limited. Your contribution enables me to realise this unique opportunity and valuable experience of living and learning with indigenous communities, getting to know their traditions and cultures while also helping them with the monitoring of the resources they depend on. Grupo PROA and TIKA are essential to me as their work directly influences indigenous communities' livelihoods and the conservation of predominant ecosystems, so I would be extremely grateful if you donated to this great cause.

For every person donating a minimum of 10€, I will plant one pepeaderos tree together with local communities.

Thank you so much! Sharing is appreciated!

Warm regards,

Alba

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The picture shows myself with a Peruvian woman due to not (yet) having been in Colombia.