Faced with the challenges imposed by climate change, Guariba and Mangueira communities participated in a workshop on seed conservation and seedling production based on ancestral knowledge.
The Indigenous Council of Roraima (CIR), through the Department of Territorial, Environmental Management and Climate Change (DGTAMC) promoted, between August 25 and 26, the workshop "Traditional Seeds and Production of Native Seedlings". The initiative took place in the Guariba and Mangueira indigenous communities, in the Amajari ethnoregion, and sought to strengthen the discussion on the practice of sustainability and environmental adaptation in the midst of climate change.
The project conceived by CIR agronomists Renan Macuxi and Raiovane Montenegro, brought together about 170 participants in the two-day workshop, including indigenous leaders, farmers, students and teachers from the Tuxaua Tobias Barreto Indigenous State School and the Tuxaua Manoel Horácio Indigenous State School.
With the theme "Coping and Resilience in the face of Climate Change through Biodiversity", the program included conversation circles, theoretical discussions and field activities, with the aim of improving the knowledge of the participants in relation to the preparation of seeds and seedlings so that they survive droughts or excessive rainfall when they go to the field.
"I believe that facing climate change is not only done with theory, but by giving people autonomy and tools for practical actions. By teaching how to take advantage of local resources in composting and seedling management, we are delivering practical tools for their daily lives", explains agronomist Raiovane Montenegro.
The workshop used the traditional knowledge of the Amajari region itself to also teach about the collection and conservation of the genetic diversity of traditional seeds, based on dormancy breaking techniques and adequate storage. According to the agronomist, the exchange of knowledge between the communities was the highlight of the initiative.
"For me, the greatest value of this workshop was to see up close the bridge we built between the ancestral wisdom of the communities and the sustainable practices we take", he highlights.
An example of this exchange was the exchange of seeds and seedlings that took place during the closing of the activity. The Mangueira community donated seeds of copaiba, leucaena and regional beans, while the Guariba community donated seedlings of ipê, jatobá and peppers. The experience further strengthens local biodiversity, as Raiovane points out.
"We are ensuring not only the protection of the territory, but also food security, resilience in the face of climate change and the survival of the culture and biodiversity of these communities for the next generations, ensuring their good living. It was a transformative and very fruitful experience to hold the workshop".
The workshop was supported by Nia Tero and the Pawanka Fund.