BELEM, Brazil — With a practiced hand, Zaqueu Belém Araújo folds a leaf from an acai tree into a ring, slips his bare feet into it, and ascends the trunk. This centuries-old harvesting technique, passed down through generations in Brazil’s quilombos, is more than a skill—it’s a statement of a sustainable way of life.
These communities, founded by descendants of runaway slaves, see themselves as the guardians of the Amazon. Their minimally invasive methods, like hand-harvesting acai, help keep the forest standing.
“We understand that keeping the forest alive also keeps us alive,” said Erica Monteiro, a resident of the Itacoa Miri quilombo, a community of about 500 people accessible only by boat.
Now, from the heart of the Amazon where the UN climate talks are being held, these communities are pushing a crucial demand: formal land titles. For them, legal recognition of their territories is not just about property rights; it is the key to defending their culture and protecting the very ecosystems that sustain the planet.
As the conference draws to a close, the message from the quilombos is clear: securing their land is a vital step in the global fight against climate change.
By James Kisoo
