In 2006, ACT initiated a long-term relationship with the Suruí people of the Sete de Setembro Indigenous Reserve in the western Brazilian state of Rondônia, an area encompassing 612,000 acres. The Suruí only recently established contact with mainstream society, in 1969. Since then, they have struggled with the combined pressures of cultural degradation and environmental devastation.
Today, the Suruí territory is almost entirely surrounded by the operations of loggers, miners and ranchers. In spite of these pressures, the Suruí people have preserved most of their traditional cultural basis. However, Suruí leadership has recognized the need to advance sustainable and culturally appropriate development to prepare their communities for the effects of increased contact with colonization, agro-industry, and the influence of the modern economy. By drafting a 50-year management plan for their communities and territory with ACT's assistance, the Suruí have set on a course to proactively prepare their communities to avoid the devastation in environment and culture that other Amazonian groups have suffered.
Selected Achievements
- In direct partnership with the Suruí communities, ethnographic maps generated of the entire Sete de Setembro Indigenous Reserve totaling 612,000 acres.
- Management plan generated for the Sete de Setembro Reserve by the Suruí with ACT guidance.
- Sustainable income generation project focusing on coffee production supporting 50 families
Current Activities
Management of Indigenous Lands
Environm
ental Management Plan for the Sete de Setembro Indigenous Lands
In 2008, the Suruí indigenous association Metareilá drafted a comprehensive land management plan for the Sete de Setembro reserve. Action areas embraced by the plan include capacity building; agroforestry management; territorial protection/integrity; land monitoring and evaluation; biodiversity research; nutritional/food supply security; healthcare; education opportunities, cultural preservation and advancement; housing; ecotourism development; and income generation. The Suruí are partnering with ACT to further define and begin implementation of aspects of their plan including park guard training and income generation.
Indigenous-Driven Land Protection
Training in Remote Monitoring Technology - Google Earth
ACT has helped the Suruí establish an ongoing partnership with Google Earth Outreach to bring instruction in the Google Earth application to the Suruí community. Courses have been realized annually since 2008 with the intent of training the Suruí to maximize their land protection efforts through the use of Google Earth to monitor reserve borders for illicit activities and other encroachment. Additionally, a training center has been established by ACT and its partners for the Suruís' indigenous association Metareilá; the center is outfitted with specially tailored PCs and additional equipment necessary for robust computing and networking.
