Brazil
Environmental Analysis of Wai-Wai Lands for Conservation Planning and REDD Readiness
Invited by the Brazilian state of Pará's Environment Secretary, and with the support of the Brazilian national indigenous affairs agency, ACT and the indigenous cultural assistance NGO Kanindé are implementing a dia
gnostic survey and developing the ethno-zoning methodology for the Trombetas Mapuera reserve of the Wai Wai indigenous people, hand-in-hand with the Wai-Wai indigenous association APIM. The project's objective is to collect essential information regarding natural resources, resource use, the sustainability of indigenous communities and social and traditional features of the reserve. The ethno-zoning process is necessary to achieve informed collaborative regional planning for land use policies, and will serve as the basis for a Payment for Ecosystem Services and Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) proposal for the region. By consolidating work methodologies, ACT and Kanindé are producing an integrated participatory model for technical and scientific surveys.
First REDD Training Course for Northern Brazilian Indigenous Communities
In June 2010, in a partnership between ACT, the northern Amazonian indigenous association APITIKATXI, the state Environment Secretary, the Instituto Estadual de Floresta, and the government of the Brazilian state of Amapá, a REDD project development training course for indigenous representatives-focusing on participants in previous park guard training courses-was held in Amapá. Twenty participants from the Apalaí, Waiana, Tiriyó, Kaxuyana, Waiapi, Karipunas and Galibi communities studied the basic guidelines of a Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) project, including assessment of area carbon stocks; gained an understanding of the complexity and variability of such a project; and learned the responsibilities of participating communities after implementation. Read more about ACT's climate change mitigation initiatives.
First Training Course for Indigenous Rangers in Rondônia
In May 2010, in Porto Velho, Rondônia, indigenous peoples of the Mondé-Kwahiba ethno-environmental corridor-a territory that spans the east of Rondônia, the west of Mato Grosso and the south of Amazonas states-received over two weeks of theoretical and practical training in environmental surveillance and conservation activities through a First Training Course for Indigenous Environmental Agents, organized and coordinated by ACT and the Brazilian cultural assistance NGO Kanindé in partnership with various other institutions and the financial support of USAID-Brazil's Environment Program. With a duration of 180 hours, and participation of 32 representatives of the Suruí, Cinta Larga, Jiahui and Zoró indigenous peoples, the course included modules in environmental and indigenous rights; cartography; GPS use; ecotourism; indigenous land protection (land and water-based monitoring); radio communication; and firefighting and fire-management techniques. Read more about ACT's park guard training programs.
The Surui Carbon Project: Indigenous Engagement in REDD
ACT has been working together with the Suruí people to develop the very first Reduction in Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) project with an indigenous community in the Brazilian Amazon. The Suruí Carbon Project, which seeks to help the Suruí finance the protection and management of their forests by connecting them to the global carbon 
market, is being implemented in collaboration with the NGOs Forest Trends, IDESAM, Funbio and Kanindé, while the Suruís' Metareilá association coordinates the process. The Surui initially are working to reforest 7,000 acres and access the international carbon market through REDD, conducting detailed forest inventories to develop baselines and attain "gold" status under CCB standards; in a parallel effort, they will measure and sell credits for avoiding deforestation on their 600,000-acre reserve. The Project is considered the most advanced of its type in the Amazon and is the only one to properly involve all aspects of the local community. Currently, the project is several months from being able to take the first credits to market. It is expected to become a model within the region for other institutions working with community REDD projects. Read more about the Suruí and their Lands.
Colombia
GIS Training Workshop for Indigenous Leaders
In March 2010, ACT provid
ed a ten-day training workshop on geographic information systems to 25 leaders of the Tandachiridu Inganokuna Association of the Inga indigenous people of the department of Caquetá, Colombia. Topics presented included an introduction to GIS and ArcGIS; configuration of a GPS handheld and modification of the coordinate system; digitization and revision of positioning information; and uses of cartography as an instrument to represent the real world. Practical exercises included the geo-referencing of local landmarks including the farm of the Women Healer's Union ASOMI and the Yachaicurí Ethnoeducation School. The skills and knowledge gained will be of great use to the association in establishing the technical basis for improved monitoring and conservation of Inga lands.
Enhancement of Sustainable Production Program for Indigenous Students
At the ACT-suppor
ted Yachaicurí Ethnoeducation School of the Caquetá, the students learn first-hand the sustainable farming techniques that allow them to grow their own food, contribute to the food resources of the surrounding communities, and provide an economic base for their institution. In 2010, the infrastructure of the School's plant nursery was improved and equipped with the necessary materials for the production of organic fertilizers for plant and soil nutrition. The nursery now has the capacity to provide shelter to more than 17,000 young plants annually, and has provided more than 7,000 trees for the establishment of a 10-hectare agroforestry system that combined agricultural and forestry technologies to create more sustainable land-use practices in the School. Read more about Ethno-Education in Colombia.
Yachaicurí School Eligible for State Funding
In 2010, following petitioning by Inga indigenous leaders and ACT staff, the Yachaicurí Ethnoeducation School of the community of Yurayaco, Caquetá joined the ranks of accredited schools eligible for Colombian state support. This achievement, unprecedented in the region, provides sustainability for the school-which provides coursework in both western and traditional subject matter to over 90 students, including a sustainable agriculture emphasis-and for the overall Inga ethnoeducation plan going forward. ACT will continue to assist the School in the development of its model coursework and training programs. Read more about the Yachaicurí Ethnoeducation School.
Seventh Annual Gathering of Northwest Amazonian Women Healers
In April 2
010, the Colombian Union of Women Healers (ASOMI) held their seventh annual meeting involving its full membership. More than 60 women healers and their apprentices of four tribes meet annually to review progress made in preserving aspects of their medical and cultural knowledge, in advancing their handicraft production and sustainable agricultural projects, and in providing support to those of their membership in great poverty. Since its creation in 2004, ACT has helped the women to meet on a regular basis, provided administrative training, funded infrastructure maintenance and supported elderly women healers. Read more about the Women Healers.
Suriname
Ethnographic Mapping of Majority of Suriname's Area
In 2008, ACT was designated the implementing agency for a contract to Suriname's government to map the lands of all interior indigenous and native communities in support of land rights negotiations between the government and the communities. Through mid-2010, with the full support of the government, ACT has guided Suriname's indigenous and Maroon communities in the mapping of 90% of all indigenous and native lands in Suriname, or about 64% of Suriname's land area. In the process, ACT collaborated closely with the following groups: Maroon communities of central 
Suriname, specifically the Saramaka & Matawai (south-central) and Kwinti (north-central); Maroon communities of eastern Suriname, specifically the Aucan (Ndyuka), Paramaka, and Aluku (Bonis); and the Trio and Wayana indigenous communities, longtime ACT partners. From March 2009 through February 2010, ACT made visits to all major Maroon villages-most extensively in the the Marowijne, Lawa and Tapanahony river regions-to introduce the project, build community relationships, conduct scouting, build environmental awareness and conduct ethnological research before carrying out the mapping process with local mapping teams. GIS maps also were created for all major indigenous communities. Demarcation workshops were held for the Trio and Wayana, and ACT coordinated their meeting with government ministries to facilitate the land rights dialogue. To advance the land rights granting process, ACT also commissioned a comprehensive land rights and use study for Suriname to all project stakeholders. Read more about participatory mapping in Suriname.
Herbal Tea Sustainable Income Project for Rainforest Villagers
With sponsorship from the IUCN, ACT is helping the rainforest community of Kwamalasamutu to develop an immunity-boosting tea product for the market. ACT had provided training to the community team in plant propagation and cultivation, food safety, marketing, business planning, bookkeeping, and project administration. Production facilities are being constructed, and a management plan is under development. Read more about sustainable income generation in Suriname.
Water Distribution System for Traditional Medicine Clinic
The traditional medicine clinics that ACT has helped establish in southern Suriname currently host thousands of patient visits annually. However, their remote location poses challenges for centralized water distribution. To address this need, a water collection and distribution system was devised and installed to provide water for the largest of the four clinics in Suriname in the village of Kwamalasamutu in order to bring this essential resource to the health care practitioners in the clinic. Read more about the traditional medicine clinics
