Brazil
Seventh State Park Guard Training Course
In November and December 2010, in the northern Amazon state Pará, ACT conducted its seventh State Park Guard Training Course for 30 representatives of Brazilian state institutions, NGOs and other interested organizations. Participating Brazilian institutions included the national environmental agencies IBAMA and ICMBio; the national environmental secretariat SEMA; The national institute for Amazonian research INPA; the military and civil police units; the army and navy; and the National Forest Service.
Park Guard Refresher Course Administered for 40 New Institutional Guards
In October 2010, in the northern Amazon state of Amapá, a refresher course was provided 
to 40 recently trained institutional park guards. Course subjects included GPS application, environmental awareness-building, nocturnal rescue, first aid, vigilance techniques, and protected area management. Lectures were administered by the guards of the Grupamento de Proteção Ambiental da Guarda Municipal de Macapá, trained in previous ACT courses, with representation from ACT. The course enjoyed the support of the Brazilian Red Cross and the Brazilian national environmental enforcement agency ICMBio.
Sixth Annual Brazilian Indigenous Environmental Agent Training Course
In September 2010, ACT and the regional indigenous association APITIKATXI collaboratively conducted a first 
indigenous park guard training course in the state of Pará, effectively the sixth annual edition of a course that began in 2005. The course trained 30 indigenous representatives of ten ethnic groups to act in protected areas, teaching concepts of indigenous and environmental legislation, waste management, first aid, aquatic and terrestrial rescue, and firefighting, among others. In the previous courses, held in the neighboring state of Amapá, ACT had already trained 125 indigenous Brazilians to help protect local environments.
Outboard Motor Repair Course for Indigenous Environmental Agents
In July 2010, in the remote Kuxaré village of the Tumucumaque Indigenous Park in the northern Brazilian Amazon, ACT provided a five-day training course to 12 graduates of its indigenous park guard training course to carry out small repairs to outboard motors, which will improve the lives of their seven communities and allow those communities to avoid 
having to bring motors with small defects to the distant cities. All participants were trained to identify the parts of an outboard motor (including carburetor, electrical system, engine, housing, gearbox, water intake and propeller), their function, and the most common problems and their resolution, and were shown how the individual parts may be accessed. During their evaluation, the participants were able to dismantle a malfunctioning motor and locate and evaluate the damaged part.
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 and Nhamunda Mapuera reserves as well as indigenous areas located in the Trombetas State Forest, 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. Physical environment data collection commenced in October 2010.
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. 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
First Joint Gathering of Traditional Healers' Associations of the Colombian Amazon
For the first time in the Colombian Eastern Andean Amazon, a combined assembly was convened in which both male and female healers of five ethnic groups came together to support each other's efforts in their journey to continue transmitting indigenous knowledge .JPG)
for the protection of indigenous culture, medicine and the ecosystems of their traditional lands. Having grown as a powerful regional force, for more than six years the region's male shamans and indigenous elders have also sought to reinvigorate traditional health systems through the promotion of women healers who have demonstrated their commitment to ensuring knowledge transmission across generations. The March 2011 gathering, sponsored by ACT, brought together 74 medicinal practitioners of the UMIYAC (men) and ASOMI (women) healers' unions, including apprentices, to discuss and plan means to improve the provision of healthcare and reinforce community strength in drastically underserved indigenous villages. ACT has supported such efforts for more than 15 years, including recently enabling UMIYAC to become officially registered with the Colombian state.
Sustainable Development Workshops for Indigenous and Campesino Communities
In October and Nove
mber 2010, ACT visited nutritional/medicinal gardens previously established in the Piñuña Blanco, Vegas de Santa Ana, El Hacha and El Tablero reserves to assess the development of their new cacao plants nurseries as well as progress made in soil preparation for future installation of agroforestry crops. Through workshops, 80 indigenous leaders and community members were trained in sustainable production, including installation of plant nurseries, organic fertilizer production, soil restoration, and development of agroforestry systems. In the same span, ACT provided parallel training to the women of the ASOMI healers' association and campesino communities surrounding the Alto Fragua Indi Wasi National Park.
GIS Training Workshop for Indigenous Leaders
In October and November 2010, to reinforce their knowledge of the basic components of GPS use and GIS, essential tools for land-use planning and land management and protection, 144 Inga and Siona leaders participated in multi-day ACT GIS workshops. 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. The skills and knowledge gained will be of great use to the association in establishing the technical basis for improved monitoring and conservation of indigenous 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.
Suriname
Historic Land Rights & Demarcation Conference in Suriname
To support the Surinamese Government in its efforts to implement land rights and demarcate indigenous lands in Suriname, from April 13-15, 2011 in Paramaribo, Suriname, 
an international conference on land rights and demarcation was held based on a work plan compiled jointly between staff from Suriname's Ministry of Regional Development and the Amazon Conservation Team - Suriname. The purpose of the conference is to conduct a knowledge exchange on the subject of demarcation processes in other nations of South America, to attempt to determine whether and in what form such models might be applied in Suriname, and to come to joint resolutions on next steps toward the assignment of land rights in the country's vast interior. Participants included leaders of the nation's indigenous and Maroon communities and representatives from other countries, notably Colombia, with experience in demarcation processes. Ten separate indigenous and semi-indigenous languages were spoken at the event.
3rd Annual Suriname Indigenous Park Guard Training Course
From January 30 - February 20, 2011, ACT trained nine participants from the interior villages 
of Curuni, Kawemhaken and Palumeu to serve their communities as indigenous park guards. The training consisted of both theoretical and practical/field lessons in monitoring and patrolling in the field, wildlife management, management of protected areas, fire control and prevention, first aid, basic use and maintenance of outboard engines, leadership and conflict resolution, and environmental law and regulations. Lessons were taught in Suriname's Sranan tongo lingua franca with translation in the Trio and Wayana languages provided by two indigenous representatives.
Land Use 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. In 2010, with the full support of the government, ACT 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 fr
om 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.
Computer Training for Indigenous Park Guards
In the village of Kwamalasamutu, in collaboration with a Peace Corps volunteer, ACT is developing a computer training curriculum focusing on the resident indigenous park guards. The guards receive individual lessons on a daily basis, practicing on a computer at the park guard post. The park guards received their first evaluation and knowledge exam in November 2010; regular exams are being conducted on an ongoing basis.
Cultural and Environmental Education for Indigenous Schoolchildren
In October 2010, ACT organized nature awareness activities for the 5th and 6th grade schoolchildren of the 
Trio indigenous group from the Kwamalasamutu village public elementary school, assisted by six ACT-trained indigenous park guards. Subsequently, in November and December 2010, ACT staff and the guards worked intensively with the school's sixth grade to improve their understanding of nutrition and math essentials; activities included an interactive exploration of the food pyramid and instruction and practice in adding, subtracting and multiplying fractions. ACT's ongoing nature education initiative with the schoolchildren of three interior villages in Suriname is sponsored by Nature's Path Foods.
Cultural Awareness-Building for Schoolchildren through Traditional Architecture
In mid-2010, ACT commenced an education and awareness-building effort, the Wapono Pakoro indigenous day project, with three elem
entary and three technical schools of Suriname. The project, sponsored by the Embassy of the Netherlands, supports knowledge exchange with the Trio and Wayana cultures through the construction of models of traditional indigenous houses by the students, whose work is exhibited in the nation’s capital alongside that of prominent visual artists focusing on the indigenous theme. The initiative follows up on the publication of the ACT-drafted and UNESCO-sponsored book Wapono Pakoro: Traditional Indigenous Architecture of the Trio and Wayana in southern Suriname.
