2. Peabiru Profile - Summary
English version
October, 2011
I. Introduction
The Instituto Peabiru (Peabiru) is a Civil Society Organization of Public Interest -
OSCIP, established in 1998 with headquarters in Belém, Pará, Brazil, concerned
with the socio-economic and environmental issues related to the long-term
sustainability of the Brazilian Amazon, in particular those encountered in the
Eastern part of the Brazilian Amazon (states of Pará, Amapá, and Maranhão).
Recognizing the Amazon Tropical Forest significant environmental as well as
economic potential due to its, biodiversity, natural and water resources, Peabiru is
concerned with the impact of the existing model of economic development being
implemented by the Brazilian government in the region, which in essence and in
spite of progress made, is still socially exclusive as well as it is still based on the old
concept of deforestation, and slash and burning practices, as a symbol of
economic development and growth.
II. Background
Since the 1960’s the Brazilian government started to encourage economic
expansion in the Amazon, being the above-mentioned states its most important
front. By the end of the 1980’s it became clear that the rate of deforestation by
slash-and-burn caused by the increased economic activity was having a global
impact on climate change. The major contributors being the amount of Carbon
Dioxide (CO2) produced by burning the forest, and the methane gas (CH4)
resulting from cattle ranching one of the largest economic activity encouraged by
early government policies. Deforestation also has a negative impact on
biodiversity, and the forest capacity to absorb CO2 emissions.
3. Today, the economic expansion continues tapping on the region’s rich natural
assets with mega-projects such as mining, or agricultural plantations such as palm-
oil for the production of bio-fuels, or eucalyptus for the production of cellulose
and bio-fuels, which are starting to replace the pastures for cattle.
Parallel to the economic expansion, the Brazilian government also encouraged the
migration of over one million poor people from other regions; many became rural
settlers (Meirelles, 2003). This had an environmental as well as a social impact, as
strategies to provide access to basic services or economic opportunities were not
an important part of the policy. Therefore, new migrants as well as traditional
communities, such as Indigenous Groups, Afro-descendents (Quilombolas),
Riverside Communities (riberinhos), and Peasants (agricultores familiares), are still
living in a subsistence and informal economy, based on deforestation and the
exploitation of natural resources. They are being excluded from the potential
benefits of the economic expansion, by lacking access to: a) basic services
(education, health, electricity, transport etc.); b) land security; c) access to markets
and economic opportunities; d) and technical knowledge and capacity to benefit
from potential participation in the formal economy, etc. Women and youth are
even more excluded than men from the enjoyment of those benefits, as they have
even less access to resources compared to men.
Peabiru is concerned with the impact the current economic development has on
those already excluded social groups, particularly those living in the rural areas,
the potential increase on land conflict and other social and environmental impacts
caused by the economic activity of mega-projects.
III. Peabiru’s Approach
For Peabiru the current economic development paradigm, needs to change to a
paradigm based on conservation of natural resources and biodiversity, while
addressing the socio-economic and environmental inequalities and exclusion,
affecting the life of the traditional Amazonian rural communities. As an
organization we value equity, social and environmental diversity. We believe we
4. can play a role as facilitators of processes of transformations, that can take place
within communities, civil society organizations and enterprises, striving to address
exclusion and inequality. We also believe in participatory decision-making, and
analytical reflection for the collective construction of those processes, and in
respecting communities “time”.
Our purpose is to work alongside communities and local civil society organizations
to increase capacity to exercise full citizenship, as part of their human
development process, and enjoy the benefits of a sustainable economic model
while promoting the conservation of the forest. Peabiru also seeks to work with
the private sector, as we believe they must play a role in the development of
strategies seeking to address the socio-economic and environmental impact of the
economic activities.
Currently, Peabiru is addressing the issues that concern the organization through
three main programmes: 1) Sustainable Local Development and Protected Areas;
2) Corporate Social Responsibility; 3) Inclusive Value Chains.
IV. Peabiru’s Thematic Areas of Work
1. Sustainable Local Development and Protected Environmental Areas
Peabiru believes in working with communities in the design and implementation
of sustainable local development plans, based on the Agenda 21 methodology,
which take into consideration, protected environmental areas surrounding their
territories and/or settlements. An empowering process for communities through
which they identify, seek and negotiate solutions to their socio-economic, cultural
and environmental issues and needs, acquire voice, claim rights, and monitor the
implementation of the plan. The purpose of the process is to increase
understanding of current constraints limiting their lives, the capacity they have to
address those limitations, the potential entailed in solidarity to achieve change and
to positive impact of a sustainable use of protected environmental areas. The
methodology used promotes local dialogue, participation in decision-making, and
negotiation processes with institutions, such as local government, enterprises, and
5. other stakeholders impacting on the quality of their livelihoods and their access to
natural resources.
By working in this theme Peabiru, aims to contribute to strengthening the
capacities of local communities to attain control over the quality of their
livelihoods, effectively participate in the design, implementation and monitoring of
local development plans; while strengthening their capacity to achieve a
sustainable use of those environmentally protected areas, surrounding their
territories and/or settlements.
6. The main programs in this area of work are Viva Marajó and Casa da
Virada:
Viva Marajó:
The Marajó Archipelago located in the state of Pará is one of the most chronically
poor areas of Brazil. The programme aims to contribute to the consolidation of the
Marajó Archipelago, as an environmentally protected area, by supporting the
process of nomination, as an UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserve, a proposal of the
Brazilian government. This means the special social, territorial, and costal
ecosystems of the region are internationally recognized, while remaining under
sovereign jurisdiction. The Biosphere Reserve concept is normally used as a
framework to guide and reinforce projects to enhance people’s livelihoods and
ensure environmental sustainability. The Biosphere concept includes four mutually
reinforcing functions: conservation; cultural valorisation; sustainable development
and logistic support for scientific research and education.
Viva Marajó is a programme funded by Fundo Vale, with the main purpose of
improving the quality of life, biodiversity conservation, and culture of local
communities, while promoting sustainable development strategies, and making
emphasis on the high value of the social and environmental biodiversity contained
by the 104,000 km2 (the size of Portugal), and over half a million population, of
the Marajó Archipelago. Due to its special characteristics the conservation of this
region is of extreme importance to the long sustainability of the Amazon, and to
climate change.
Casa da Virada:
The municipality of Curuçá is also chronically poor, and as candidate for the future
construction of two seaports, will experience a major environmental as well as
social impact. Concerned with the potential impact of mega-projects, Peabiru
coordinated Scientific Research to identify the main socio-economic and
environmental issues facing the municipality of Curuçá. Then started the Casa da
Virada programme, its purpose being to work with traditional communities living
around the Resex Mãe Grande de Curuçá, a marine extractivism reserve (a
conservation unit permitting local population to access its resources) in improving
7. their quality of live, increasing environmental awareness and sustainable use of
the Resex.
During the last few years the main programme activities included: 1) working with
52 rural communities in the launch of an Agenda 21 Forum; 2) working with the
local public school to offer a course for the formation of environmental agents,
with the participation of 120 students; 3) working with the development of two
inclusive value chains: a) Community-based-ecotourism (together with the local
NGO Instituto Tapiaim); and b) honey production from the non-sting wild
Amazon bees encountered in the area with the local association ASMELC; and 4)
Conducting further scientific research that led to the discovery of a new
ecosystem: an Amazon Atlantic Forest biome between the mangroves and the
land forest.
The next face of Casa da Virada financed by Petrobras aims to work, in
partnership with local communities and organizations in the Costal Region of the
Amazons, in local development strategies related to the conservations of water
resources, mangroves, and the newly identified Amazonian Atlantic Forest while
valuing the traditional use and management of the natural resources.
2.Corporate Social Responsibility
Peabiru believes that to address the current trend of deepening poverty and
exclusion and increasing environmental degradation globally, and in the Eastern
Amazon, resulting from dominant business models should be a concern for all.
Therefore, the Institute considers essential to engage with the business sector as
the main actor benefiting from this model of development. The business sector
needs to engage, take responsibility, and contribute to finding effective solutions
by working in partnership with civil society organization, communities and the
government.
This area of work aims to contribute to: a) the effective application of the
concepts of social and environmental responsibility giving priority to promoting
dialogue between companies and communities around business units; b) the
development of a monitoring systems based on socio-economic and
8. environmental indicators aiming to measure the social and environmental impact
of enterprises economic operations, with the active participation of communities
and companies in the development and application of those indicators; c)
incorporation of gender issues in companies policies and practices (the genesis of
inequality and un-sustainability); d) conflict resolution mediation, facilitating the
dialogue between companies and local communities; and e) implement actions to
help controlling biodiversity loss and combat climate change. The focus is on those
mega-projects in the Amazon, such as mining, agribusiness and infrastructure
(hydroelectric dams, ports and roads).
9. There are two ongoing initiatives:
1. Sustainable Palm Oil Programm in partnership with Agropalma,1since 2007.
This programme has two main projets: 1) the development of a participatory
monitoring systems to measure the impact of the business relationship between
150 small scale agricultural producer’s families suppliers of the palm-oil fruit to
Agropalma. The monitoring system is based on socio-economic and
environmental indicators identified by the small-scale palm-oil producers;
2) Local development of Vila dos Palmares, Local Agenda 21 methodology was
used to develop a community based action plan for Vila dos Palmares. The action
plan is envisioned as a negotiating tool to increase communities’ capacity to claim
rights. The action plan is based on research to create baseline data and community
discussion by identified priority themes by the community. Vila dos Palmares is a
community where its 8 thousand people are directly affected by the economic
activity of the company. Other initiatives of this programme have involved the
strengthening of local associations operating within the company.
Scientific Research for Petrobras Biocombustivel
Petrobras Biocombustivel is initiating operation in the production of bio
combustibles in the Amazon Region. Peabiru carried out Scientific Research to
map the current Social, Archaeological and Environmental (hydrology, flora,
fauna, soil microbiology etc.) situation of the area where Petrobras
Biocombustivel2(Bio-combustible) is starting economic operations related to the
production of bio combustible from palm oil. This research aimed to provide the
company with baseline data for the development of indicators aiming to guide the
policies and operations of the enterprise activities in the region in order to
minimize the impact of its economic operation.
Research for Amata Brasil3: This research aimed to have a rapid assessment of the
environmental and social issues this last based on secondary research to contribute
1
Agropalma belongs to a Brazilian Group. It is the largest palm oil industry in Brazil, with approximately 39,000
hectares of palm (within a total 107,000 hectares), circa 4,200 employees.
2
Petrobras Biocombustivel is a new company created in 2008 as part of the largest company in Brazil, the state-run
Petrobras.
3
Amata Brasil is focused in planting 1 million native trees/yr on degraded areas in the Amazon and other regions of
Brazil.
10. to the creation of baseline data of the geographical areas of operations of the
company.
Peabiru has also carried-out short tem projects with other companies such as
Alcoa, Albras (Norsk Hydro), Natura Cosmetics and Sambazon.
3. Inclusive Value Chains
Peabiru believes that strengthening the active economic participation of excluded
rural communities in the development of inclusive chains valuing biodiversity and
socio-environmental resources contributes to the long-term sustainability of the
Eastern Amazon Region.
Peabiru works with a broad concept of inclusive value chain development, which
consider five core dimensions: 1) Economic: the ability to earn an income, to
consume and to have assets which are all key to food security, material well-being
and social status; 2) Human capacities: technical capacity, and access to basic
services such as health, nutrition, clean water and shelter; 3) Citizenship: voice and
ability to influence policies and processes; 4) Cultural: valorisation of its own
culture, both material and in-material; 5) Environmental: ability to value
biodiversity and natural resources and their own culture while participating as a
valued member of a community.
The aim is to have impact beyond income increase, seeking more economic
control to change the balance of power in the value chain while strengthening
organizational and development of human capacity and agency.
Currently, Peabiru is involved in: 1) the development of two value chains: - honey
from the Melipona bees native to the Amazon (non-stinging-bees); and
Community-based-ecotourism; 2) Value chain research of traditional Amazonian
products. In the near future, based on this research, Peabiru hopes to work in
other value chains related to the biodiversity of the Amazon; 3) Cattle value chain
and climate change, is and activity in its initial stages. Peabiru seeks to influence
policies and practices to turn cattle production in an activity more environmentally
friendly with less impact on climate change.
11. Community-based Ecotourism
An economic activity aiming to work with communities in strengthening their
capacity to address the, above-mentioned, five dimensions entailed in our concept
of value chain. Peabiru see this work as an opportunity to develop human
capacity, environmental awareness, cultural and resource valorisation, while
creating new business opportunities to generate complementary income where
particularly, women and young people are involved. Accessing markets for this
activity is a challenge for communities; therefore, Peabiru works in partnership
with ethical business initiative, such as Gabiraba Station (Belém, Pará State) and
Turismo Consciente (Conscious Tourism) (São Paulo, São Paulo state). These
business initiatives are interested in opening this niche market and connecting it to
rural communities in Curuçá, Almeirim, Marajó and Monte Alegre (around the
Monte Alegre State Park), in the state of Pará.
Melipona Bees Native to Amazon Forest
The aim of this economic activity is to work with local communities in the States
of Amapá and Pará in the development of a value chain for the production of a
honey from the Melipona Bees native to the Amazon and one of its most active
pollinators. This initiative also seeks to develop human capacity and increase
communities understanding of the value that conservation of natural resources
has for their livelihoods. As part of the training on Meliponiculture, communities
receive environmental education. This provides an opportunity to discuss
deforestation and burning, its impact on the bees, biodiversity and pollination.
This is also an opportunity to reflect on the communities increase capacity to
generate income and food security as production of forest food increases as a
result of the bees’ pollination activity. This programme is especially focused on
working with women, and young people, Quilombolas and indigenous people, as
these social groups are the most economically and socially excluded in the region.
Currently, Peabiru is working with more and 350 families, organized in groups or
associations, living in communities in Amapá state (Quilombolas and four nations
of Indians at the Oiapoque Indian Land), and family agriculture in the Pará state.
12. Cattle value chain and climate change
Among those chains being studied Peabiru is particularly interested in the cattle &
buffalo ranching value chains for its impact on the environment and climate
change. According to the Centre for International Forestry Research at least 91%
of the deforested land since the 1970’s has become pasture for livestock, mainly
cattle ranching (CIFOR, 2004). Apart from the negative contribution to climate
change by producing carbon and methane gases, cattle ranching in the Amazon
provide few jobs, while demanding large amount of land due to its poor soil.
Therefore, Peabiru is seeking strategies to influence changes in this value chain in
the geographical areas where we work. A background working paper on the
impact of cattle production on climate change and the deforestation of the
Amazon was published in July 2011.
Peabiru is interested in influencing policies aiming at the development of
sustainable cattle value chain. We are also exploring possibilities to work with
small-scale cattle producers with particular attention to the Marajó Archipelago.
The aim is to develop work with communities engaged in this economic activity to
find more sustainable and practical solutions to the way they produce and
participate in the chain, in order to reduce the negative impact on climate change
and the environment.
Value Chain Research
Peabiru is engaged in researching four value chains in the Marajo: Açaí berry
(Euterpe olereacea); Artisanal fishing; manioc flour from bitter cassava (Manihot
utilissima) and cattle & buffalo ranching in the Island of Marajo. All these products
where identified by communities as their main source of income during a research
process, they are also closely linked to the current socio-economic and
environmental situation of the Marajo Archipelago. Apart from mapping the
chains, Peabiru is interested in understanding the conditions and issues faced by
communities, and the benefits it brings or not to their livelihoods.
IV. Partnerships and Resources
13. Working with other is an essential part of Peabiru approach. In the
implementation of Peabiru programmes and other activities the Institute seeks to
develop partnerships with communities, the business sector operating in the Easter
Amazon; local and international research institutes and universities (Museu
Paraense Emílio Goeldi - MPEG, Federal University of Amapá - UNIFAP, Federal
Agricultural University of Pará – UFRA; The Royal Tropical Institute - KIT, and the
Erasmus - ISS, in the Netherlands etc.)
Peabiru’s work is financed from different sources ranging from direct financing of
programmes by the business sector (Agropalma, Petrobras Biocombustivel,
Natura, Alcoa, Albras (Norsk Hydro) etc.), international and local funding
institutions such as Fundo Vale, Petrobras Ambiental, Conservation International,
The Nature Conservancy, the Embassy of the Netherlands small projects, Konrad
Adenauer Foundation, Avina Foundation, Alcoa Foundation, Kunito Miyasaka
Foundation (Brazil), São Paulo Stock Exchange (Bolsa de Valores Sociais &
Ambientais), Criança Esperança (UNESCO & Rede Globo), World Bank Program
(PPP-ECOS Cerrado - World Bank (Savannah)), and Brazil Tourism Ministry.
14. V. Networks
Networking allows the Institute to actively participate in animate debates seeking
solutions to its main concern: the long-term sustainability of the Amazon. Peabiru
is active in: AVINA network of partners; GERCO - Brazilian Network of Coastal
Management; Sustainable Amazon Forum (Fórum Amazônia Sustentável); and is
currently involved in the development of the Marajó Network of Civil Society
Organizations (Rede Marajó da Sociedade Civil), among others.
VI. Governance
Institute Peabiru is governed by a General Assembly, of its members, meeting
twice a year; a Board of Directors, meeting regularly; and a Management Group
composed by the general director and programme managers. João Meirelles is the
funder and General Director of the Institute.
Contact: jmeirelles@peabiru.org.br and mobile - +55.91.9144.7566
II. References
Centre for International Forestry Research - CIFOR 2004
Instituto do Desenvolvimeto Econômico-Social do Pará - IDESP, 2010
Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística – IBGE, Census 2010
Ministério do Desenvolvimento Social e Combate à Fome. November 2010
Meirelles, João, Livro de Ouro da Amazônia, Ediouro, Rio de Janeiro, 2003 (2nd
edition 2007)
