The Kalunga digitally map traditional lands to save Cerrado way of life
The Kalunga represents a grouping of 39 traditional quilombola communities the descendants of runaway slaves living on a territory covering 262,000 hectares (647,000 acres) in Goiás state in central Brazil, within the Cerrado savanna biome.
This territory has been under heavy assault by illegal invaders, including small-scale wildcat gold miners, and large-scale mining operations, as well as land grabbers who have destroyed native vegetation to grow soy and other agribusiness crops.
To defend their lands, the Kalunga received a grant from the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), supported by Agence Française de Développement, Conservation International, EU, the Global Environment Facility, Japan and the World Bank. With their funding, the Kalunga georeferenced the territory, pinpointing homes, crops, soils, 879 springs, and vital natural resources.
From 10-13 December, thirty- one students selected by principals from Menevula, Limarua and Mamara high schools on Western Santo arrived at the Tabwemasana Conservation Area to commence the second Environment Youth Camp of 2020, fully dedicated to Custom Conservation and hosted by the Santo Sunset Environment Network (SSEN).
The first Camp was held in August where students from two high schools spent two fun and education days learning about rivers, forests and biodiversity.
Named the BeiJanWai Camp, the words âBeiâ, âJanâ and âWaiâ are language names from Western Santo which mean âwaterâ or âriverâ in reference to the incredible campsite on the banks of the famous river stemming from the top of the Tabwemasana peak. This new December camp was even more exciting than the last camp, as students were focused on learning about the environment from chiefs and local elders. The youth spent three days recalling and recording custom enviro