Protection of the forest
Living Gaia is establishing a protected area of approximately 16,000 hectares. The majority is primary forest with a rich flora and fauna. The protection of animal and plant species is going to be managed in cooperation with the local population.
Indigenous self-determination
The approach of Living Gaia is to support projects initiated by the Huni Kuin themselves. The aim is to help create self-sufficiency, as well as economic and political power for the Huni Kuin. One important step in this process was the foundation of the women’s association Ainbu Dayá.
Women's Empowerment
Since the beginning, Living Gaia has focused on the empowerment of women. We support them in building the organizational structures they need to articulate themselves with the non-indigenous world and within their people. In all projects, women play a leading role and hold decision-making positions.
Health
Most diseases in the villages are caused by a lack of access to clean drinking water. Together with our partner organizations, we are planning to build wells for clean drinking water in all villages in the Jordão region.
Food security
Malnutrition is a major problem in the region. By implementing agroforestry systems and fish farming, we will support food diversification and protein availability.
Climate Protection
Deforestation and degradation have exacerbated the droughts in the Amazon and brought it to the edge of a "tipping point": its function as a "water pump", which supplies the whole of South America with rainfall, is at stake. The Tarayá conservation project enables the forest to "do its job". It stores around 400,000 tons of CO₂ per year. That is around 36,000 times more than a person in Germany emits per year.
Economic independence
We support the creation of sustainable income opportunities, combining old traditions with modern approaches. From traditional weaving crafts to agroforestry products, natural cosmetics and ecotourism: we want to show the world that the forest is worth more intact than cut down.
Sustainable Development Goals
With our work we contribute to the following SDGs of the United Nations
Since the start of our work in 2014, we have placed a special focus on empowering women. We have co-financed houses for three Huni Kuin women and support women from several villages in selling their craft. In 2022, we helped establish the first women's association in the region, Ainbu Dayá.
Together with a coalition of partner organizations, we are constructing wells for permanent access to clean drinking water in the Huni Kuin villages. A total of 20 wells are planned by 2025, which will supply 1800 people.
With the Tarayá conservation area, we are permanently protecting an area of 16,000 hectares from deforestation. Additional CO₂ is stored by reforesting the 800 hectares that were cleared. In total, around 400,000 tons of CO₂ per year are sequestered in the area.
The Tarayá conservation project protects the fauna and flora of the Amazon rainforest over an area of around 16,000 hectares. Endangered species thus have a refuge for reproduction and populations are preserved in the long term.
We work closely with the Huni Kuin and our local and regional partner organizations and supporters from Europe. We also support the formation of Huni Kuin organizations.
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Living Gaia e.V.
IBAN: DE48 4306 0967 1150 1986 00
BIC: GENODEM1GLS
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