Our work
Living Gaia e.V. has been working with the Indigenous Huni Kuin in the Jordão region in the Brazilian state of Acre since 2014.
It is our concern to combine the knowledge and wisdom of the Indigenous cultures of the Amazon with the knowledge and wisdom of "Western cultures". Both sides can learn from this dialogue and support each other in shaping their future. That's why we're excited about the close bond we've built with the Huni Kuin.
The Huni Kuin, like most indigenous peoples in Brazil, face growing changes, threats and challenges. In the last few years in particular, we have seen a massive increase in violence, expulsion, deforestation, etc. Supporting local indigenous communities and protecting the Amazon rainforest is a big task. We help the Huni Kuin to increase protected territory and strengthen their culture and traditional ways of life.
The indigenous inhabitants of the Amazon have been the key players in the protection of this special habitat for thousands of years. For hundreds of generations, they have not only protected the forest from exploitation and destruction, but also actively shaped this ecosystem and contributed to its diversity.
The task of Living Gaia e.V. is to support the Huni Kuin in this work. Our special focus is on the cooperation and empowerment of the Huni Kuin women.
The Huni Kuin
The Huni Kuin are an indigenous people of the Brazilian state of Acre and neighboring Peru. Not contacted until the early 20th century, they have gone through various stages of suffering and narrowly escaped extinction. Today they fight to protect their culture, which is intertwined with the Amazon rainforest.
The Huni Kuin strive to pass on their diverse knowledge of the forest to future generations so that it is not lost. The forest signifies shelter, shelter, food, and medicine and is the school of life. The Huni Kuin have recovered from the decimation of the forest.
In addition to everyday problems such as food shortages, drinking water pollution and inadequate medical care, it is above all the continuous loss of the forest that threatens the future of coming generations.
Most of the Huni Kuin now live sedentarily in villages. Some uncontacted groups continue to lead nomadic lives to this day. These isolados are particularly vulnerable to forest destruction.
There is an informative 30 minute film about the Huni Kuin and their history (in Portuguese with English subtitles).
Our Projects
Our Guidelines
Protection of the forest
We are establishing a conservation area of approximately 40,000 acres. Approximately 16,000 ha of this is primary forest with a rich flora and fauna. The protection of animal and plant species is managed in cooperation with the local population.
Indigenous self-determination
The Huni Kuin are part of all phases of the project. In the long term, they will take over the management of the land that originally belonged to them.
Health
Physical and mental health are inextricably linked to access to intact nature. In addition, we support the Huni Kuin with access to clean drinking water and medical care.
Women Empowerment
The organizational structures of women are supported. Women play a leading role in all decision-making processes.
Climate Protection
1 ha of preserved Amazon forest secures up to 25t CO₂ per year. That's 4 million tons for the project area! Intact forests guarantee rainfall throughout South America.
Economic independence
Creating self-sustaining income opportunities from agroforestry to ecotourism, combining ancient traditions and modern approaches: showing 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
SDG 5: Gender Justice
Since the beginning of our work we put a special focus on women's empowermen. We accompany the process of creating their own organisational structures in which they have the decision power.
SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation
We have been supporting local organizations in constructing wells since 2016. A large-scale project for clean drinking water is currently being planned with a coalition of partner organizations.
SDG 13: Measures for climate protection
With the land purchase project, we are protecting an area of 16,800 hectares from deforestation. This contains around 6 million tons of CO2.
SDG 15: Life on land
The land purchase project protects the fauna and flora of the Amazon rainforest over an area of approximately 16,800 hectares.
SDG 17: Partnering to achieve the goals
We work closely with local organizations and supporters from Europe. We also support the formation of Huni Kuin organizations.
Support Living Gaia e.V.
As a non-profit association, we depend on donations.
Here you can directly support the land purchase project.
To do this, enter the keyword "land purchase" in the "Subject" field.
All donations are tax deductible.
You can donate by bank transfer to our association account
Living Gaia e.V.
IBAN: DE48 4306 0967 1150 1986 00
BIC: GENODEM1GLS
or via our donation page