Água Boa II, Rio Pardo de Minas - Minas Gerais, Brazil 2018
This flower is Lúcia in her backyard. She is a Creole Seeds Keeper and activist responsible for the creation of the Água Boa II community cooperative, which processes the fruits and foods of the Cerrado. She is also one of the leaders behind the resistance that provided the protection of their community’s lands and the recognition of them as a Sustainable Development Reserve by presidential decree (signed in 2014 by then President Dilma Rousseff).
The region is experiencing a dispute between those who wish to preserve springs and biodiversity and the expansion of the eucalyptus monoculture, used in the charcoal industry. In recent years, there have been two major attacks on the now recognized Sustainable Development Reserve (SDR) Nascentes Geraizeiras, called by the residents Reserva do Areião. In both situations, the only barrier between the political, economic and legal oligarchies in the region and the destruction of the biodiversity and springs of the Cerrado were organized farmers, even with threats of prosecution, arrest and death. Among these courageous geraizeiros was Ms. Lúcia.
The importance of preserved springs is indisputable. For example, in 2017, when there was a severe drought in the Pardo River, which bathes and supplies the municipality, city dwellers went to get free water from the farming communities, which was only possible thanks to the relentless defense of springs by traditional populations.
Lúcia was already a teacher in community schools, even though she hadn't finished elementary school. And, a few years ago, she graduated from the Federal University of Minas Gerais with a degree in Natural Sciences, splitting her time between her community and her academic activities in Belo Horizonte. When we visited her, we were delighted with what the Cerrado provides: cagaita juice and manioc bran biscuit. Lúcia also showed us her beautiful reserve of creole seeds, kept with great pride, dedication and love.
After an interview that lasted about an hour, we asked her to say whatever she wanted to the camera. Here is her message (in Portuguese):
The region is experiencing a dispute between those who wish to preserve springs and biodiversity and the expansion of the eucalyptus monoculture, used in the charcoal industry. In recent years, there have been two major attacks on the now recognized Sustainable Development Reserve (SDR) Nascentes Geraizeiras, called by the residents Reserva do Areião. In both situations, the only barrier between the political, economic and legal oligarchies in the region and the destruction of the biodiversity and springs of the Cerrado were organized farmers, even with threats of prosecution, arrest and death. Among these courageous geraizeiros was Ms. Lúcia.
The importance of preserved springs is indisputable. For example, in 2017, when there was a severe drought in the Pardo River, which bathes and supplies the municipality, city dwellers went to get free water from the farming communities, which was only possible thanks to the relentless defense of springs by traditional populations.
Lúcia was already a teacher in community schools, even though she hadn't finished elementary school. And, a few years ago, she graduated from the Federal University of Minas Gerais with a degree in Natural Sciences, splitting her time between her community and her academic activities in Belo Horizonte. When we visited her, we were delighted with what the Cerrado provides: cagaita juice and manioc bran biscuit. Lúcia also showed us her beautiful reserve of creole seeds, kept with great pride, dedication and love.
After an interview that lasted about an hour, we asked her to say whatever she wanted to the camera. Here is her message (in Portuguese):
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