Amazon Charitable Trust Securing Your Future

Sustainability

The small Xixuaú community exists almost entirely on the utilisation of natural resources from its local environment – whether they may be obtained via land or water. The production of manioc (cassava), their primary carbohydrate, and fish from the river, are supplemented by a small income from a few adventurous and hardy tourists and PhD researchers.

Since 2011, 6 malocas, modelled on the homes of our indigenous neighbour the Waimiri-Atroari, have been initially designed as a primary structure to receive visitors.

The rotation system that has been established in the community allows all working members of the cooperative to obtain some work as cooks, guides, housekeepers, boatmen and fishermen. For some, this income is supplemented by earnings from Brazil nuts and other forest products but this regime is insufficient in the long term, to retain their loyalty to the forests.

The whole river, some 60 kilometres and comprising 7 villages, is under constant threat from social and educational pressures, significant pull-factors to urban areas. ACT’s scheme is designed to fit within the management plan of the newly created reserve of the Baixo Rio Branco - Jauaperi and serve the entire river’s population, ultimately securing the conservation of the pristine Amazon rainforest through assuring the commitment of the local ribeirinhos to act as guardians of the rainforest to achieve true sustainability.

Sustainability
Farinha, is a typical source of starch used by the riberinhos people as both ingredient and condiment in their cooking. To obtain farinha the community turn the manioc roots (also known as mandioca, cassava or yucca) into farinha during a process that can last a couple of days.
Sustainability
A group of women are using their skills to design some jewellery made from seeds and plants. Native craft works are being sold to the visitor of the community in order to improve their life quality.
Sustainability
The first primary school in Xixuau was replaces with a larger building. The Xixuau project supplements the school meals and teaching material provided by Roraima State. All the children now learn to read and write - illiteracy was prevalent in the last generation and education is one of the main priorities of the community.