{"id":49338,"date":"2018-12-05T13:00:05","date_gmt":"2018-12-05T16:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=49338"},"modified":"2018-12-20T04:05:38","modified_gmt":"2018-12-20T07:05:38","slug":"3rd-sustainable-favela-network-exchange-begins-with-verdejar-in-north-zones-serra-da-misericordia-urban-forest","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=49338","title":{"rendered":"3rd Sustainable Favela Network Exchange: Agroforestry in Rio’s Densely Populated North Zone"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Por<\/strong>tugu\u00eas<\/strong><\/a><\/strong><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The\u00a0Sustainable Favela Network<\/a>\u00a0(SFN) is a project of\u00a0Catalytic Communities<\/a>\u00a0(CatComm)* designed to build solidarity networks, bring visibility, and develop joint actions to support the expansion of community-based initiatives that strengthen environmental sustainability and social resilience in favelas across the Rio de Janeiro Metropolitan Region. The project began with the 2012 film\u00a0Favela as a Sustainable Model<\/a>, followed in 2017 by the\u00a0mapping of 111 sustainability initiatives<\/a>\u00a0and the publication of a\u00a0final\u00a0report<\/a>\u00a0analyzing the results.<\/em><\/p>\n

In 2018, the project organized\u00a0on-site exchanges among eight of the oldest and most established organizations<\/a>\u00a0that were mapped in the Sustainable Favela Network (one of which is the subject of this article), followed by a full-day exchange with the entire network that took place on November 10. The eight participants in the on-site exchanges featured in this series<\/a>\u00a0include six community-based organizations: the\u00a0Vale Encantado Cooperative<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Alto da Boa Vista<\/a>,\u00a0EccoVida<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Hon\u00f3rio Gurgel<\/a>,\u00a0Verdejar<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Engenho da Rainha<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Complexo do Alem\u00e3o<\/a>,\u00a0Quilombo do Camorim<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Jacarepagu\u00e1<\/a>,\u00a0ReciclA\u00e7\u00e3o<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Morro dos Prazeres<\/a>, and\u00a0Alfazendo\u2019s Eco Network<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0City of God<\/a>. In addition, the exchanges visited two broader initiatives focusing beyond favelas with extensive experience in sustainability:\u00a0Onda Verde<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Nova Igua\u00e7u<\/a> and the\u00a0Sepetiba Ecomuseum<\/a>. The program is supported by the\u00a0Heinrich B\u00f6ll Foundation Brazil<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n

Watch the video that accompanies the exchanges featured in this series<\/a>\u00a0by clicking\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Third Exchange Begins in the Shade of the Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\"Verdejar's<\/a><\/p>\n

As members of the Sustainable Favela Network (SFN)<\/a> arrived at the small community of S\u00e9rgio Silva in Rio de Janeiro\u2019s Engenho da Rainha<\/a> neighborhood on the morning of Saturday, October 13, the sun had already begun to beat down on the pavement. The moment the group arrived at Verdejar\u2019s headquarters, however, a cool breeze replaced the heat under the shade of the Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia<\/a>\u00a0urban forest.<\/p>\n

This shade was not easily won: for over twenty years,\u00a0Verdejar<\/a> has been fighting to reforest, then protect, the largest remaining forested area in Rio\u2019s North Zone<\/a>\u2014a densely populated region with the least green space per capita<\/a> in the city.<\/p>\n

Verdejar member Patricia Lima explained that the organization currently \u201cworks in various languages. We work with ecology; audio-visual<\/a>\u00a0[production], theater, photography work\u2026 [healthy] food,\u201d as well as with \u201clow-cost socio-environmental technology\u201d including solar-based water heating and rainwater catchment. The organization is focused on rebuilding its headquarters after their previous center was demolished<\/a> by Rio’s electric utility Light, and on \u201cbeing closer to the community.\u201d They have built a community garden, are in the process of constructing an oven and stove for an open and open-air kitchen, and provide environmental education for local children.<\/p>\n

\"Verdejar's<\/a><\/p>\n

To begin the day, SFN members from ReciclAction<\/a> in Morro dos Prazeres<\/a>, the\u00a0Vale Encantado Cooperative<\/a> in\u00a0Alto da Boa Vista<\/a>, Ecco Vida<\/a> in Hon\u00f3rio Gurgel<\/a>, Onda Verde<\/a> in Nova Igua\u00e7u<\/a>, and the Sepetiba Ecomuseum<\/a> introduced themselves and shared what they had taken away from the first two exchanges<\/a>. Ot\u00e1vio Barros, from Vale Encantado, described his excitement at seeing projects similar to his own in communities across the city, while Helio Vanderlei from Onda Verde observed that “everything starts with people\u2019s resistance. People dedicate their lives\u2014whether to environmental issues, mobilization, training others, or environmental education.” Vanderlei elaborated: “There is fundamental resistance in these communities\u2026 So the network is essential because it builds this interrelationship between history and life\u2014histories of social transformation, histories of resistance, inadequate public policies [constructed] without listening to and understanding the local population, be it in Alto da Boa Vista, Morro dos Prazeres, the Baixada Fluminense, or Complexo do Alem\u00e3o\u2026 We are all resistant community revolutionaries who believe in social transformation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Verdejar\u2019s tour of social transformation in S\u00e9rgio Silva began with their community garden, where residents can visit and collect fresh organic food. Every Wednesday morning, Verdejar invites the public to visit the garden<\/a> and help maintain the space: anyone is welcome to bring organic waste materials for the garden\u2019s compost in exchange for local produce. Verdejar member Rodrigo Morelato explained that the organization is planning to conduct a community census to determine which types of produce locals would like to see from the garden. SFN members suggested creating plant labels, or even a registry, in order to keep track of which vegetables are most popular among residents. Behind the community garden is Verdejar\u2019s collective space, which is currently under construction but will soon include a pizza oven, stove, and activities for children. When the \u201ccoexistence space\u201d is complete, the team plans to host a homemade pizza night using ingredients from the community garden.<\/p>\n

Discovering Verdejar’s History Through its Hiking Trails<\/h3>\n

\"Member<\/a><\/p>\n

Surrounding Verdejar\u2019s headquarters is lush vegetation that the organization planted in its early days when members were focused on reforestation, and trails they created and now\u00a0maintain<\/a> for local use as well as to lead guided tours for visitors. Lima explained that due to a lack of government investment in preserving the Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia, protecting the green space is \u201ca daily struggle,\u201d but that \u201cwe continue here, resisting in order to keep this green space alive, preserved, and beautiful.\u201d High levels of violence in the North Zone have made using the trails even more difficult. Morelato has counted at least three public hikes that Verdejar had planned but ultimately canceled due to police operations in nearby areas. S\u00e9rgio Silva resident and Verdejar member \u00c1lvaro Vinicius Azevedo explained that he and his neighbors have less contact with the forest due to this insecurity. Recalling his memories of exploring the forest as a child, Azevedo described: \u201cAt five or six years old, I would hike all around here. I know this whole area. It’s like our backyard, an extension of our home.”<\/p>\n

In Morelato\u2019s words, \u201cThe trails were very important [to our work]. Now, we can\u2019t use them much because of the violence. The hike is magical: it tells stories of these places, of these trees. It\u2019s what changes people\u2019s perspective about being human. And it\u2019s what brings people here [to visit Verdejar and the Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia].\u201d<\/p>\n

As Lima and Morelato directed the SFN group to the nearest trailhead, longtime Verdejar member Zolmir Figueiredo discussed the history of the Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia: how its location in a part of Rio typically neglected by local government led to its exploitation, how groups such as Verdejar\u2014led by its late founder, Luiz Poeta<\/a>\u2014fought to achieve recognition as an Area of Environmental Protection and Urban Recuperation (APARU), and how public authorities have failed to translate this legal action into material benefits<\/a> for the environment and surrounding communities.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/a><\/p>\n

In Figueiredo\u2019s words, before Verdejar was founded 21 years ago, \u201cthe Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia wasn’t recognized\u2014it was a forgotten area within the city of Rio\u2026 It was an area of mineral exploitation, informal occupation, and an area to throw away waste.\u201d Government neglect combined with the forest\u2019s location next to a landfill led to frequent fires. Luiz Poeta initially created Verdejar to address this threat through community-led reforestation<\/a>. It was through the advocacy of Verdejar, along with other local institutions, that Rio\u2019s government named the Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia an environmentally-protected area. However, according to Figueiredo, \u201cIn reality, the government never did anything\u2026 So there is a master plan for the Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia Municipal Park<\/a>, but it’s only on paper. There’s no interest from the government, from the state, from the City, to push this project forward\u2026 And those of us [with Verdejar], we\u2019ve been here this whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Building Green Space, Community, and a Shared Future<\/h3>\n

\"Sign<\/a><\/p>\n

Verdejar\u2019s all-volunteer team works at two headquarters in the North Zone: one in Engenho da Rainha\u2014connected to Complexo do Alem\u00e3o<\/a> by the Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia\u2014and the other in Olaria<\/a>\u2019s Morro da Esperan\u00e7a. One of Verdejar\u2019s challenges is encouraging more local involvement in their projects and building a sense of collective awareness about the importance of the Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia. While housing is often perceived to conflict with environmental conservation<\/a>, the Verdejar team wants to show communities in the forest\u2019s perimeter that they can indeed coexist with the natural environment, generating positive impacts for the health of both the local population and ecological systems. While the organization currently lacks the labor force and government support needed to manage the Serra da Miseric\u00f3rdia\u2019s vast agroforest, the organization is focused on increasing community involvement in its projects. Lima explained that a series of in-home gardening workshops helped the Verdejar team get to know more residents and encourage them to develop their own green spaces at home. While the Verdejar team is confident that locals are familiar with Verdejar, they want to create a greater sense of community ownership. In Lima\u2019s words, \u201cWe are creating a network in the streets\u2026 for the community to know that we are here\u2026 Because we\u2019re not here doing all of this for\u00a0us. We\u2019re doing it for them, for them to take advantage of everything here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Vinicius,<\/a><\/p>\n

As the SFN group returned from its hike to Verdejar\u2019s headquarters, participants exchanged ideas about the organization\u2019s goals and challenges. EccoVida representative Marcele Ribeiro offered to put the team in touch with a friend who spoke at a recent Zero Waste<\/a>\u00a0event about agroforest management, while Vale Encantado\u2019s Ot\u00e1vio Barros suggested that the organization partner with students at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro<\/a> (UFRJ) to expand their volunteer base and scope of expertise. Meanwhile, Onda Verde\u2019s Helio Vanderlei suggested the team create a sign with a map outlining the forest, its surrounding communities, and the areas where Verdejar works, explaining the importance of creating a \u201cgeographic vision of the territory\u2026 For us to locate ourselves in. We all value what we see\u2014we don\u2019t value what we [only] hear.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Verdejar<\/a><\/p>\n

Ideas continued to flow as SFN participants filtered from Verdejar\u2019s forested headquarters into the midday heat, continuing on to EccoVida\u2014another grassroots North Zone initiative with a long history of working towards socio-environmental sustainability. Before leaving, however, representatives from both Onda Verde and the Sepetiba Ecomuseum shared ideas and experiences with Verdejar\u2019s representatives about everything from photography projects to environmental education\u2014conversations that ensured that the morning\u2019s exchange was far from over.<\/p>\n

View our photos from the exchange\u00a0(or\u00a0click here for album<\/a>):<\/h3>\n