VOICES OF the CERRADO

Voices of the Cerrado

Project:

Support a traditional community in the heart of the Brazilian savannah  

Cultural and ecological restoration in a biodiversity hotspot

Voices of the Cerrado is a transformative project initiated by the Quilombo Kalunga, a traditional black community whose resilience is an inspiration to us.

Quilombo Kalunga stands as a stronghold within the Cerrado, one of the world's most biodiverse regions and Brazil's “water tank” that fills the aquifers that feed the south of the country. This community, bound by culture and identity, represents the largest population of Quilombola descendants in Brazil, with approximately 1,530 families in 39 settlements calling it home.

While much of the surrounding land has been degraded by soya plantations and cattle ranching, the community maintains its traditional medicine and culinary culture drawing upon the native species of the region, and is fighting to maintain its biodiversity.

Their culture is recognized for maintaining a respectful relationship with the forest. They have turned down lucrative contracts for industrial agriculture to preserve their way of life.

Today, this very place stands as a testament to ancient secrets, past struggles and the future unity of a people fighting for their collective emancipation. They are the custodians of wisdom and traditions long forgotten by modern societies.

Image top: Community leader Damião works tirelessly to preserve Kalunga Territory and the traditions of his people. 

Project Goals

With your support, we aim to:

  • Alongside the Santa Bárbara waterfall, an area that is vital for hydrology and popular for ecotourism.

  • Preserving local plant species and promoting food sovereignty and security while providing sustainable employment opportunities for seed collectors, agriculturalists and food merchants. We believe in community-driven change, and that locals know best what will work in their region, so locations and species to be cultivated will be chosen by people of the quilombo.

  • To establish nurseries Facilities to grow saplings from seed can support reforestation while nurturing a deeper connection with the environment and fostering the next generation's love for nature, and the opportunity to exchange knowledge with partner schools in the UK benefits all concerned.

Why support a restoration project at Quilombo Kalunga? 

Land and legacy at risk

Within the territory, hundreds of natural springs are drying up due to climate change, illegal intrusion by large monoculture producers and unsustainable agricultural practices. Many young people are forced to leave in search of employment, and the loss of access to water is endangering the survival of their way of life and the knowledge that they have accumulated at a time when humanity needs to preserve techniques of sustainability and resilience. 

The Kalunga community's resilience resonates through the centuries. These lands, located in the heart of the Chapada dos Veadeiros in Goiás, are not just a source of life but a profound sense of belonging.

Quilombos are communities founded by ex-enslaved people - either those who escaped their chains or those who were freed after abolition in 1888 and left without compensation to fend for themselves. The traditions they had kept alive from Africa mixed with local Indigenous cultures, and they learned how to survive and thrive by making a profound connection with the Cerrado, Brazil's second largest biome.

Listening to a forest of voices: 

Our mission is inspired by the voices of the community, who have inhabited these lands for over 300 years.

But we can't achieve this mission alone. Partner with us to promote environmental education, engage communities and regenerate degraded land for the benefit of everything that relies on it, from microbes in the soil to producers in the farmer’s market.

Support this project

Contribute to positive change and the preservation of the Quilombo Kalunga. Your donation can make a real difference.