Transforming the Social Finance sector in Brazil

The Médio Juruá Territory Program (PTMJ), coordinated by SITAWI, aims to contribute to the sustainable development of the territory, located in Carauari, in the state of Amazonas. At the end of 2021, the Program started a new phase in its cycle, which will last until 2024. The Médio Juruá is of extreme ecological importance due to its continuous area of preserved tropical forest, offering sustainable livelihoods to traditional populations, and conserving biodiversity.

In addition to continued support from USAID/Brazil and Natura, the PTMJ now counts on the Partnership Platform for the Amazon (PPA) as a strategic partner, and the Alliance of Bioversity International (CIAT) also participates. SITAWI remains in charge of coordinating the project, and six local community organizations (ASPROC, ASMAMJ, AMECSARA, AMARU, CODAEMJ, and ASPODEX) act as implementing partners. This phase also involves ICMBio, the State Secretariat for the Environment (SEMA), and OPAN.

With a target audience of around 4,500 people living in 61 riverine communities and five indigenous villages along this stretch of the Juruá River, the PTMJ aims to support the management of wild pirarucu and other fish; monitor turtle conservation sites; support environmental education programs; and strengthen local organizations.

We can already see the impact of initiatives provided by the new phase of the Program. A new warehouse, used as a fish processing unit, was inaugurated in the municipality to strengthen the sustainable management of the pirarucu fish and preserve the species. The Carauari Association for Rural Producers (ASPROC) is responsible for the operation and management, which strengthens the fish production chain, contributing to the conservation of the ecosystem and generating income for those managing it. The PTMJ supported the purchase of equipment, such as solar energy systems and a cold room, and the fish transportation. The warehouse can process around 5 tons of pirarucu a day and has room to store up to 300 tons of fish. In the Médio Juruá territory, the amount of fish counted in the monitored lakes has grown more than 70% in the last four years, reaching almost 25 thousand fish in 2021. 

Besides that, an ecological activity released more than 270 thousand turtle hatchlings into the Amazon. The initiative, held in the Pupuaí community, brought together around 500 people, following health safety protocols. The event provided lectures, workshops, and external practices to raise awareness among young people and children about turtle preservation. 

To learn more about the work performed by the PTMJ and the Médio Juruá region, watch this video.