Bio-diversity

This project will take place in the Cerrado fields in the state of Maranh oin the Lower Parana ba River micro-region, Chapada do Sul, and the transition areas between Cerrado and Amazon in Imperatriz. Large-scale soy farming has expanded into and within these areas. Most of the population in these municipalities is concentrated in rural areas, and depend heavily on traditional small farmer production systems. These systems are diversified and complex, producing corn, manioc, rice, corn, beans and other vegetables. The soil in these areas is acidic, formed by arenitic rocks. In the 1970s, farmers from the South came to the area, encouraged by the government to settle the area and modernize agriculture. This meant heavy machinery and excessive use of agrotoxins, fertilizers and soil correctives. Native vegetation is completely devastated in this monoculture. The environmental, social and economic impacts of soy expansion in the Cerrado are the main concerns to be addressed in this project. Monitoring in an affected village will be promoted in a n effort to minimize the negative effects brought by this system, subsidizing alternatives. In addition to dissemination of knowledge and information to organizations and groups, national and international efforts will be dynamized in the benefit of the environment and populations. The system for regulation of direct and indirect environmental impacts in the Maranh o state Cerrado fields will be strengthened by this project, as well as regulation of the infra-structure which stimulates and encourages destructive economic activities.

Brazil