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IMPACT PROMISE
Our Partners are carefully selected due to their high conservation impact
Partner Snapshot
Partner Name
Location:
Vale do Peruaçu, Minas Gerais, Brazil (Januária, Itacarambi, and São João das Missões)
Appeal Category:
- Community Support & Development
- Protected Area Management
- Reforestation
Key Species:
- Rock Cavy
- Cougar & Mountain Lion
- Hoary Fox
- Bush Dog
- Giant Anteater
- Narrow-billed Woodcreeper
- Boa Constrictor
Challenges And Threats:
- Forest fires
- Intense deforestation
- Water crisis
- Soil degradation
Actions:
• Contribute to water security and increase the availability and quality of water
in the region
• Identify more sustainable income-generating activities and production
practices aligned with the conservation of natural resources and local
biodiversity
• Highlight the vital role of Indigenous communities in protecting and conserving
natural resources and biodiversity
The Challenge
The Brazilian Cerrado is a vast tropical savanna that covers more than 20% of the national territory and is the second-largest biome in the country. Over half of its native vegetation has been converted for agribusiness, making the region a major global supplier of soy. Scientists are increasingly concerned about how these land use changes may affect the future of the biome and its communities—especially given the Cerrado’s higher vulnerability to climate change and drought compared to other regions in Brazil.
This project, led by Instituto Ekos Brasil, focuses on the Peruaçu Cluster, part of the Sertão Veredas–Peruaçu Mosaic (MSVP) in Minas Gerais. The area spans five municipalities, with a total population of 118,233 inhabitants. Located within Brazil’s Drought Polygon, the Peruaçu region faces harsh conditions such as irregular rainfall, high temperatures, and low water reserves—leading to water insecurity, social vulnerability, and rural exodus, particularly among the youth. Water scarcity is considered the most pressing issue in the region. The Mosaic lies within a watershed with a negative water balance, and the unregulated use of groundwater has intensified the crisis.
Another critical challenge is the high incidence of wildfires, some of which are illegal and others characteristic of the biome, but increasingly worsened by prolonged dry periods.
Despite these threats, the region plays a vital role in conserving the Cerrado’s biodiversity. The Peruaçu Caves National Park and the Peruaçu Caves Environmental Protection Area are especially important for local communities, who rely on their natural and cultural heritage as sources of income aligned with conservation. These landscapes represent not only ecological value, but also the cultural and economic resilience of traditional populations.
Urgent Solutions
To address the escalating climate and water crisis in the Peruaçu region, Instituto Ekos Brasil has developed a rapid-response package of nature-based, community-driven solutions that are ready for implementation in the most severely impacted areas.
Their proposed interventions include:
Installing rainwater harvesting cisterns to immediately improve household water access and reduce dependence on overdrawn underground sources;
Creating productive home gardens with native Cerrado species to support food security and diversify income in a landscape where water is increasingly scarce;
Restoring degraded springs and riparian zones to safeguard the region’s fragile water sources;
Conducting on-the-ground climate risk mapping, co-created with local communities, to guide future adaptation efforts;
Hosting community workshops that integrate scientific and traditional knowledge, empowering residents to become local leaders in climate resilience.
These solutions are low-cost, scalable, and rooted in traditional livelihoods. With donor support, they can be launched within the first 12 months of the project, directly benefiting over 30 families and contributing to the stabilization of a vital ecosystem.
Why Your Donation Matters
The implementation of this project will enable these marginalized communities, who are directly affected by the impacts of climate change but play a crucial role in the conservation and stewardship of ecosystems, to not only survive with dignity but also overcome their vulnerabilities in the face of the ongoing climate and water crisis affecting the region.