In the heart of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, Zaqueu Belém Araújo demonstrates a centuries-old technique of harvesting acai berries, a practice deeply rooted in the traditions of quilombos—communities descended from runaway slaves. With minimal impact on the environment, this method ensures the survival of both the forest and the people who depend on it. “We understand that keeping the forest alive also keeps us alive,” says Erica Monteiro, a resident of Itacoa-Miri, a quilombo near Belem, where the UN climate conference is currently underway.
Communities of slave descendants in Brazil demand recognition of territories
