Our long-standing partner De Heus has published a feature story exploring the impact of its partnership with the Black Jaguar Foundation and how ecological restoration is creating lasting environmental, social, and economic benefits for communities across the Araguaia region.
At the heart of the story is Dinaura Zago Sobrinho, one of the BJF Araguaia Seed Network’s native seed collectors, who found in seed collection a valuable additional source of income for her family. The extra earnings helped pay for her husband’s surgery, illustrating how restoration can make a meaningful difference in people’s everyday lives.
Since its creation in 2021, the BJF Araguaia Seed Network (Ressemear) has grown to include around 150 seed collectors. Together, they have collected more than nine tonnes of native seeds and generated approximately BRL 450,000 in income for local communities. Today, women represent around 60% of the network’s participants.
The article also highlights how the initiative is strengthening environmental knowledge, empowering women, and fostering community participation in the conservation of the Amazon and the Cerrado. By sharing the stories of the people helping restore the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor, De Heus shows how ecological restoration can go beyond recovering ecosystems – creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and delivering lasting benefits for both people and nature.
Read the full article on the De Heus website HERE
