Catalytic Communities is about to embark on a new initiative. RioFloresta is a tree planting and community mobilization effort we are incubating in order to improve the lives of Rio’s 6 million residents. We have chosen to announce it today, October 15, 2009, in honor of both World Rainforest Week and Blog Action Day.
Currently, the North Zone of Rio–home to 2 million people, mostly in favelas–is 3°C (5°F) warmer than the city’s elite South Zone and suffers from the heat island effect. This temperature disparity results from a variety of factors, the foremost being a lack of trees.
At the same time, Rio’s poor communities are characterized by their location either on hills (the infamous “morros”) or lowlying areas (“baixadas”) – exactly those areas most at risk for landslides and floods from climate change. This is particularly problematic in a city located on a peninsula. And worse yet, in a city notorious for its inability to attend to the needs of the poor.
We are designing RioFloresta to use tree-planting as a vehicle for empowering community residents to be prepared to take action and adapt to climate change.
In November 2009, we will select a pilot community to work with in 2010. Communities in the North Zone with signatures from 100 interested residents will be eligible.
In 2010, we will begin working with residents of this pilot community on multiple fronts. Following basic environmental and climate education workshops, community members will help design the local project: everything from identifying available planting sites, to surveying residents, identifying funders, selecting tree species, and designing the project itself (including playgrounds, orchards, reforestation, urban agriculture or other types of space scenarios). Community organizing techniques will be incorporated and taught throughout.
Partnerships are being identified with biologists, horticulturalists, NGOs, the UN FAO (urban agriculture), potential corporate funders, university departments (the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro’s Meteorology department hopes to provide quantitative data on the chosen site before and after our interventions) and others.
Naturally, an increase in the tree canopy will result in cleaner water and air. Trees will also provide a cooling effect for the community, hence improving residents’ thermal comfort and generally improving the microclimate. Researchers have told us we should expect measurable improvements in impacts derived from temperature, humidity, pressure, wind, and radiation (hence, these will all be measured). Incidences of respiratory infection will decrease. Property values will increase. And the project will be designed to provide job, as well as educational, organizing and volunteer opportunities. We may even see reduced levels of crime and stress. Finally, more trees have been shown to encourage tourism and commerce.
At the same time, by participating in this project, residents will develop organizing strategies and skills that will be essential in the coming years as the city struggles to cope with the effects of climate change. They will be better positioned to understand what is happening and respond accordingly. They will have built trust in one another, learned skills to develop projects from start to finish, and developed contacts outside of their communities with whom they can work in future.
In parallel with our direct planting and mobilization work on-the-ground, we will be encouraging the city of Rio to follow through with its plans to plant 24 million tree saplings in preparation for the 2016 Olympic Games. According to Brazil’s Environment Minister Carlos Minc, the Games–whose budget is up to $14.5 billion–will strive to be a totally carbon neutral competition. This means that Rio will offset the carbon emissions expected as a result of the Games. But we want to make sure not only that the trees are planted, but that they are planted where they are most needed. Not just in easy open spaces in surrounding areas, but in the urban communities of the North Zone. So, as the athletes begin their low-carb diets, so too, will the city of Rio.
– coauthored by Theresa Williamson and Jamie Worms
*Theresa Williamson is CatComm’s Executive Director and Jamie Worms is CatComm’s Editorial Intern.
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Great initiative! Would like to be in the loop. Perhaps we can help each other. See our project: http://www.replantingarainforest.org. Brgds, Christer
(from Wiser Earth)
[...] @CatComm: "Rio Goes Low-Carb: CatComm Introduces RioFloresta" http://www.catcomm.org/en/?p=2202. Our post in honor of #blogactionday. [...]
I am a high school biology teacher especially dedicated to formal and informal environmental education. Although I have no previous experience either planting trees or working in favelas, I would like to help this project in whatever way possible. What should I do to become an active part of RioFloresta?
The RioFloresta initiative is fantastic! As you know I have planted thousands of trees in Rondonia as part of an agroforestry pilot project. I would be happy to assist if I can. Planting trees can produce many benefits beyond ecological restoration/stabilization (fruits, nuts, oils, fodder, wind breaks, etc. that poor urban residents can consume).
I would be especially interested in learning what ideological justifications emerge from the urban tree-planting discourse in Rio. I remember one farmer in Rondonia telling me that he planted trees on his farm as a form of political resistance to an oppressive state. Let’s discuss, if you are interested.