Odera Abajue, Political Science and Public Administration, 3rd year
Country of fieldwork: Brazil
Canadian NGO: ASMOBAN and Floresta Viva
Local NGO: STERNA Africa
Before starting my internship, I had never really considered myself to be someone who had anything to do with nature. I understood, in a logical sense, the importance of forest conservation and environmental protection. Still, I didn’t see it as something I was directly involved in, other than recycling and composting. But as I reach the end of my sixth week here in Serra Grande, I have become quite fond of the forest, and for the first time in my life, not just understand, but truly feel the importance of forest conservation, and how the forest is directly connected to how we choose to live.
In my first opportunity to visit the forest with my internship group, it was overwhelming. All I could think about were the predators that I knew lived in the forest, scary snakes, poisonous spiders, and fire ants. While the scenery was beautiful, I felt so disconnected from the natural world; it felt like a threat to me. However, as time has progressed and I have had opportunities to learn more about the flora and fauna, I have begun to regard the forest in a much different light. I now see the importance of all the various elements of the forest, even the creatures that are dangerous to humans, and I now know how the forest itself is essential to humans. I am inspired by those who know the forest inside and out, and who immerse themselves in the forest and forest conservation.
One of the forest conservation techniques that I have found the most interesting is agroecology. During my time here, I have met people who have applied agroecological principles to gardens and reforestation projects by planting trees and plants that work in harmony with the forest and the ecosystem, while also providing food. An example of this is the cassava plant. Here in Bahia, cassava is extremely popular and has been a staple food in the region since before the Portuguese colonization. As cassava can grow well in the climate and can grow within a forest area, it is a crop that is much more sustainable for the environment than other starches. For the people of Bahia, choosing to eat cassava over alternatives, such as rice or wheat, is a decision that aligns with the forest's harmony.
For me, even though the forest itself is beautiful, the most awe-inspiring part is the way people are connected to the environment, and how this connection with the environment brings them together. I am excited to continue connecting with the forest, eating native foods, and learning more about how we, as individuals, can choose to live in harmony with nature. I am inspired to apply the knowledge I learn here back home and become an active participant in environmental conservation in Canada, beyond simply recycling and composting.