A 2019 survey by Ipea (Institute of Applied Economic Research) on Brazilian NGOs indicates that there are currently 102,080 civil society organizations based in municipalities in the Legal Amazon (an area that encompasses seven Brazilian states and is home to three biomes: the Amazon, the Cerrado, and the Pantanal).
Despite their significant presence, many of these organizations have faced criticism for their lack of adequate and immediate action about the fires ravaging the region. While some NGOs focus on long-term projects, such as reforestation and awareness-raising, direct response to the fires – such as fighting fires and providing emergency support to affected communities – has been insufficient, leaving a gap in addressing these environmental and social crises.
The Dakila Ecosystem has demonstrated its essential role in supporting indigenous and riverside communities in the Amazon, especially in response to the fires devastating the region. Following an emergency request from villages such as Pontal, Canindé, Mayrowi, and Matrixa, the Dakila team, in partnership with VoeMtx and GOLDENAIR, carried out strategic overflights in September 2024 to map the fire outbreaks and assessed the environmental and social damage. During the monitoring, a critical situation was identified, with the fires spreading rapidly and seriously affecting biodiversity and public health.
In addition to mapping the fire outbreaks, the teams also distributed medicines, masks, and saline solutions to alleviate the effects of the dense smoke ravaging the region, worsening air quality, and threatening residents' health. Residents raised suspicions about the criminal origin of the fires, reporting the presence of unknown aircraft before the outbreaks began, highlighting the situation's complexity.
During a broadcast of the program "A Voz das Etnias," Indigenous leaders shared their experiences, highlighting the lack of support from NGOs and governments and reinforcing the importance of initiatives such as Dakila's. The broadcast also highlighted the crucial role of public-private partnerships in fighting fires and preventing future disasters, including training community brigades.
In the podcast "Papo Amazônia," held on September 19, Urandir Fernandes de Oliveira and forestry engineer Darlisson Peixoto explained the influence of secondary forests, already degraded by human intervention, as facilitators for the spread of fire, in contrast to primary forests, which are more resilient due to their natural humidity. The need for a robust prevention plan was highlighted as a priority to prevent events like this from happening again.
Despite the climate and visibility challenges, the Dakila team remains committed to supporting the affected communities, highlighting the urgency of coordinated actions to ensure the well-being and recovery of the devastated regions.
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