Photography by Amanda Perobelli Reporting by Jimin Kang and Amanda Perobelli For the first time in its 132-year history the Brazilian census now underway includes a question counting members of the “quilombo” communities founded by runaway slaves an island with several quilombos off the coast of Salvador this chance to be counted is one step in a political transformation for which local organizers have long been fighting “Being part of the census is a strategy for us a strategy for resistance and change,” says 52-year-old Marizelha Carlos Lopes a local activist and fisherwoman on the island “One of our objectives is to escape an intentional invisibility.” She is the first woman from the island campaigning for a spot in the Bahia state legislature – one of a record number of Black candidates running for state and federal office in Brazil in this October's elections Brazil’s updated census and the rising number of Black candidates are part of a slow reckoning with centuries of slavery that ended only in 1888 making Brazil the last country in the world to abolish the practice Quilombos were formed over centuries by enslaved people who escaped forced labor to create isolated self-subsistence communities in remote forests and mountain ranges or on islands like Ilha de Mare Quilombo residents now hope that a proper count of their numbers and more elected voices will open the door to improved social services and guarantees of rights for people and places long left off official maps National quilombo association CONAQ has identified nearly 6,000 quilombo territories CONAQ head Antonio Joao Mendes said government recognition of the communities gained steam under former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva two decades ago when the communities won more formal land rights and support for cultural programs Lula’s presidential candidacy this year presents a stark contrast who has dismantled many of those programs and slowed the recognition of additional quilombos Bolsonaro was fined 50,000 reais ($10,000) in 2017 for insulting quilombo residents saying that “they do nothing” and are “not even good for procreating” An appeals court threw out the case because he was a federal lawmaker at the time quilombo residents have for generations survived on the hard work of artisanal fishermen and fisherwomen to fish in the crystalline waters surrounding his community of Bananeiras has proudly memorialized their tradition with a tattoo on his left arm of his grandfather casting a net With no bridges to the mainland about a kilometer away residents on the car-free Ilha de Mare get around like their ancestors: on foot Uine Lopes says it feels like an island of calm away from the bustle and violence of the big city women gather to scrape meat from crabs and clams caught that day while others weave traditional straw baskets neighbors often gather for dance or gymnastics classes by the seashore Yet the fishing communities say their livelihoods are threatened by pollution from a nearby petrochemical port across the bay where a boat carrying propane gas exploded in 2013 An industry group responsible for cleaning up the spill said it was monitoring the bay to protect surrounding communities but Marizelha Lopes recalls losing an entire season of fishing and tourism due to contamination “There are still no specific studies or public policies that will guarantee our safety,” her nephew said The port authority did not respond to requests for comment Frustrated by a lack of answers to what she calls “environmental racism” against her island community she has traveled to nearby cities to drum up support for her candidacy to the state legislature with stickers declaring “My vote will be antiracist” and “Justice for Marielle.” The latter is a reference to Marielle Franco a Black city councilwoman in Rio de Janeiro who fought for racial justice and was shot dead in 2018 in what some have called a political assassination Her legacy has been a rallying cry for Black women like Paraguassu Of the 513 lawmakers elected to the lower house of Congress in 2018 just under a quarter identified as Black – and only 12 of those were women 50.7% of Brazilians in the 2010 census identified in the two racial categories that the government statistics agency combines in its definition of “negro,” or Black Paraguassu and her friends stand as they wait for the rain to stop in front of a bar before a campaign activity her sister and other friends take part in an activity after a gym class at Quilombo Bananeiras Alternating his time between fishing on Ilha de Mare and studying rural education at university Uine Lopes is one of a handful of students determined to bring the fruits of their research back to the island to vote for as many Black people as possible who are committed to the fight who have specific visions for Indigenous communities riverside residents and so many other communities that experience a lack of state support,” he says Marizelha did not attend school past fifth grade But watching her nephew combine academic pursuits with service to the community has inspired her “I am increasingly convinced that universities are important,” she said “But our resistance and fight are what equips and prepares us for the confrontation.” Reporting:  Jimin Kang and Amanda Perobelli Text editing: Brad Haynes and Rosalba O’Brien an Indigenous community residing in the dense forest interiors of northern Brazil and neighboring Guyana hold Brazil nuts in deep cultural and economic significance These nuts are not just a staple in their diet but also play a crucial role in their livelihoods Brazil nuts have become the primary source of cash income for the Wai Wai particularly for the 350 families living within the Wai Wai Indigenous Territory in Brazil’s Roraima state The community’s reliance on these nuts extends beyond sustenance as they form the foundation of their cuisine and daily nutrition By engaging in direct sales with companies the Wai Wai have successfully secured significantly higher prices for their Brazil nuts bypassing middlemen who often offer the lowest market rates these direct agreements often face challenges reflecting the broader difficulties Indigenous and traditional communities encounter when trying to participate effectively in the potentially lucrative bioeconomy These challenges underscore the need for more sustainable and fair trade practices that empower Indigenous communities and protect their cultural heritage Indigenous Wai Wai seek markets for Brazil nuts without middlemen The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa as protected areas become battlegrounds over history and global efforts to halt biodiversity loss Mongabay’s Special Issue goes beyond the region’s world-renowned safaris to examine how rural communities and governments are reckoning with conservation’s colonial origins and trying to forge a path forward […] the Brazilian census now underway includes a question counting members of the "quilombo" communities founded by runaway slaves "Being part of the census is a strategy for us a strategy for resistance and change," says 52-year-old Marizelha Carlos Lopes "One of our objectives is to escape an intentional invisibility." Brazil's updated census and the rising number of Black candidates are part of a slow reckoning with centuries of slavery that ended only in 1888 Lula's presidential candidacy this year presents a stark contrast saying that "they do nothing" and are "not even good for procreating." An appeals court threw out the case because he was a federal lawmaker at the time "There are still no specific studies or public policies that will guarantee our safety," her nephew said Frustrated by a lack of answers to what she calls "environmental racism" against her island community with stickers declaring "My vote will be antiracist" and "Justice for Marielle." 50.7% of Brazilians in the 2010 census identified in the two racial categories that the government statistics agency combines in its definition of "negro," or Black riverside residents and so many other communities that experience a lack of state support," he says "I am increasingly convinced that universities are important," she said "But our resistance and fight are what equips and prepares us for the confrontation." (Reporting by Jimin Kang and Amanda Perobelli; Photo editing and layout by Eve Watling; Text editing by Brad Haynes and Rosalba O’Brien) Helio dos Santos rows a boat as he prepares to fish in Ilha de Mare People walk towards boats at Quilombo Bananeiras in Ilha de Mare Marizelha poses for a photo at Quilombo Bananeiras washes recently collected shellfish near Ilha da Mare Joselia Farias Pedro holds a siri after catching it near Ilha da Mare Noemia Farias Pedro carries a bucket of shellfish she collected back to Quilombo Maracana in Ilha da Mare makes handcrafted baskets while Freitas interviews her at Quilombo Praia Grande Children rehearse for a popular cultural demonstration that recalls the struggle for freedom and the end of slavery held by Quilombo Acupe's fishermen at the Nego Fugido House dances at the Nego Fugido House at Quilombo Acupe Paraguassu laughs as she talks to a friend on a bus on their way back home after a campaign activity her sister and others take part in an activity after a gym class at Quilombo Bananeiras poses for a picture as she heads to a campaign activity for her friend Eliete Paraguassu in Bahia Paraguassu and her friends stand as they wait for the rain to stop in front of a bar before a campaign activity at Quilombo Porto dos Cavalo Marizelha laughs as she talks to a friend (not pictured) at Quilombo Bananeiras carries jambo fruit after harvesting them from the tree at her backyard at Quilombo Bananeiras Paraguassu hangs clothes in her backyard at Quilombo Porto dos Cavalos The project carried out by Estudio Flume consists of a workspace to process honey collected by a co-operative of beekeepers formed by 53 local rural producers.The design pays special attention to thermal comfort sustainable workspace: the building is suspended on pilotis and its facade of concrete blocks presents perforations of latticework in some areas.The project incorporates sustainable strategies such as the circle of banana trees (Circulo de bananeiras) a method used to treat grey waters and prevent soil contamination.  Description of project by Estudio Flume Estudio Flume has recently completed a beekeeper’s workshop in the Brazilian Amazonia for the Associação dos Apicultores de Canaã dos Carajás The project forms part of a socioeconomic and environmental strategy aiming to develop a self-sustainable local business that can help in the recovery of the rainforest from deforestation and land exploitation.The project is located in the Canaã dos Carajás in the Pará Estate of Brazil It consists of a workspace to process honey collected by a co-operative of beekeepers formed by 53 local rural producers The site has a difference in height of seven meters which would have required considerable and costly ground-works to achieve a graded surface Hence the decision to suspend the concrete slab on pilotis which worked well within the budget though it also represented an opportunity to naturally ventilate the building.The orientation of the Casa do Mel was designed with consideration to the local climate prioritizing the thermal comfort and natural lighting of the workspace such as the container and process rooms for honey were located facing East to get the early morning sunlight.The facade was built with concrete blocks backed with insect mesh to allow cross ventilation and to regulate the internal light levels This helps to maintain a healthy environment in the production rooms The separation of the floor from the ground as well as the double-layered roof (slab and corrugated metal sheet) generates air pockets that help with the thermal comfort of the building This strategy is strengthened by the shading provided by the over-sailing roof canopy.The project incorporates sustainable strategies such as the circle of banana trees (Circulo de bananeiras) a method used to treat grey waters and prevent soil contamination; a bio-digester to treat organic waste and produce fertiliser and organic compost and the harvesting of rainwater for non-drinkable water to use in toilets Estudio Flume. Associação dos Apicultores de Canaã dos Carajás Archive Architecture