cloudless morning in the Poço Dantas when a sudden loud blow shakes the ground of Maria Aparecida’s* house Almost a minute goes by before the distant sound of a siren becomes discernible Sigma Lithium is but one of the companies currently mining or prospecting the region a member of the Aranã Indigenous people in the region while he sits under the shade of a vine with his wife The choices on how to mitigate impacts include whether a company decides to mine where other companies already are and whether they consider all other land uses in place Consulting communities as a whole — instead of people individually with offers of profit from land sales — is also important to avoid divisiveness “In the decades when CBL was the only lithium mining company present in the region we never saw the types and the level of conflicts that came along with Sigma,” Bruno Milanez an environmental policy professor at Brazil’s Federal University of Juiz de Fora Sigma Lithium did not respond to Mongabay’s questions by the time of this publication the company says its mission is to “support a sustainable energy future by empowering growth in the electric vehicle industry as one of the world’s largest producers of environmentally sustainable lithium.” The government of Minas Gerais says they launched the Lithium Valley project in the region to boost “socioeconomic development through the promotion of lithium production to improve municipalities in various regions Residents in the Jequitinhonha Valley told Mongabay they have some ideas on what these actions should be respect for human rights and local cultures conservation of biodiversity and integrated approaches to land-use planning Different decisions on where and how they mine result in different levels of harm less deforestation and disruption for ecology and simpler ecosystem recuperation upon termination of the operation there are usually issues and new problems with underground mining and technique alone is not enough to completely mitigate impacts and is equivalent to the amount consumed by 24,000 people In official communications, Sigma also says it doesn’t use potable water in their operations, and that they don’t use hazardous chemicals the company advises families to stop consuming water from the Piauí River people now depend on the water tanks which the company refills once a month as a compensatory measure but residents say this water also has issues you’re taken by the strong chlorine smell,” Maria Aparecida says She says the water is not enough for cooking and they often run out before the month is over “And we can’t even use the river water anymore as well as to 300 Quilombola families — descendants of formerly enslaved people Adalberto describes how he and his community fear the arrival of a mining company inside the territory a reality that draws nearer each day as more companies show interest Upon witnessing firsthand what Sigma’s presence has done to the neighboring Poço Dantas they can no longer shy away from debating how to minimize the damages that they feel are sure to come we want companies to negotiate with the community as a whole,” Adalberto tells Mongabay He has witnessed the too-common reality of division and internal conflicts that arise when individual profits come at the expense of the collective “You can’t just negotiate with the owner of a particular plot of land when the harms from exploration will impact everyone else around it.” While consultation protocols rarely succeed in preventing mining activities Milanez said they can improve the conditions under which they transpire “It’s best to negotiate the company’s entrance on your own terms Milanez describes three instances in which consultation protocols should be used to negotiate the conditions of a new mining enterprise: Firstly to decide whether or not it will take place; secondly to determine the speed and scale of both installation and operation; finally to agree on how the mining income should be distributed “Any debate about a less harmful mining industry must address these three points,” he said Mining companies still haven’t made it into Chapada do Lagoão but Adalberto and others in the community already envision a series of demands that would ensure real benefits for the community whilst protecting it from remaining hostage to predatory undertakings They expect to be directly involved in the development the companies promise to bring to receive part of the profits made from their land and to be offered training in relevant areas both for more qualified jobs in the mining industry and for other activities they could continue to conduct in the region once mining operations are closed One part of preparing locals for job opportunities in the lithium sector the government of Minas Gerais tells Mongabay is through expanding their offers for educational courses to residents in the Minas Forma program The Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys also “recorded the second-largest growth (18.25%) in the opening of new businesses Sigma brought jobs and financially supported existing female business entrepreneurs in the region residents who spoke to Mongabay mentioned issues to address: The jobs are not well-paying and it focused on businesses that won’t easily survive once mining is done and come in the form of loans that can lead to debt “There is no way to ‘ensure’ responsibility. This is a longstanding challenge of the current economic system,” the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining tells Mongabay over email “Governments can’t ‘guarantee’ corporate performance Communities can’t ensure anything either — they can engage hiding in the shade from the scorching Sun of the semi-arid Maria Aparecida points to the many cracks that cross the walls They are the result of the company’s ongoing daily explosions they used to be much stronger at the beginning until they started to soften the blows.” She believes that implemented a decree allowing for environmental licenses to be granted without consulting communities social organizing and political articulation the communities of the Jequitinhonha Valley achieved a rare legal victory Governor Romeu Zema did not respond to Mongabay’s questions by the time of this publication residents worry it would weaken environmental protection and pave the way for the expansion of mining activities In response, residents launched an online campaign in defense of Chapada do Lagoão organized in collaboration with local unions and other regional movements gained traction and led to the bill being challenged in higher legal instances amidst rumors that the local government may proceed with the bill locals fear its alignment with interests of mining companies might lead it to resurface there is but one viable solution to truly reduce mining impacts: to mine as little as possible confining mining areas and setting clear preconditions for the activity “We need to say: ‘this is all the area you’re allowed to mine — so make do with it’,” he says it has yet to materialize in the Jequitinhonha Valley *For the safety of local residents affected by the mining operations all of their names were changed in this story As lithium mining bleeds Atacama salt flat dry, Indigenous communities hit back Bolivian communities push back against foreign-backed lithium projects Feedback: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post. If you want to post a public comment, you can do that at the bottom of the page. The “fortress conservation” model is under pressure in East Africa, as protected areas become battlegrounds over history, human rights, 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 […] Volume 6 - 2024 | https://doi.org/10.3389/frwa.2024.1409387 This article is part of the Research TopicWater Supply and Sanitation in Rural CommunitiesView all 6 articles Introduction: In Brazil there are currently 3,475 certified quilombo communities reminiscent of Black communities founded by African enslaved people a semi-arid region located in northeastern Minas Gerais State there are approximately 80 established communities mostly in hard-to-reach areas with lack of access to water and sanitation services Methods: Using the analytical framework of Human Rights to Water and Sanitation (HRWS) and with a gender perspective this research aimed to analyze how access to water and sanitation occurs in two remaining communities of quilombos (Córrego do Narciso and Córrego do Rocha) located in the Jequitinhonha Valley and how lack of access to these services impacts the health and lifestyle of the population Data was collected using individual interviews and focus groups The data was analyzed using content analyses technique Results: The results showed that access to water and sanitation in both communities did not respect the HRWS normative content and the lack of access impacted the lifestyle—the economic cultural and social traditional activities-and the health of the population During COVID-9 pandemic access to water became even more difficult because the supply by water truck was discontinued producing more insecurity as people in the communities needed to go to the city to buy water and food and could not keep isolation Discussion: Public policies on access to water for rural populations if guided by the HRWS framework and interwoven with the gender perspective could ensure guaranteed quality of life for women and can strength their entitlements within their territories it is necessary to understand and lend visibility to the issue of access to water for women who live in rural areas and use water not only to wash their hands and belongings but also to carry out economic Part of the rural population in Brazil are quilombolas, reminiscent of Black communities founded by African enslaved people who were brought to Brazil in colonial times, who developed daily practices of resistance in the maintenance and reproduction of their characteristic ways of life and in the consolidation of their own territories. (Sato and Brandao, 2023) Since most other rural communities in the region receive treated water from public service providers Using the analytical framework of Human Rights to Water and Sanitation (HRWS) and with a gender perspective this research aimed to analyze how access to water and sanitation occurs in two remaining communities of quilombolas located in the Jequitinhonha Valley and how lack of access to these services impacts the health and lifestyle of the population The reminiscent quilombola communities studied are located in rural areas of the municipalities of Araçuaí (Córrego do Narciso) and Chapada do Norte (Córrego do Rocha) in the Middle Jequitinhonha region of northeast Minas Gerais These sites were chosen due to researchers’ previous knowledge about precarious access to water in the region arising from claims made by female leaders of the communities that belong to the Quilombola Federation of the State of Minas Gerais—N’Golo these communities were visited in partnership with N’Golo and Mídia Ninja (a media network focused on political activism) to report and publicize the human rights violations experienced by communities during COVID-19 pandemic The community has been fighting for water access for over 30 years It is important to note that there is a water retention dam at the community entrance called Calhauzinho which is the responsibility of Minas Gerais Energy Company (CEMIG) This dam irrigates the extensive banana monoculture located within the quilombola territory Approximately 54 families live in the Córrego do Rocha community in Chapada do Norte. The municipality has a total population of 15,334 inhabitants, of which 9,157 (63%) are in rural areas (IBGE CENSO, 2010). Only 19.6% of the municipality’s sanitary sewage is considered adequate (IBGE CENSO, 2010). The total water service index, including urban and rural populations, is 83.7% (SNIS, 2019) The community does not have any river course in the vicinity of its territory Both communities are experiencing the dramatic impact of eucalyptus monoculture in the region and drilling they benefit from the rainwater collection tanks resulting from the One Million Cisterns Program (P1MC) developed by the Brazilian Semi-arid Articulation (ASA) a civil society network that protect and advocate for the communities’ rights living in the semiarid region in Brazil The study used a qualitative method and data collection took place in two stages individual interviews were conducted based on a semi-structured interview script with seven women from Córrego do Narciso and eight women from Córrego do Rocha in July 2021.The women to be interviewed are chosen as they are considered The script focused on the pandemic’s impacts on health four women were interviewed in Córrego do Narciso based on a semi-structured interview script using the HRWS and traditional health-related knowledge as references focus groups on human rights were also held with people attending a meeting convened by the representatives of each community’s resident associations Twenty-five people participated in the Córrego do Narciso community focus group (20 women and 5 men) and 15 people participated in the Córrego do Rocha community focus group (12 women and 3 men) In addition to the interviews and focus groups data were collected through participant observation at specific periods in loco Three trips were made to the field between July and October 2021 to immerse the researchers in the reality of the communities for field diary notes The collected data were analyzed using the content analysis technique (Bardin, 2011) Based on the interview transcription and considering the theoretical references of HRWS and gender aspects 5 thematic categories were identified: water as a human right; the centrality of water in the life of quilombolas; the relationship between the land and migration; women as “head” of the family and the community; the impact of the pandemic The quotation used as examples came from the data collected during focus groups and interviews and were identified in two ways With regard to participants of the focus group on HRWS identification was made considering the gender of those who spoke and the community they belonged to Individual interviews included only women; they were identified by the order in which they were interviewed and the community to which they belonged It is important to note that this research is intended to be a part of two projects approved by the Fiocruz Minas Ethics Committee and the National Ethics Commission (COEP) CAAE protocols 39133020.8.0000.5091 (COVID-19 and gender response) and 43259121.3.0000.5091 (Quilombola and COVID-19 communities: development of social technologies for health promotion in the Middle Jequitinhonha All participants received the Free and Informed Consent Form that contained information about the projects and ensured anonymity The municipality had to be responsible for supplying us with water (Woman 1 When analyzing the quilombola community’s access to water from the perspective of the HRWS it is clear that there has been noncompliance with regulatory aspects of the rights Regarding the availability of access to services the community reports that water often arrives through a water truck that fills the rainwater cisterns This cistern program has not been serviced Since water is not available whenever people they seek water from alternative sources that can be unsafe possibly endangering people’s health It is also worth noting that people often walk long distances carrying heavy loads of water Women are more affected by the lack of water I went to the dam to get some water myself That’s the only way to get water when the cistern dries out It's been two months without water for us (Woman It didn’t matter what time; when I needed it it tastes different from the treated water The miner's water tastes like salt and rust We wash the box and put the water in the box people in communities sometimes have to buy water which impacts access to other essential items demonstrating that the regulatory aspect of economic accessibility of HRWS is not being respected A lady who lived in the community had to use the money she would spend to buy food especially for people living in rural areas is important not only for washing things and cooking but also for irrigating crops that serve both for community subsistence and generating income leading to food insecurity and increasing the vulnerability of families There was already a day that we got a basic food basket with rice and beans We also need water for the animals; we give it to the pigs the community states that few houses have access to bathrooms and most of the population uses the septic tank with leach fields in their homes This is a problem for people with reduced mobility who cannot get around and even for others who feel that their privacy is not being respected and Whoever has to go to the bathroom goes outside the house and doesn’t use the toilet (Man How does an older adult who no longer walks and uses a wheelchair My mother-in-law stayed in bed for 11 years; we took the bucket to the bedroom and then washed it because she couldn't stand going out to the woods anymore (Woman the lack of water results in numerous losses for the population in terms of access to healthy food and income and leads to countless health problems due to the difficulty in maintaining proper hygiene regarding hands It should be noted that the community is aware that access to water is a right and should be treated as a common good guaranteed to everyone by the public administration the community can be considered the holder of rights and the state is responsible for its guarantee I think it's not fair; water is a common good I think the least the government could be doing is giving us the right we have In Córrego do Narciso and Córrego do Rocha one often hears the phrase “water is life At least two communities were named after streams (“córregos”) every social organization of the communities was organized: My late mother raised us in the creek mining Because if there was no income on my mother's side (…) Then my mother would spend some time on the farm and some time in the stream There everyone went to the stream; the big kids This centrality of water in the lives of quilombola women makes its lack the root of the main “problems.” A woman speaks of water as the only determinant of life in her community and highlights the contrast between dry weather and “water” weather as if there were two Jequitinhonhas: But if you came here at the time of the waters but here it's really good; it makes me want to live here Here it's green; there's water for all sides you can't handle it (…) Here [at the time of] the waters (…) The hardest [part] here is just the water (Woman 9 She says that “[at the time of] the waters,” everything is rushed; it is when we have to wake up early and spend the day working on the land and time to protect the seeds for when they can be planted the “andú” [beans] she plants This year we already have beans — when it rains just go to the land and plant them.” Life is marked by this seasonality of water like impacting communities’ access to neighboring cities due to the precariousness of roads Another participant says that in Córrego do Rocha that’s the end of that road.” Isolation in the rainy season is a concern especially when there are health problems and the need to seek care which always involves an extensive journey carried out in the most different ways: a same section of the road can be traveled on horseback Maria takes care of two children and a physically disabled sister-in-law and had to pay from her own pocket to build a road to her house after getting tired of demanding that this be done by the city She reports the difficulties she has already experienced as a result: or my sister-in-law … for me to take them is sad And I carry them in the wheelbarrow or take them in the trunk to the stream crossing there; when it breaks as it is currently from them that much of the water supply in the two communities comes through cisterns according to several women: “water that God poured on the ground”; “the water of rain that God sent; “God will not let me die of thirst”; “That dry area right?” Some women have reported using chlorine provided by health officials or P&G sachets donated by NGOs to purify water for drinking but not all engage in this practice since they believe rainwater is clean and families must depend on municipal or private water trucks A woman says that the city only sends a truck every 2 months and that the amount of water is not enough for this time: “[It’s supposed to last] for 60 days It is something that you go through a lot of difficulties; it is a very sad thing” (Woman 7 another woman reports that the county truck takes a long time to arrive: “It has happened here where we ask for it we have to save as much as we can for us to go buy it A participant says that the trucks arrive faster in election season up to 90 days without water” (Woman 4 And I'm here until the day God says: "I'm going to take you." Because I don't plan to move from here either I don't even like going to the city; I don't like it; the day I go to the city Because we already got used to this little piece of land here the land represents more than just physical space Despite the limitations linked to the lack of water occupying the land they have built their history for many generations has forced more and more families to move: It is so sad for the family that leaves and so sad for the family that stands firm how many families have you seen here today And how many houses are locked up in there In addition to the migration of entire families it is mainly the migration of men who harvest coffee or cut sugarcane while women remain guardians of the land these women were called “widows of living husbands” because they were alone with their children and relatives while planting and harvesting so it was just me who was moving around at home I was… there were times when I was [alone for] six months Because there… their base stay is only six months some… I don't know how many trips right The struggle by quilombola women to protect their land is historic and involves the issue of water Lack of access to water makes it difficult to carry out cultural so families are indirectly forced to leave their land which is a way to expropriate locations with an economic interest in agribusiness and/or mining Associated with this is the insecurity regarding land ownership since several quilombolas are not land-entitled which generates constant concern among female leaders: It's because we in the community want to demarcate the territory Because after we were recognized as a quilombo but people do not understand; they say that we do not have this right yet and that we only have a certificate And the community is not pleased with the people who are coming in and we have nothing to verify that they are not allowed to come in here (Woman 1 the lives of the men here who have to leave are very complicated He leaves his wife with a small child; he leaves his pregnant wife; he leaves a small child and always goes because he is the breadwinner Here you don't have such an income (Woman 7 The community’s gender relations are With husbands and children forced to migrate women face the challenge of caring for their families and communities alone Some can produce food to sell at the open-air market with the little water they have access to: some housewives go to the open-air market every Saturday to sell their little things those who have water nearby have some vegetables to sell many men return from migration incapacitated for work My husband does not work with anything because he is sick My husband has a back problem and was working on the sugarcane cutting in 2011; since then My husband doesn’t do it because he’s not up to it not even to clean the house with a wipe; he can’t do it for me” (Woman 7 In addition to being the “head of the family,” this woman is one of the community’s most important leaders and has been looking for help to solve the water issue for years Her main struggle is to get the water from the Calhauzinho dam something she has been waiting to happen for more than 20 years: It is something that you go through a lot of difficulties; it is a very sad thing because of the water; there have been many years that we have struggled with this water which is not five kilometers away from the community to the dam where is the place that they… they take the water another participant is a leader in Córrego do Rocha and relates her historical struggle to get all the families in her community to have access to water: The biggest complaint now is the lack of water The lack of water here for us has been a total lack of water since 2018 so it has been three years since the county government came and we were fighting to turn on the pump to supply families as it was already routine (Woman 7 After repeated negotiations with the local government there was an agreement for the community to open ditches for later installation of the pipes by the government Then the community gathered a small group of people to dig ditches and they said that if the ditches were drilled the pipes would come to enable water channeling Two women came to work intensively in drilling these ditches to install the pipes and two ladies worked for more than 16 days without receiving a cent because it was the agreement but this agreement is worth it from the moment that the city fulfills their part of the agreement but the county government hasn't so far (Woman 7 what was already difficult without the pandemic the pandemic arrived and devastated us even more access to water became even more difficult in addition to the increase in water consumption due to hygiene practices necessary to prevent the contagion and people staying at home longer A participant talks about the lack of treated water to sanitize her hands: Every time you have to wash your hands with soap and water that water there is no water for washing hands the pandemic made it impossible to hold the traditional meetings organized by female leaders to plan collective ways to demand answers from the government regarding the lack of water This factor aced directly to politically demobilize women who were excluded from participation in collective meetings not even the meetings we held to talk to each other about the water problem Then we couldn't meet to talk about the first step we would take to ask for water help we're going to go to the door at county government The notion of collective is fundamental as a daily practice in both communities where decisions always go through the assembly of the associations that represent them the pandemic greatly impacted women’s struggle for water by weakening an important mechanism of the legitimacy of female leaders before the public authorities the lack of water related to the difficulty of planting caused women to break the isolation in search of food in the city markets or to suffer from the lack of food due to the impossibility of entering the city with the closure imposed during the more critical epidemiological periods There's no water; you just have to go to the market and buy it but you don't know who was becoming sick; sometimes some were already sick with COVID and transmitted it (…) Sometimes you had something to pick up at the market; it was for today Because there were a lot of weeks that even the cars weren't there There was a time when we even went through some hardship Because I couldn't go to Araçuaí to get supplies (Woman 9 the results of the present study indicate that access to water and sanitation for the quilombola communities of Córrego do Rocha and Córrego do Narciso fails to respect almost all the regulatory aspects of the HRWS This has resulted in negative impacts on the health of the communities and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic Important to say that ecosystem disservices which refers to the harm and negative impact ecosystem can impose to people causing damage and costs are also seen in this communities and it occurs the floods cause isolation and difficulty of getting sick people to a doctor due roads blockage As already reported in several studies, the division of labor surrounding water collection is sexist, and women are responsible for care of the house and the children (Sorenson et al., 2011; Pickering and Davis, 2012; Sommer et al., 2015 2016; Baker et al., 2018) women would often travel to alternative sources where the water quality is unfit for consumption since they had to fetch water from the river and carry heavy pots since they were children such as back pain and the appearance of varicose veins they already have to apply to the state for retirement or sick benefits due to health problems coupled with the lack of resources allocated to these communities reflects a scenario composed of various types of problems related to the population’s quality of life discussing access to water and sanitation as human rights represents an important step in raising awareness and empowerment of these communities regarding their rights and guarantees of access to these services and other entitlements within their territories Public polices related to access to water and sanitation needed to be discussed in a human rights approach in order to respect traditional culture and is essential to include women in the decision making process the lack of access to water caused the quilombola communities of the Jequitinhonha valley region to find themselves in the most diverse precarious situations directly reflected in their well-being and their relations with health the drought of artesian wells and dependence on water trucks have subjected these communities reduced food planting and consequent food insecurity difficulty in maintaining their good life in the territory increased displacement and population migration in search of better living conditions as well as greater susceptibility to COVID-19 It should also be noted that public policies on access to water for rural populations ensure guaranteed quality of life for women in addition to highlighting the specific economic cultural and social issues of these communities it is noteworthy that women play a fundamental role in the struggle for the right to water in the quilombola communities presented here are the ones who play the role of caregiver and controller of water in their families and the community as a whole They are the ones that claim with local managers carrying the demands of the associations over which they preside protesting at the doors of county governments and their respective public offices They do all this without losing their sensitivity and the dream of seeing water flow from the faucets of their house these women have advanced a broader agenda of Brazil’s quilombola communities since the nineteenth century; it is one for freedom and water is a fundamental part of this “new” plan for living The studies involving humans were approved by Fiocruz Minas Ethics Committee and the National Ethics Commission The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research The work was funded by Melina and Bill Gates Foundation and INOVA Fiocruz The authors would like to acknowledge all Quilombolas’ people in special the ones that live in Córrego do Narciso e Córrego do Rocha The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 1. ^Citations in this section were taken from a workshop on water as a human right it was not possible to identify the speaker numbering was used to identify different speakers Amuakwa-Mensah Covid-19 and handwashing: implications for water use in Sub-Saharan Africa Access to improved water and sanitation in sub-Saharan Africa in a quarter century and water and sanitation access on premature birth and low infant birth weight in India Google Scholar "it makes us really look inferior to outsiders": coping with psychosocial experiences associated with the lack of access to safe water and sanitation Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Google Scholar The human right to water and sanitation: a new perspective for public policies Lack of access to clean fuel and piped water and children’s educational outcomes in rural India What structural racism is (or is not) and how to measure it: clarity for public health and medical researchers Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Google Scholar Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Household water access and Covid-19 in Karoi town PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Google Scholar Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Covid-19 and gender differences in mental health in low-and middle-income countries: young working women are more vulnerable Google Scholar Google Scholar PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Neves-Silva O direito humano à água e ao esgotamento sanitário como instrumento para promoção da saúde de populações vulneráveis Neves-Silva The right to water: impact on the quality of life of rural workers in a settlement of the landless workers movement Google Scholar Google Scholar Freshwater availability and water fetching distance affect child health in sub-Saharan Africa PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Lessons on planetary health from traditional Quilombola communities of the Brazilian Amazon PubMed Abstract | Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Comportamentos relacionados com a saúde de mulheres quilombolas: um estudo de representações sociais Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Google Scholar Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Safe access to safe water in low income countries: water fetching in current times Household water insecurity will complicate the ongoing Coved-19 response: evidence from 29 sites in 23 low-and middle-income countries Crossref Full Text | Google Scholar Google Scholar Pimenta DN and Heller L (2024) Quilombola women from Jequitinhonha (Minas Gerais Brazil) and access to water and sanitation in the context of COVID-19: a matter of human rights Received: 29 March 2024; Accepted: 03 October 2024; Published: 16 October 2024 Copyright © 2024 Neves-Silva, Schall, Gonçalvez, Alves, dos Santos, Valente, Pimenta and Heller. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted academic practice distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms *Correspondence: Priscila Neves-Silva, cHJpc2NpbGEubmV2ZXMzMUBnbWFpbC5jb20= Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher 94% of researchers rate our articles as excellent or goodLearn more about the work of our research integrity team to safeguard the quality of each article we publish Brazil — It is the middle of the night in Minas Gerais and work at the lithium mine in Jequitinhonha Valley does not stop Noise from hundreds of machines churning up the soil echoes off the mountains destroying the peace and quiet of the traditional communities living in the region when a line of trucks forms on top of a rise The rumbling mixed with the sound of engines reaches the 70 homes in the village called Piauí Poço Dantas established 150 years ago on the banks of Piauí Creek waste rock Pile 5 —stored unusable materials rejected from Brazil’s largest lithium mine Rising 20 meters (66 feet) above the ground and occupying 560,000 square meters (6 million square feet more than 110 football fields) of land area the pile’s size has quadrupled over the last 11 months and is now just a few meters from the creek and the homes in the village manager of the fund created to finance measures that fight climate changes In order to reach a 540,000-ton annual capacity starting in 2025 the piling area designated in the company’s initial plans had to be quadrupled The 400,000 m2 (4.3 million ft2) licensed in 2019 increased to 2 million m2 (21.5 million ft2) on its last operating license published in January by Minas Gerais’ Secretary of State for the Environment and Sustainable Development after a favorable statement from the State Environmental Foundation Sigma’s hurried growth is driven by high demand for the metal on the international market especially for the manufacture of electric cars in China Other mining companies are also competing for lithium extraction opportunities in the region today which is working an old subterranean mine next to Sigma’s The runaway growth of mining in the region has daily impact on local farmers Edvaldo Pereira Santos Born and raised in the traditional community of Piauí Poço Dantas the couple — together with all the people living there today — are suffering from lack of sleep have respiratory problems and are angered by Sigma’s encroaching wall of rubble as it steadily gains ground toward their home drink water from the creek and our kids didn’t get sick the children are always coughing and we have no peace,” says Angela as she lights her clay woodstove that sits behind her home face to face with the stockpile of waste rock The Piauí Poço Dantas community has no running water and Angela Santos makes the coffee with water distributed by Sigma The company gave water storage tanks to all the homes in the village and fills them with trucked-in water once a week “They told us not to drink water from the creek anymore,” Edvaldo says while their three grandchildren arrive with their son Evandro Evandro runs his finger over the surface of the table to show the dust that has settled there since the night before “This fine malacacheta [mineral] dust is killing us inside — from silicosis,” says the 35-year-old farmer naming the incurable occupational disease that affects the lungs of mine workers “My wife just got over having pneumonia and our three sons developed asthma They haven’t gotten better since this dust started falling.” 9-year-old João Miguel and 13-year-old Pedro Lucas) start their walk to school Almost no cars pass on the dirt road and the boys’ attention is caught by a blue and yellow macaw that flies low over their heads The macaw began interacting with people here after her mate was killed by high tension lines two years ago Edvaldo is already harvesting bananas in the field with other men from the village Evandro has stayed at home to take care of his wife who is still recuperating from her pneumonia he tells how part of the community resists taking jobs at the mining company he comments that many are not willing to subject themselves to the companies that are changing the community’s landscape and customs The women from the village meet up at the creek to wash dishes and clothing until the men and children come back “The water level has dropped over the last few years but I think that all this dust also has something to do with it,” says Ivanete Pinheiro Santos “I was fishing with a friend of mine yesterday and they [the mine operators] set off three explosions at once We had to tie our blouses over our faces because there was so much smelly smoke and dust falling on us The children are suffering from panic attacks and from pneumonia.” Angela Santos receives a visitor on the front porch of her home: 37-year-old community health worker Cleony Pereira who has been responsible for the health care of the 66 families in Piauí Poço Dantas since 2013 everyone here is complaining of sleep problems and in some cases are needing sleeping pills and antidepressants But what has really gotten worse with this mine are respiratory illnesses Many of the children and old people are dealing with recurrent pneumonia.” She points out that it is becoming difficult to treat patients at the regional hospital in Araçuaí “Our neighbor Jessica went there this morning early with her 2-year-old daughter People today wait as long as 12 hours to be seen at the São Vicente de Paulo Hospital in Araçuaí a makeshift tarp shelters a line of chairs with worried people trying to comfort children and old people experiencing breathing problems while they wait to be seen “The doctor told us that the dust from the mine caused it Everyone at home is coughing now.” Jessica is married and also has two sons The Fazenda Velha community lies 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) from Piauí Poço Dantas the village was founded 60 years ago and also sits on the banks of Piauí Creek the relationship with the creek is different: The water is used to wash dishes and clothes to bathe and is piped into homes for drinking we can see Sigma’s operations in the distance and the piles of waste rock belonging to CBL are less than 150 m (490 ft) away This mining company planned a roadway that keeps the trucks away from the community and carries out frequent analyses of the effects its operation is causing Our homes are also cracked because of the detonations,” says José Reinaldo Silva Santos a hairstylist and also president of the community association but after the new mining company [Sigma] came We are worried about our children’s future because this mineral dust accumulates in the lungs,” says Santos The situation affecting those living in Piauí Poço Dantas is not unlike that affecting other traditional communities in Jequitinhonha Valley like Indigenous communities and quilombos [settlements established by Afro-Brazilian slaves who escaped from plantations that existed in Brazil until abolition in 1888] The region is already experiencing land conflicts due to lithium mining In the Chapada do Lagoão APA Environmental Preservation Area located 30 km (18.6 mi) from Araçuaí Malhada Preta and Córrego do Narciso do Meio quilombos have begun organizing themselves against the frequent invasions of geologists prospecting lithium inside their territory The case called the attention of MAB (Movement of Dam Victims) and State Senator Beatriz Cerqueira (PT) who called the courts into action in April 2023 the Minas Gerais Public Prosecutor’s Office recommended that mineral prospecting permissions be annulled in Chapada do Lagoão because of the large number of water springs there There are no rules and there are no limits on mining in Jequitinhonha,” Cerqueira says when asked about the increased mining the way people live in the communities has been destroyed and this destruction brings sickness to the population,” she adds who made two trips to the region and called a public hearing with those affected by the mine recalls the reports she heard in the region “The local health care system is unable to provide treatment because there are so many illnesses mainly respiratory and psychiatric,” she says blaming the mining companies and a lack of action on the part of government agencies She says they are responsible for the dust clouds blocking community pathways and increased costs and violence No amount of money is enough,” she concludes the peaceful communities neighboring Atlas’ mineral deposits opinions are divided as to the startup of the mining company’s operations “Some of the people believe that the economy will improve Aside from the land that the mining companies have already bought they want the lithium that’s under our land,” 28-year-old quilombo community member Lucas Martins says walks with his head down through the old corral on his small property He tells us how he is increasingly unable to sustain his family “I used to have 80 cows and made enough cheese to sell in the stores in Belo Horizonte I could let my herd run free because there was plenty of pasture Now I only have 20 cows and they are all starving.” According to him there is no more land to rent in the region; most has been bought up by the mining companies and rent prices on any that is left have skyrocketed complains that rent has skyrocketed and violence has “overtaken Itinga … I thought I was coming to live in a peaceful place but these companies came in and made a mess of everything.” Assis moved to Itinga four years ago in search of a less hectic life He lives with his wife in a two-bedroom house and runs a sandwich shop with six employees The rent on the house was 300 reais ($52) until 2022 but jumped to 800 reais ($138) last year and the rent at his sandwich shop went up from 1,500 reais ($260) to 2,800 reais ($480) in October a district of Itinga that lies on highway BR-367 near the access roads for the Sigma and CBL mines say the mining companies have attracted many outsiders looking for jobs “These people come from other places and take away our opportunities My daughter has a degree in topography and can’t find a job,” complains Vangia Pereira Souza who owns a market and sells coffee to the workers on the side of the highway in front of the place where the buses to the mines stop with an aerial photo taken by our reporters Aug we saw that waste rock Pile 5 had advanced 550 m (1,800 ft) toward the village of Piauí Poço Dantas and the Piauí Creek the rock pile is just 60 m (200 ft) from the creek and 90 m (295 ft) from homes the homes and Nuno Murta Municipal School within an impact perimeter that classifies as “high magnitude,” according to the undertaking’s own environmental impact report geology professor at Rio de Janeiro Federal University “if the community is being affected by the dust and the noise measures must be defined for the company to take so this stops happening It may be concluded that the mining project must be changed.” In terms of the impacts on the stream Mello also questions the company’s resistance to receiving our reporters and says the attitude is noncompliant with transparency guidelines defined by the International Council on Mining and Metals and the Brazilian Mining Institute for participation of interested parties in the mine closure plan especially the directly affected communities The mine closure plan consists of the planning for complete deactivation of a mine’s structures according to a sequence of actions involving both environmental and sociocultural issues so as to assure a sustainable future after the mining company has left The process is part of the legal obligations placed on mining companies Sigma stated that the position of the waste rock piles is part of a plan for “sustainable mine closure practices … These piles must be placed alongside the hole so that the material may be deposited back to the place where it was extracted the land can return to its original appearance after the mine has been closed,” the company stated Sept “Sigma Lithium is the only integrated lithium company in the world that has developed green technologies for the industrialization of its product by dry-stacking its waste rock This waste is recycled for resurfacing rural roads after reprocessing in Sigma’s industrial lithium factory and sold,” it added The company also sent our reporters a folder describing innovation and social sustainability actions that list initiatives it has taken to benefit the local population These include prioritizing hiring of local workforce and education programs distribution of potable water and drought and hunger relief programs During the company’s presentation at the United Nations Global Compact in September 2024 in the UNO headquarters in New York investment director Daniel Abdo commented that “the original plan was to reroute Piauí Creek and create a gigantic hole,” but that the idea was thrown out in order to preserve the neighboring community’s relationship with the creek “We maintained the creek and made two holes.” BNDES director of energy transition Luciana Costa spoke with Mongabay we can analyze the social impact,” she says referring to the 500 million reais in financing given to the company “There’s no way to make the energy transition without mining What we have to make sure of is that mining practices be sustainable Another person associated with the BNDES reservedly told Mongabay over the phone that the financing could be canceled if the bank find proof that the mining company is causing serious damage to the environment or to society says his mine has “the advantage” of being underground the piles are already environmentally correct and we will close off the mine entrance,” he says In reference to the detonations and the Fazenda Velha community Alvarenga explains that the seismographic testing has not as yet detected any significant damage and that his mine is the safest in the world The difference between the two is that the waste rock is material removed before processing and the tailings are the residue after processing 80% of the material mined by CBL becomes waste rock and is stacked around the deposits the impacts caused by CBL’s mining are less than Sigma’s Aside from the fact that its mining technique doesn’t result in holes on the surface people living in Fazenda Velha village say they feel their health is being compromised [They may be] even supported by the mining industry and evolve to other kinds of work,” Alvarenga says He argues that his company provides jobs for people from traditional communities like Indigenous and Quilombolas which granted the licenses for the operation because this process of prospecting and drawing in investments is done here by the secretariat of economic development I can guarantee that they are companies with top practices and high ESG [environmental social and governance] standards,” Passalio says He says there has never been public civil action addressing the problems raised and affirms that the dust that reaches the village is no different than the dust that reaches downtown which is outside the directly affected area Passalio also observes that the mining company should respect the environmental impact study and follow the legal provisions for intervention in permanently preserved areas like waterways Federal legislation even considers mining activity to be public utility The important thing is not to impact supply.” When sought out to comment on the complaints coming from local people who was campaigning at the time for reelection did not respond to our reporters because he was busy taking care of fuel donations for the participants in his motorcade The same happened with the Republican candidate Also reelected Araçuaí Mayor Tadeu Barbosa de Oliveira (PSD) did receive our reporters in the middle of his campaign and acknowledged the inflation problem He said the city itself has experienced a 100% increase in rent prices on some of the real estate it has occupied since last year What we have to try and do is create low-income housing for those who don’t have a means to bear such a fast and enormous rent hike,” he observes more resources become available to the municipal economy But the resources coming in from the lithium mines through the CFEM [Brazilian mineral royalty] which is around 4 million reais [$690,000]or 5 million reais [$863,000] are still very small for a municipality with a 130 million reais [$22.4 million] budget,” he says Araçuaí has a population of 34,297 and ranks 3,942nd for per capita PIB or gross domestic product ( 14,163 reais or $2,400) among Brazil’s 5,570 municipalities ranks 4,945th with per capita PIB per capita of 9,849 reais ($1,700) Oliveira says that he is making efforts to improve the quality of people’s lives and to offer job training but criticizes the lack of preparedness on the part of government offices to be able to receive undertakings the size of those arriving in Jequitinhonha “I’m already dealing with health care and education problems and we haven’t received the resources yet,” he complains Atlas adviser Rodrigo Menck explains that their operation is located 5-10 km (3-6 mi) from the communities and lists a series of initiatives sponsored by the company They include professional development programs construction of homes for schoolteachers in the village of Calhauzinho and renovations for schools and churches in São José das Neves He stresses the social importance of the road the mining company built extending 35 km (22 mi) and 12 m (39 ft) wide connecting downtown Araçuaí to the mining site Pilbara Minerals released a formal statement that its agreement to purchase Latin Resources the company holding mining rights to the Salinas mine still depends on the fulfillment of a series of conditions “which is not expected to happen before the end of 2024 Pilbara Minerals has committed to finishing the studies on the potential future development of the Salinas Latin American Lithium Project The timing and approvals of any development remain subject to the results of the studies and market conditions.” Indigenous leader Marcley Pataxó met with 30 representatives of the Pankararu and Aranã peoples in Coronel Murta Marcley Pataxó is 28 years old and was invited by the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI) to orient other Indigenous people on how to use communication tools to report intimidation and threats “We heard reports [that day] of some cases of violence in the Aranã and Pankararu territories specifically related to mining,” Pataxó says “The concern is with the loss of the rivers because of expanding mining and the pressure the companies are placing on Indigenous communities to buy their land.” 55-year-old Indigenous resident of the village Cinta Vermelha-Jundiba aside from the damages caused by the dust and noise from detonations the behavior of wildlife is being affected in the region and that her people are feeling corralled in “What we are very concerned about now is the number of multinational companies coming in to mine the land around our community,” she says “We have been struggling to increase our territory; we had already managed to negotiate the purchase of a neighboring farm but then the companies came in and offered a much higher price,” she complains Indigenous teacher and missionary Geralda Chaves Soares tells how the Pankararu people came to Jequitinhonha 30 years ago to live on land purchased by CIMI at the time They had previously been living in the Guarani Indigenous Farming Colony in Carmésia (MG) where they had been placed by the military dictatorship from 1964-85 [the Pankararu] brought visibility to the Aranã people There has historically been much struggle for survival and now they are facing this problem of the mining companies,” Soares says “There is lithium in the earth below the territory that the Aranã are delineating Are we going to wait for the companies to set up activities there?” the missionary asks She clarifies that both Indigenous groups are awaiting recognition of the land where they live as an Indigenous territory According to the 1988 Federal Constitution mining on Indigenous territories can only be carried out by original peoples There is therefore a polarized debate going on in Congress about mining rights leading to increasing conflicts between Indigenous communities and outsiders interested in mineral riches Some members of Congress say the proposed development model is incompatible with Indigenous culture and would result in a series of negative environmental impacts like deforestation and polluted rivers Others argue that the use of sustainable mining technology would generate state revenues and lead to improvements for Indigenous groups released a statement saying that it is “aware of the situation” and “gathering information about the impacts of mining projects on Indigenous health especially possible respiratory problems.” “There is no such thing as sustainable mining,” Soares says “Economic interest in minerals supplying the [energy] transition will prevail over any social or environmental interest.” Banner image: Maria Nilza points to a crack that has formed in the wall of her home in Piauí Poço Dantas due to detonations at the lithium mine owned by Sigma This story was first published here in Portuguese here on Nov 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 […] Don't have an account? Subscribe “Our goal is to help stakeholders understand the future of mobility.” Home › News › BYD has acquired mining rights in Brazil’s ‘lithium valley’ BYD’s land parcels in Jequitinhonha Valley will help advance its vertical integration in Latin America Chinese new energy vehicle brand BYD acquired mining rights for two plots of land in Brazil according to a 14 February 2025 report by Reuters are located in Jequitinhonha Valley—otherwise known as Brazil’s lithium valley—and are set to strengthen BYD’s vertical integration outside the US Sign up now and gain unlimited access to our news Subscribe Let us help you understand the future of mobility Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" and trends shaping the future of electric mobility Tickets for this in-person event are limited and trends shaping the future of the software-defined vehicle and trends shaping the future of autonomous mobility O endereço abaixo não existe na globo.com Michael Pooler in Araçuaí and Itinga selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter was once so poor it was known as “Misery Valley” local politicians and mining entrepreneurs dream of it being known by a different sobriquet: Lithium Valley The discovery of significant deposits of the silvery-white metal have turned this corner of northeastern Minas Gerais state into a hotspot on the global hunt for what is an essential ingredient of the rechargeable batteries that power phones a municipality of 34,000 where a mine operated by Toronto-listed Sigma Lithium recently opened buildings springing up are evidence of money and outsiders flooding in there’s so much movement,” says Pedro Martins Lage whose family-run hotel is doubling its number of rooms “It’s not going back to the way it was before.” The great hope in the sun-baked Jequitinhonha Valley — twice the size of Switzerland and with a population of about 1mn — is that the natural resource can transform its fortunes With a number of other companies prospecting in the area investments of R$6.8bn ($1.3bn) have been committed over the past five years Around half the world’s lithium currently comes from hard rock mining in Australia But the greatest concentration of deposits are found in Bolivia Argentina and Chile — the so-called “lithium triangle” — where it is extracted from brines in evaporation ponds Although Brazil’s known quantities are smaller Jequitinhonha Valley’s hard rock deposits give Brazil the chance to be an key supplier founding partner of consultancy iLiMarkets “There’s untapped exploration potential there,” he says Minas Gerais is “a very favourable mining jurisdiction” people only leave if they want to’ - Eliana Pereira dos Santos © Michael Pooler/FTWe were a small town with practically nothing and all of a sudden there’s all this money and mining Men from the valley often used to travel away to work but Araçuaí townspeople say lithium and the trade it has spurred — from accommodation to catering — are making that a thing of the past people only leave if they want to,” says Eliana Pereira dos Santos kneading dough in her kitchen for the pastries she makes for a living Through a microcredit scheme run for local women by Sigma Lithium she received a R$2,000 loan to replace a broken oven and says her sales have risen 70 per cent: “I see a bright future here Alongside the excitement are the tell-tale strains of a boom town with some residents pointing to a rising cost of living Others worry about public services and wonder how far any newfound wealth will spread is glad his son found work in lithium but rent rises mean his daughter cannot find her own place to live but landlords do not want to rent to locals “We’ve always been at the end of the world in our little town lithium was extracted by the Companhia Brasileira do Lítio on a small scale the company has quadrupled its annual output Some residents complain about the environmental impact © Michael Pooler/FTSigma Lithium’s Grota do Cirilo project which dispatched its first shipment of lithium concentrate almost a year ago bound for China The company was the sixth-largest primary lithium supplier globally in 2023 Standing above a deep open pit carved in terraces chief executive Ana Cabral-Gardner explains why Sigma calls its product “green” It uses no potable water or hazardous chemicals at its processing plant Nor are there tailings dams — structures for storing mining waste two of which have burst to devastating effect elsewhere in Minas Gerais over the past decade “We became an example of what Brazil can be in this 21st century new industrialisation process,” she says noting that Sigma has created 1,000 jobs and 85 per cent of the workforce are locals Most had lived outside the area and were recruited through a “homecoming” campaign in the hillside village of Piauí Poço Dantas some residents complain about the environmental impact “There’s so much noise and dust,” says one vibration and dust and that levels are “significantly below” legal limits and best practice standards It points to its renovation of a local school and sports facility as evidence of its civic engagement wider concerns are voiced about whether the region is equipped to deal with a big rise in mineral activity researcher at the Federal University of the Valleys of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri (UFVJM) says higher prices have led some families to move to the outskirts of Araçuaí She points to “the rapid deterioration of highways and increased demand on the health system” Visitors need only drive the 45km on the federal highway between Araçuaí and the neighbouring municipality of Itinga which motorists blame on trucks loaded with logs for pulp mills because we were a small town with practically nothing and all of a sudden there’s all this money and mining,” says Itinga’s mayor He is optimistic that lithium sales will in the long run help fund public services like sewerage “We’ll be able to think about financial reserves to create a regional sovereign wealth fund.” The commodity remains vulnerable to market volatility Sharp falls in lithium prices — linked to a slowdown in electric vehicle sales — have caused “disappointment” Lithium’s value is down about four-fifths from a peak of around $15,000 per tonne in late 2022 says data group Benchmark Mineral Intelligence It recently unveiled plans to make a sizeable increase in annual output capacity aims to begin production in Araçuaí by the end of 2024 “The Valley of Jequitinhonha has the potential to become one of the most efficient producers in the world” “The governor is calling it the Lithium Valley when in fact it is the Jequitinhonha Valley It is not simply a place for exploration,” warns Cleonice Pankararu one of the leaders of the Aldeia Cinta Vermelha-Jundiba indigenous land and located on the banks of the Jequitinhonha River The project launched by the governor of Minas Gerais invited foreign mining companies to explore the mineral in the state the government has made promises of development and prosperity payment of taxes and improvement of the quality of life of the communities this is not the reality that the population of the Jequitinhonha Valley has faced since the lithium boom begin under the government of Jair Bolsonaro who opened the national market by decree in July 2022 lithium has come to occupy a prominent place in Brazil’s race to become one of the global leaders in the energy transition The growing demand and high profitability of exploration have attracted mining companies and politicians who are lobbying for more flexible environmental protection tax payments and compromise the transparency in processes Credits: Cleonice Pankararu and Uakyrê Pankararu The Mining Observatory needs readers to continue working on behalf of society to prevent the ongoing neo-extractivism from jeopardizing a just energy transition. Make a one-time or recurring donation on PayPal. and we have felt the impacts on the economy because the cost of things in commerce has gone up a lot due to people who have come to work for the company According to the leader of Aldeia Cinta Vermelha-Jundiba it has become impossible to rent properties in the city sometimes have to pay rent to be able to study and many can’t anymore because the price has gone up confirmed the complaints made by his fellow countrywoman he walked the streets of the city to demand transparency in the resources from mining in public accounts in the middle of a “carnival” hired by the city government for the city’s anniversary party “Money is coming in strong in both municipalities That’s why the expectation of political change is very important The group that is there today has a very strong corporatism And they hang around with the CEOs of companies the volume of resources is “very violent” and most of the population doesn’t read it this way because they measure the issues “from the bottom up,” being content with the few jobs that are offered to family members since there is a high demand for manual labor and outsourced services in general which is the volume of resources that are flowing through the territory the city is being left out of this distribution of resources to the community If we need to be treated in a medical specialty we have to go to Belo Horizonte or Diamantina,” criticized Nelson The city councils of Araçuaí and Itinga did not respond to requests for comment made by the Mining Observatory “It is very hard articulate a public policy for collecting rainwater and companies manage to articulate water permits to extract a large volume from the river The one-hour permit they have is perhaps enough for the city’s consumption in one or two days so what kind of energy transition and clean energy is this?” who is one of the coordinators of Cáritas in Minas Gerais a complaint filed by the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB) alleged that Sigma’s activities could directly impact residents’ access to water “While the rural communities of the Jequitinhonha Valley have access to a 16,000-liter water tank for domestic consumption for 8 months (drought) the concession from the National Water Agency (ANA) for Sigma in the Itinga region is 3.8 million liters/day (100 million liters/month) which would be enough to supply 34,000 families,” the movement stated Cleonice Pankararu also warned about the use of river water by mining companies is directly impacted because the platform is located right next to it and the Poço Dantas community which also has indigenous and quilombola communities,” she revealed coincided with an increase in complaints from residents of the Jequitinhonha Valley about the community’s quality of life “It got worse because their way of producing is different They said they wouldn’t produce waste even though the platform is 10km to 15km away it is an area of mobility for indigenous peoples without trying to find out about the communities the mining had already been installed,” she added Since its arrival in the Jequitinhonha Valley the Canadian mining company has sold the project as “green” “zero waste” and “100% prosperity” for the region The propaganda was even reinforced with a flashy label during COP 28 when Sigma presented to the world the extraction of lithium in its plant with what it calls “quintuple-zero” contradict the Canadian mining company’s narrative In addition to the waste, the concession granted by ANA to Sigma Lithium is valid for 10 years and allows the pumping of water from the Jequitinhonha River 24 hours a day. In total, Sigma can use 3 million and 600 thousand liters of water per day. IEA–USP Global Cities postdoctoral fellow Elaine Santos explained that this attempt to present itself as sustainable is nothing new “What sets Sigma apart is that it has this robust marketing so it takes and creates this package of actions within its mining company and sells these practices in a commercialized way,” explained Santos The researcher emphasized that each mine has unique characteristics and impacts on specific communities each with different ecosystems and ways of interacting in the territory “There is no consensus on these actions or whether this is acceptable or correct Sigma’s idea of a mining standard also cannot be applied uniformly because mining lithium is not the same as mining iron So it is not possible to treat this as a model as they do in a very propagandistic way,” she said Elaine also recalled Law Project 2809/2023 which is being processed in the Chamber of Deputies and deals with the “voluntary certification” of green lithium The agenda has been ready to go to the plenary since December The project was authored by a number of openly right-wing parliamentarians Kim Kataguiri (União-SP) and José Medeiros (PL-MT) “This project shows the strength of this marketing strategy and legitimizes a mining model which is what Sigma is imposing with these practices,” she highlighted In addition to occurring amid new complaints from local communities in the Jequitinhonha Valley the R$487 million loan (almost US$ 100 million) from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) for the expansion of Sigma Lithium was only possible due to significant changes made this year to the National Fund on Climate Change Each project was entitled to R$80 million and now this amount has increased drastically – to R$500 million every 12 months BNDES confirmed that two changes were made in 2024 Only two projects were able to obtain loans above the old ceiling one for R$90 million and the other for R$98 million Companies submit their applications through the customer portal – which is the means to operate a direct line with BNDES” explained the bank’s Mining and Mineral Processing Manager the objective of the program is to encourage companies to move forward with projects that have “this climate ambition” A statement sent by the Canadian mining company says that the R$487 million will be used to build the second plant in the Jequitinhonha Valley expanding the lithium production capacity from 270 thousand tons per year to 520 thousand tons/year The financing will have an amortization rate of 192 months (16 years) with a grace period of 18 months and an interest rate of 7.45% per year no asset was required as collateral and the development loan will be secured by a letter of credit issued by a financial institution registered with BNDES The requests made to BNDES by the Mining Observatory regarding the contract received the same response “The financing with Sigma Lithium is still awaiting contracting so BNDES is prevented from disclosing the requested documents as they are protected by corporate secrecy – based on article 22 of Law 12,527/2011 the program also now allows the possibility of financing up to 100% of projects in the following six categories: resilient and sustainable urban development; transportation logistics public transportation and green mobility; energy transition; native forests and hybrid resources; green services and innovations; and green industry The latter is the category in which Sigma was classified The mining companies Sigma and CBL did not respond to questions posed by the Mining Observatory The easing measures signed by Bolsonaro and Zema have led to a drastic increase in lithium exploration and mineral research in the Jequitinhonha Valley Region had operated a mine and a chemical plant since 1991 While some mining companies are in the early stages of their projects Canadian Sigma Lithium began exploration in April of last year with the goal of becoming one of the five largest lithium producers in the world North American Atlas Lithium and Australian Latin Resources are in the implementation phase Latin was purchased by Pilbara Minerals for US$370 million with the announcement of the acquisition of 100% of the company made during Exposibram 2024 The project will be carried out in the municipality of Salinas another of the 14 that make up the now-called “Lithium Valley” and has a planned investment of US$ 313 million “This is a fundamental milestone in our strategy of diversification and global expansion with its potential to become one of the largest hard rock lithium operations in the world will be vital to consolidating our leadership position in the battery markets of North America and Europe We are excited to bring our technical expertise to Brazil and contribute to the sustainable development of the region” The growth of the sector is seen with enthusiasm by Henrique Tavares Metallurgy and Steel area of Invest Minas a promotion agency created by the state government with the objective of attracting and developing investments others in the environmental licensing phase We expect that at least one more will start operating between 2024 and 2025 and a second one will start operating in the course of 2025 It is a very promising scenario that will put Minas Gerais at a considerable level of production,” he projected The Pure Dynamite report, produced by the Mining Observatory in partnership with Smoke Signal showed that until Bolsonaro’s decree lithium exploration and commercialization in Brazil was focused on supplying the domestic market which mainly supplied the medical-hospital sector and the chemical industry O Observatório da Mineração precisa do apoio dos nossos leitores com o objetivo de seguir atuando para que o neoextrativismo em curso não comprometa uma transição energética justa É possível apoiar de duas formas. 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Please read our republishing guidelines to get started A lithium mining facility in the Jequitinhonha Valley of Minas Gerais state The country could be home to between 1% and 8% of global lithium reserves according to different estimates (Image: Gil Leonardi / Imprensa MG) Lithium exploration is accelerating in Brazil in the wake of the relaxing of regulations and growing demand for the mineral that’s crucial to the global energy transition The surging shift towards electric vehicles (EVs), for which lithium is an essential component in batteries, is one of the main drivers of a global demand for the mineral that is projected to rise by up to 15 times by 2040 according to the International Energy Agency. In July 2022, the government of Brazil’s then-president Jair Bolsonaro issued a decree removing restrictions on the country’s lithium’s trade exports of the mineral had been restricted due to a 1997 regulation designed to protect the Brazilian nuclear industry in which lithium was mainly used to power reactors Brazil’s opening up to foreign trade in lithium has attracted both domestic and international mining companies. Requests made to the federal government to research and explore for the mineral in the south-eastern state of Minas Gerais – where over 80% of Brazil’s known lithium deposits are located – jumped almost 18 times in just two years according to a survey conducted by the Minas Gerais-based Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys analysts tell Dialogue Earth that while lithium exports from Brazil are taking place these are not adding value within the country limiting the opportunities to develop domestic industries around the mineral They also warn that the increase in demand is being accompanied by socio-environmental harms especially for communities whose traditional ways of life are already being eroded Brazil’s authorities are harbouring grand ambitions for its reserves The region has previously been dubbed the “valley of hunger” due to socioeconomic deprivation among its mostly rural population who launched the programme in New York in a move to attract foreign investors said he hopes the region “will become a ‘technology valley’ for the production of batteries and other value-added products” The Minas Gerais government told Dialogue Earth that it had formed a working group with executive bodies and private entities to develop the programme create more than 10,000 jobs and generate income in 14 cities with an investment that could reach BRL 30 billion (USD 5.4 billion) by 2030 Meanwhile, several foreign companies are awaiting clearance from the federal government to develop projects in the Jequitinhonha Valley, including Canada’s Lithium Ionic, Australia’s Latin Resources, and Atlas Lithium Brasil, a subsidiary of US-based Atlas Lithium. Prospecting requests have also been made in other states which they say is not boosting Brazilian industry even with strong support from the state government there is no initiative to add value [to production],” says Tádzio Peters Coelho a social sciences professor researching lithium at the Federal University of Viçosa Coelho claims that the state government only gives political support to production exploiting the idea of poverty and backwardness to preach a development perspective for the area “But it’s just a way of facilitating the approval of projects without major obstacles,” he says exploration of the critical mineral is poorly planned who researches lithium and associated inequalities at the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais “There is no solid policy that benefits the entire production chain,” says Oliveira She suggests that the government consider aspects such as “the contribution of technology This model for developing regional industry would be very different from “just extracting lithium and selling it very cheaply” She claims the Vale do Lítio project only serves to attract investors At the latest edition of annual technology event Web Summit, this time held in Rio de Janeiro in April, the president of BYD Brazil, Tyler Li, expressed the company’s desire to ensure an integrated production chain in order to offer lower prices to local consumers. Today, the high cost of EVs is one of the main bottlenecks in this market We have almost everything: we have lithium we have all the raw materials,” Li said at a panel discussion on the growth of the country’s EV industry “That’s a good incentive for us to build the whole supply chain in Brazil As part of this strategy, BYD is building its largest EV factory outside Asia in Camaçari, in the north-eastern state of Bahia, which is scheduled to start operating in early 2025. This is one of several recent investments that could turn Brazil into a hub for the sector in Latin America a researcher at the Institute of Advanced Studies at the University of São Paulo the trend could bring benefits to the country: “This would have a direct impact on industry on job creation and on reducing foreign dependency by improving the supply of parts.” Sigma has touted the production of “green lithium” from its operations in the Jequitinhonha Valley, claiming to exploit a product with “zero carbon zero utilisation of potable water and zero use of hazardous chemicals” Unlike the lithium extraction from brine pools seen in South America’s “lithium triangle” Brazil’s deposits are mostly found in hard rock which requires more conventional digging and blasting inhabitants of the village of Cinta Vermelha de Jundiba are feeling the consequences of such processes home to the Pankararu and Pataxó ethnic groups is about 10 kilometres from the Grota do Cirilo mine where Sigma began extracting lithium just over a year ago villagers are a short distance from the dust the air is contaminated; there is an intense emission of dust and the pollutants travel through the wind There are also vibrations from the noises,” says local leader Cleonice Pankararu “there is the destruction of the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes; there is a social and economic impact “Our rituals depend on a balanced environment.” Pankararu says she has also noticed changes as more urban development has arrived which have reportedly increased following the arrival of labourers involved in the mining operations The small room her family used to rent in the city for their children to sleep in during the school week no longer fits their budget She says she has also observed increases in violence theft and sexual assault since the arrival of workers from the Araçuaí chapter of the Movement of People Affected by Dams claims that Sigma’s activity has caused instability in the community of Piauí Poço Dantas in Itinga are trying to learn to live with the many new impacts amid so much noise and dust,” says Gomes Ruas What used to be produced is no longer produced.” Gomes Ruas says that people in the community now suffer from respiratory problems as a result of dust from the mining operations and that blasts from the mine have caused cracks to form in the walls of their houses She claims Sigma does not recognise its responsibility for these problems In Nazareno, Coelho claims the impacts of AMG’s lithium mining are similar to those of traditional mining, with the mineral’s production entailing the construction of dams which flood large areas and pose potential risks of collapse as well as requiring sites for the disposal of polluting materials There are also fears that lithium mining will have negative effects on other cities in the state. Luiz Paulo Guimarães, from the Popular Sovereignty of Mining Movement, says he is worried about the municipality of Salinas, where the Australian company Latin Resources Limited is set to invest in two prospecting areas The area is known for production of cachaça a popular Brazilian distilled spirit made from sugarcane juice “These projects are going to destroy the spring end the availability of water and make cachaça production unviable,” says Guimarães “The city known as the cachaça capital is going to lose its identity in exchange for exploitation that brings far greater harm than good.” The federal government says it is preparing an inter-ministerial plan to exploit Brazilian lithium in a way that minimises local impacts and shares the benefits with communities. At a seminar in April coordinator of public dialogues for the Brazilian presidency’s office said that the plan “will be a concerted movement between the public authorities and the companies to build a system of governance.” He added that it was developed after a government mission visited affected communities in the Jequitinhonha Valley built and discussed internally,” Vieira da Silva said The Ministry of Mines and Energy told Dialogue Earth that it will launch an initiative to expand the supply of strategic minerals such as lithium in relation to the energy transition The plan will reportedly include developing an industry to process these minerals domestically for entering the value chain of batteries The ministry added that it will work to attract investment form partnerships and encourage technological development as well as train labour and develop the necessary infrastructure But while these plans by the federal government and Minas Gerais state are still being established communities must deal with the local impacts and exploration continues without a solid strategy “The fear is that we restrict ourselves to the extraction process without advancing development and end up reinforcing inequalities and social impacts while profits and benefits go to the developers,” she notes André Duchiade is a Brazilian journalist and translator based in Rio de Janeiro He has worked for O Globo and Época and his work has been published in several national and international media Select from our bespoke newsletters for news best suited to you We’ve sent you an email with a confirmation link 我们向您的邮箱发送了一封确认邮件，请点击邮件中的确认链接。如果您未收到该邮件，请查看垃圾邮件。 If you would like more information about the terms of our republication policy or permission to use content, please write to us: [email protected] We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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Read Cloudflare's privacy policy and terms of service Dialogue Earth uses several functional cookies to collect anonymous information such as the number of site visitors and the most popular pages Keeping these cookies enabled helps us to improve our website Google Analytics - The Google Analytics cookies are used to gather anonymous information about how you use our websites. We use this information to improve our sites and report on the reach of our content. Read Google's privacy policy and terms of service This website uses the following additional cookies: execute and analyze marketing programs with greater ease and efficiency while enabling publishers to maximize their returns from online advertising Note that you may see cookies placed by Google for advertising under the Google.com or DoubleClick.net domains Twitter - Twitter is a real-time information network that connects you to the latest stories opinions and news about what you find interesting Simply find the accounts you find compelling and follow the conversations Linkedin - LinkedIn is a business- and employment-oriented social networking service that operates via websites and mobile apps Brazil (AP) — After Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro boosted welfare payments in August by 50 percent felt they could once again afford some meat keep electricity running and repair leaky roofs Even if it was an obvious election-year gambit needy Brazilians are grateful for the extra 200 reais ($38) per month — but perhaps not enough to switch their political allegiance to the far-right leader in large numbers Bolsonaro has struggled to gain support among the poor, but with less than two weeks to go before a runoff vote against former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — the leftist front-runner — he is betting the bump in welfare will pay off In the Jequitinhonha Valley’s impoverished city of Aracuai part of the northern Minas Gerais state that has been a bellwether for presidential races it is hard to find a single voter who flipped their support to Bolsonaro because of the bigger welfare payments Before sunrise at a state-owned bank where people waited to collect their aid many said they voted for da Silva in the first round of voting on Oct Some said they knew someone who planned to switch to Bolsonaro in the runoff or were considering it “Some people are that easy when they’re in dire straits,” said 60-year-old housekeeper Luzia Martins READ MORE: Brazil polls face backlash from Bolsonaro administration after election miss In the first round of this year’s presidential election national results matched those of the state Da Silva — known throughout Brazil as Lula — got 48 percent of the vote and Bolsonaro received 43 percent The remainder was split among other candidates and will be up for grabs in the runoff Brazilian lawmakers declared a state of emergency in July waiving a constitutional cap on spending to allow about $7.6 billion in additional welfare benefits plus a subsidy for cooking gas and assistance for truck and taxi drivers The extra government aid to nearly a quarter of Brazil’s population may not sway many voters to switch sides But political scientists say the Bolsonaro campaign is hoping it might placate a sizable number so that they abstain from voting Abstention rates are already higher among poor voters then-President da Silva brought his entire Cabinet to the Jequitinhonha Valley saying he wanted his ministers to see extreme poverty up close The leftist chose the region of 1 million people to launch an anti-hunger program that was incorporated in an even bigger welfare package that lifted tens of millions out of poverty winning him and his Workers’ Party loyalty for years Brazil’s economy slipped into its deepest recession in a century the COVID-19 pandemic caused another severe downturn A recovery in 2022 has brought unemployment to its lowest level since 2015 but many people are subsisting on informal and soaring inflation has left families struggling to pay for food and other basic needs Thirty-three million Brazilians were hungry in the six months through April according to a study by several nonprofit organizations READ MORE: Hardship for Brazil’s poor may cost Bolsonaro presidential election bare-brick homes are unfinished; many are abandoned Some people who go downtown to pick up donated food and clothing can’t afford bus fare built upon da Silva’s flagship Family Aid program First-round results show it helped Bolsonaro win some votes in the Jequitinhonha Valley a political scientist at Federal University of Minas Gerais both Bolsonaro and da Silva have traveled around Minas but Bolsonaro indeed made inroads with his welfare,” said Sergio Vasconcelos a former city councilor and now spokesperson for Araçuai’s center-right mayor Political scientists say part of Bolsonaro’s better-than-expected performance in the region can be traced to the fact that some da Silva supporters who are registered in Minas moved elsewhere for better economic opportunities and so didn’t cast votes Others are just disaffected and disconnected altogether Living alone in Jequitinhonha’s countryside doesn’t watch television and spends most of his day caring for his pets he walks an hour to the local bar to sip beer under the starry sky that guy is better … But I don’t really pay attention,” Gonçalves said as he gazed into the night “This valley is as poor as when I was born.” READ MORE: Brazilians rally for democracy, seek to rein in President Jair Bolsonaro Ranulfo, the political scientist, said he doubts abstention rates and Bolsonaro’s traction with some poor voters will be enough for the far-right president to clinch victory uses her welfare to pay outstanding debts with local grocers Her family uses a wood stove to cook mostly noodles rice or beans because they can’t afford propane A Lula sticker is the sole decoration at their shack that’s surrounded by dirt and mud dust-covered children play not far from a pit latrine The larger welfare payments from the Bolsonaro government have helped the family seal their roof so that rain no longer soaks one of their two beds and to pay a two-month-old electricity bill to keep their rusty refrigerator and fan running to cope with the blazing heat but it is obvious that this handout is key for us to survive,” Batista said “Some people here feel they need to help Bolsonaro They are too young to remember the help and the handouts we had during the Lula years During a debate on Sunday both candidates said that if they are elected the higher welfare payments “We will keep that extra expenditure permanently and for life,” Bolsonaro said To which Lula responded: “We will fix this country so we can have some barbecue Bolsonaro’s few outspoken supporters in the Jequitinhonha Valley are enthusiastic about the welfare payments said her vegetable stall business has benefited since residents were given more cash “I’m not saying these people should get free money forever; they need to work But it is a temporary solution that helps us whose daughter is a pro-Bolsonaro city councilor © 1996 - 2025 NewsHour Productions LLC PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization Subscribe to Here's the Deal with Lisa Desjardins Brazil — No photographs remain of João Gomes de Azevedo’s village before eucalyptus plantations radically transformed it fragments of its past live on in a song that Seu João composed to remember what life was like in Poço de Água a small rural village in the Alto Jequitinhonha Valley the capital of Brazil’s Minas Gerais state João and hundreds of other farming families could freely graze their livestock amid lush vegetation and abundant water resources when Brazil’s military dictatorship launched a massive industrialization plan to accelerate economic development in the country’s poorest regions almost 100,000 hectares (250,000 acres) of land some occupied by local farmers but legally owned by the state were handed over to the state-owned steel company 60% of the native vegetation in this expanse of Cerrado savanna was replaced by sprawling plantations of eucalyptus trees which in turn were cut down to produce charcoal and in 2011 the company and its plantations came under the control of Europe-based Aperam Experts warn that these vast plantations have drained much of the water resources that once sustained the Alto Jequitinhonha Valley’s most marginalized communities settlements established by formerly enslaved Africans While hundreds of quilombola families struggle to secure water for farming and daily needs in this drought-prone region Aperam labels its forestry operations as sustainable Yet its certification by the Forest Stewardship Council has been criticized for failing to address water security issues and community needs Poço de Água means “well of water” in Portuguese but there isn’t much water to be found around here anymore the landscape is as arid as the unpaved roads leading to the rural communities When cars and trucks loaded with charcoal pass through is essential for replenishing groundwater and regulating water flow during the dry season “The Veredas were once rich in water,” says João Batista a village 30 minutes’ drive from Turmalina His property is surrounded by eucalyptus trees towering 20 meters (66 feet) high. Batista blames Aperam BioEnergia, the steelmaker’s plantation arm, which manages more than 100,000 hectares of eucalyptus plantations in the valley “They destroyed the native vegetation to produce charcoal that only benefits the industry,” he says With a steel industry dating back to the 1920s, Brazil is the world’s ninth biggest steelmaker. Lacking the coking coal typically used in producing steel the country has increasingly relied on charcoal and has consequently become the world’s top producer of charcoal from wood about 11% of Brazil’s steel production used charcoal with companies sourcing it from their own plantations But eucalyptus monocultures have been shown to harm ecosystems where they’re not native plantations may look like lush green forests a researcher at Australia’s James Cook University who has studied the impacts of eucalyptus on biodiversity which can affect water supplies for human consumption and agriculture Eucalyptus trees have a higher evapotranspiration rate than native Cerrado plants a soil scientist and professor at the Federal Institute of Northern Minas Gerais He estimates eucalyptus plantations on the Chapada plateau have lowered groundwater levels by 4.5 m (14.8 ft) since the mid-1970s consuming about 31 billion liters (8.2 billion gallons) of water per year drives the water crisis in rural communities,” Pereira Lima says while bearing the costs to offset the damage from water shortages tax revenue from Aperam’s eucalyptus plantations brought in just 5.85 reais per hectare (about $1.60 per hectare or 65 cents per acre at the exchange rate that the time) highlighting the low fiscal return from monoculture forestry when the same land was preserved as native vegetation it generated more than twice as much income through the ICMS Ecológico a state-level tax incentive that rewards municipalities for environmental conservation Turmalina spent approximately 350,940 Brazilian reais (about $96,056) on supplying water to rural communities many residents have been forced to migrate in search of work Those who remain have little choice but to abandon their traditional lifestyle and agricultural practices With help from the Vicente Nica Center for Alternative Agriculture (CAV by its Portuguese acronym) an NGO that supports more than 2,500 farming families in the Alto Jequitinhonha Valley building dams and installing water tanks for rainwater collection land ownership and management of local and Indigenous communities approved the renewal of Aperam’s certification “While violating a fundamental human right like access to water Aperam continues to receive a certificate of sustainable forest management: it is the emblem of greenwashing,” Macedo says Italy and Switzerland filed a complaint with the FSC demanding the suspension of certification for Aperam’s Brazilian operations The report from Bureau Veritas flagged a “minor non-conformity” regarding the local water supply and only recommended a more detailed study by Aperam In 2024, the FSC commissioned German auditor Assurance Services International (ASI) to evaluate BV’s assessment of Aperam. ASI’s field audits in Minas Gerais found that Aperam’s environmental impact evaluations were vague and insufficient and that they failed to address water depletion issues and adequately assess the needs of rural communities ASI also flagged BV’s failure to gauge the seriousness of CAV’s allegations and whether these claims constituted a “minor or major non-conformity” — an issue that if left unresolved within the time frame for the assessment should have led to a suspension of Aperam’s FSC certification Aperam replaced BV with another FSC-accredited body the Brazil-based Institute of Forest and Agricultural Management and Certification (Imaflora) Aperam has until May to provide more detailed documentation of its environmental impact Aperam didn’t provide specific responses to questions for this story. Instead, it listed several of its social and environmental programs, including Água Nossa de Cada Dia (Our Daily Water) an initiative that “promotes the sustainable use of water for the benefit of approximately 3,000 people in 11 communities across the valley.” However CAV says Aperam has failed to provide concrete evidence of these programs’ effectiveness communities affected by the eucalyptus plantations told Mongabay they never received Aperam’s support to preserve local water Aperam’s forestry activities in the Alto Jequitinhonha Valley also include the conversion of eucalyptus waste into biochar a carbon-rich material that yields a form of charcoal biochar can be used for soil carbon sequestration to improve soil quality and water retention Biochar’s capacity to stabilize carbon in the soil and reduce CO2 soil emissions allows Aperam to sell carbon credits on the voluntary carbon market. According to the Puro.earth platform for trading carbon credits Aperam BioEnergia has capacity to generate about 40,000 metric tons of carbon removal per year In early 2024, Aperam BioEnergia sold 15,000 metric tons of carbon removal via Patch “Our entry into the carbon removal market is a great example that developing the solutions that the economy of the future requires goes beyond producing electrical and stainless steel with a low carbon footprint,” Aperam CEO Tim di Maulo said at the time Some of Aperam BioEnergia’s carbon credits have been purchased by major financial institutions Swedish bank SEB and Swiss private bank Pictet to offset thousands of metric tons of CO₂ emissions generated by their operations While carbon credit schemes have improved their accounting methodologies and standards, they remain criticized for frequently failing to preserve ecosystems and social well-being in the communities where they’re produced requires projects to protect biodiversity and rural communities this regulation applies only to projects within the European Union so Aperam’s plantations in Brazil fall outside those rules “Setting adequate standards for carbon credits and projects with the double aim of assuring both climate action and clear co-benefits for local populations and biodiversity research associate at the European University Institute’s Carbon Markets Hub initiatives from the carbon credit market did set the bar higher compared to previous experiences and new methodological standards such as the one adopted at the UN level for the PACM are going in the right direction” After six years of urging the FSC to revoke Aperam’s sustainable forestry certification CAV says it hopes the voices of Alto Jequitinhonha Valley’s rural communities will finally be heard “The partnership network of Chapada das Veredas is committed to upholding the human right to water and access to natural resources essential for the well-being of local communities we stand firm in the defense of life,” says the CAV’s Macedo With climate change driving intensifying the dry season, the region’s water crisis is set to deepen, posing a threat not just to locals, but to Aperam itself, as more than half of South America risks becoming too arid for eucalyptus cultivation often needs to buy water in plastic containers for drinking and washing during the dry season She says she refuses to leave the place where she was born “We don’t want money from Aperam,” she says “We want the land and water we once had.” This article was supported by Journalismfund Europe Gonçalves, R. V., Cardoso, J. C., Oliveira, P. E., Raymundo, D., & De Oliveira, D. C. (2022). The role of topography, climate, soil and the surrounding matrix in the distribution of Veredas wetlands in central Brazil. Wetlands Ecology and Management, 30(6), 1261-1279. doi:10.1007/s11273-022-09895-z da Silva, E. P. F., Galizoni, F. M., Lima, V. M. P., Ribeiro, Á. E. M., de Paula, É. J. S., Santos, A. O., & Santos, A. F. R. (2022). Metamorfose da chapada: Monocultura de eucalipto e tomadas de terras e águas no Alto Jequitinhonha, Minas Gerais. Revista Campo-Território, 17(44), 63-89. doi:10.14393/RCT164404 Martins, F. B., Benassi, R. B., Torres, R. R., & De Brito Neto, F. A. (2022). Impacts of 1.5°C and 2°C global warming on eucalyptus plantations in South America. Science of The Total Environment, 825, 153820. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153820 Banner image: Eucalyptus plantation just a few kilometers from the town of Turmalina FEEDBACK: Use this form to send a message to the author of this post Alto Jequitinhonha in northeastern Brazil’s Minas Gerais state is where three of the country’s biomes meet: the Cerrado savanna It’s also home to hundreds of family farmers who have maintained a robust system of ecological farming that has ensured their food security The practice has gained attention from the outside world in recent years, leading in 2019 to the publication of the Alto Jequitinhonha Creole Seed Catalog It lists 132 varieties of seeds maintained and cultivated by 28 families spread throughout the municipalities of Turmalina The catalog is a registry of seeds that have been passed down from generation to generation in a region that’s also home to large industrial farms that use agrochemicals and genetically modified seeds The creole seeds have persisted over time and are being preserved by small farmers known as the “guardians of creole seeds.” and also less-common produce such as the purunga bottle gourd “It’s a way to maintain genetic heritage and protect crop biodiversity,” says Ademilson Gonçalves da Silva The small farmers here mostly practice subsistence agriculture But they also sell some of their crops at municipal fairs and exchanges or to federal government food programs like the PNAE (National School Lunch Program) and the PAA (Food Purchasing Program) These are resilient communities who face many challenges There are more than 20 municipalities in the Alto Jequitinhonha region where the combination of drought and low or irregular rainfall has forced farmers to find ways to maintaining their water reserves The most interesting thing the farmers have found over the years is that the creole varieties grown in the region are adaptable to various changes to the soil and climate “Another challenge in this region is eucalyptus farming which has been going on in the highlands since the 1970s,” says Anna Crystina Alvarenga the Minas Gerais coordinator for Cáritas Brasileira “Eucalyptus is a non-native species that interferes with water absorption and soil use and therefore farmers’ relationships with the territory.” She adds the small farmers also have to contend with lobbying pressure on lawmakers by the agribusiness and seed industries “We are in a very complex process that is also threatening the political milestones that the farmers have already achieved like being able to manage their own creole seeds and trade them Silva says family farming cooperatives are a way to strengthen the fight against these challenges For the farmers, a key piece of acknowledgement for their traditional is Federal Law 10.711/2003 which recognizes creole and traditional varieties as seeds that may be produced Alvarenga says the Alto Jequitinhonha region is important both in terms of cultural and agricultural biodiversity “The catalog preserves creole seed species diversity This is genetic heritage that contributes to food sovereignty because each variety has a specific nutritional characteristic It is a way for family farmers to protect their rights,” she says She adds that crops grown on these ecological farms are usually resistant to pests and weeds “It proves that ecological and healthy sustainability is possible without the use of pesticides.” Silva also points out that most of the farmers in Alto Jequitinhonha raise crops year-round “Our soil is fertile and family farming is becoming more and more common The rainy season runs mostly from October to February farmers have to save up water because of the lack of rain,” he says But the dry cycles in the region have become longer in recent years due to climate change According to Maria Aparecida Lima Pinheiro the cistern and small dam on her property no longer sustain her through the dry season “Now we’re trying to make a small dam on the creek,” she says a farmer in the village of Ribeirão Soares in Turmalina points to the importance of continual maintenance to ensure enough water year-round: “If one creek dries up each year a little bit of life dries up too; if each year we manage to maintain a spring then we have a guarantee that life will go on I have a spring on my land because we worked hard to take care of it.” A common thread runs through the life stories of these family farmers: they see the maintenance of creole seeds as a way to live a rural life in harmony with environmental conservation Macedo talks about how the family farming tradition has run through his life: “In my family I learned to work in the fields by playing with my dad from the time I was 5 years old.” The eldest of 10 brothers for many years the popular belief was that farmers who maintained creole seeds were ignorant because they refused to adopt industrial farming methods people can see that these seeds are worth their weight in gold Technology together with organic fertilizers help maintain quality.” Macedo’s organic production allowed him to raise seven children the PAA and even the supermarket,” he says I expect to be able to bring in other people who want to live this way Our wealth is in the way we live in harmony with nature.” She’s president of the Minas Novas Family Farmers and Vegetable Market Workers Association “I’ve been working in the fields since I was 9 years old I would walk long distances to sell our products and was able to study a bit at country schools,” she says This family history led her to grow creole seeds on her land starting in 2013 after a period when she produced cassava flour and candy we managed to build a small greenhouse to grow vegetables and began selling to the PNAE my husband and I grow and sell at the market from door to door and even on WhatsApp [mobile app] Pinheiro says she allows no agrochemicals on her farm “We make organic compost and use biofertilizers we’ve grown lettuce weighing up to a kilo [2 pounds],” she says says he remembers that his first contact with the soil came from his father “I liked to go to the fields with my dad from the time I was 6 when I was grown and had worked different jobs that I dedicated myself to family farming through the CAV movement I got my first creole seeds from our neighbors and every year I get more at seed trade fairs,” he says Gonçalves farms his land alongside his wife and daughter native seedlings from the Cerrado and mostly guandu [pigeon peas] oranges and salad greens to the PNAE and PAA maintaining creole seeds is most important because it preserves the environment These seeds are already climatized to this locale We eat what we plant and also buy from other farmers,” he says Gonçalves says that when he first bought his land he has two springs surrounded by riparian forest “This is a direct result of our work with farm ecology and organics It’s important that we live this way because of our quality of life,” he says “The impression is that we don’t earn much money out here in the country but if you think about the fact that we eat chemical-free food breathe cleaner air and live without stress This story was reported by Mongabay’s Brazil team and first published here on our Brazil site on March 21 You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience The Brazilian town of Vale do Jequitinhonha (MG) which stands out worldwide in mineral production is the stage of a multisectoral program for the use of Brazilian lithium The government is now exploring the opportunities of the area in the energy transition From pv magazine Brazil met with Brazilian Minister of Energy Alexandre Silveira this week to discuss lithium extraction projects in Vale do Jequitinhonha This region offers significant potential for mineral production The ministry is currently formulating a comprehensive program tailored to the region with a primary focus on exploring the mineral's opportunities within the context of energy transition and regional development The program encompasses the generation of business opportunities income augmentation for the local populace a critical raw material for battery production which ranks as the seventh-largest global holder of mineral reserves the country stands as the world's fifth-largest mining producer Silveira said that the Vale do Jequitinhonha lithium mining project presents a chance for Brazil to establish itself as a prominent player in the global production of this essential mineral for the energy transition “We know that critical minerals will be fundamental for the energy transition so we have to work on top of these Brazilian potentials reconciling public policies that bring significant social returns to our society and that guarantee sustainability,” said Silveira Sigma Lithium dispatched the world's first shipment of green lithium from Porto de Vitória to China originating from the mineral extracted in Vale do Jequitinhonha includes 15,000 tons of triple zero green lithium and an additional 15,000 tons of ultra-fine It is expected that by the end of this year exports will reach approximately 130,000 tons and Australia – stands among the nations with the highest potential for lithium extraction More articles from Natalia Bruscky Please be mindful of our community standards and website in this browser for the next time I comment By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. View our privacy policy. × The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this Close It looks like nothing was found at this location Brazil is set to export 130,000 tons of "green lithium" by year-end The mineral is extracted in the Jequitinhonha Valley located in the northeastern region of the state of Minas Gerais and it has received a green seal due to its exploration plant's absence of a tailings dam Lithium is a crucial element for various industries The focus on long-lasting batteries for electric vehicles aligns with the global push for energy transition making this export significant in the context of sustainable energy sources comprising 15,000 tons of high-purity lithium and 15,000 tons of ultrafine tailings—produced by the Brazilian company Sigma Lithium—was sent to the Chinese company Yahua from the port of Vitória in Espírito Santo Brazil’s Vice President and Minister of Development the production process of this "green lithium" does not require a tailings dam and the water used in the purification step is recyclable as it does not involve chemical agents The tailings are also dry stacked and utilized for the recovery of waste minerals making it an environmentally friendly operation The operation is deemed strategically significant for the entire energy transition input chain emphasizing sustainable sources and enhancing the added value of the product announced the launch of the Lithium Valley project in New York seeking to attract international investment to the region several other foreign companies have begun establishing operations in northeastern Minas Gerais This region encompasses ten municipalities that collectively form the Lithium Valley these municipalities host Brazil's largest lithium reserve as revealed by studies conducted by the Geological Survey of Brazil The agency further indicates that each deposit holds a potential 20 times greater than the mineral reserves found in other regions ensuring a long-term supply of raw material is among the countries with the greatest potential for lithium extraction worldwide Brazil's lithium stands out due to its competitive advantages that optimize investments the lithium found in Minas Gerais is of high purity making it ideal for the manufacture of more powerful batteries as explained by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.