ECO_CARE Midterm Conference 2023: "Sharing of the co-created results"-journey of the ECO_CARE team

Abstract

This report provides an overview of the midterm ECOCARE Journey to the Chiquitano territories of Mato Grosso, a collaborative initiative coordinated by Giulia Parola and Margherita Poto, with facilitation by Silvano Chue Muquissai. The journey aimed to assess the midterm results of the ECOCARE research and education, fostering connections with various partner institutions and key individuals. Objectives included evaluating the research and educational outcomes and engaging with members from partner institutions such as professors Rodrigo Tavares (Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, UFRRJ), Giulia Parola (ECO_CARE Coordinator for Brazil and Research Fellow at the Department of Law, University of Turin), Margherita Poto (ECO_CARE Principal Investigator), and exchange students Cecília Campos (UNIRIO) and Aline Wennerstrom (UFRRJ). Additionally, the ECO_CARE midterm program developed with the Chiquitano community members, our ECO_CARE non-academic partners, were pivotal in shaping the project's direction. The journey featured diverse activities, including co-led sessions on indigenous knowledge (at Vila Nova Barbecho), major events presenting co-created project results (Vila Nova Barbecho, Aldeia Central, Aldeia Acorizal,  Terra Indígena Portal Do Encantado), field trips to river courses and waterfalls (Rio Nopetarch - Vila Nova Barbecho Tarumã River, Cachoeira do Barbado Aldeia and Fazendinha), and informal meetings with community members, teachers, family members and children. Additional external funding from EGU Public Engagement Grants 2023 facilitated the presentation of an educational toolkit to the school pupils involved in water and ocean literacy activities, integrating materials from the Ocean Senses project (Akma2, coordinated by Giuliana Panieri), to children and teachers.