Showcasing Sustainable Practices and Local Traditions at the local Borba festival
From June 9th to 11th, the Trocano Araretama Project hosted an exhibition at the Festival of St. Anthony in Borba, Amazonas. This vibrant community event provided an opportunity to showcase the project’s initiatives and promote sustainable practices like meliponiculture (stingless beekeeping), oil extraction, and biodiversity preservation.
A Celebration of Local Knowledge and Skills
Night 1: Oils, Handicrafts, and Stingless Bees
The first evening featured Mr. Abraam Buzaglo, a local farmer and extractivist from PA Puxurizal, who displayed products such as tonka oil, puxuri oil, and andiroba oil, along with unique liqueurs like puxuri and jabuticaba. Visitors also admired beautiful handicrafts made by his wife, including crochet covers and rugs.
A highlight of the evening was a stingless bee box provided by Mr. Amarildo. Guests observed the fascinating behavior of the urucú boca de renda bees, learning about their role in sustainable beekeeping. Despite the rain, the event attracted enthusiastic attendees who tasted honey collected by Mr. Vitor, a meliponiculturist from the Caiçara community who had trained with the Trocano Araretama Project.
Night 2: Continuing the Celebration
On the second evening, the exhibition continued with Mr. Abraam showcasing his products and Mr. Vitor sharing his knowledge of stingless beekeeping. Visitors once again engaged with the interactive bee box exhibit provided by Mr. Amarildo, deepening their understanding of sustainable practices. Interest in the project grew, with many attendees eager to learn more about its initiatives.
Night 3: A Grand Finale
The final evening brought additional contributors, including Mr. Israel and his wife Greice Mara from the Miriti community, who offered honey for sale and discussed their meliponiculture efforts. Another bee box, provided by Mr. Berg, added to the interactive experience.
To end on a high note, the project donated a kit of showcased products, including honey, tonka oil, and andiroba oil, for the local parish to auction during the festival. This drew even more visitors, including those from neighbouring municipalities and even international guests.
Engaging with the Community and Visitors at the Trocano Project Exhibition
Throughout the three nights, the Trocano Araretama Project distributed pencils featuring its logo and contact details. This was aimed at helping visitors stay connected with the team. The exhibition successfully educated attendees on the importance of sustainable practices. This also fostered interest in meliponiculture and oil extraction as tools for biodiversity conservation.
A Platform for Sustainability and Education
The exhibition not only celebrated the cultural richness of Borba but also emphasized the value of sustainable initiatives for the environment and local livelihoods. By promoting these practices at such a widely attended event, the Trocano Araretama Project strengthened its connection with the community and inspired many to engage in conservation efforts.
