From time to time the Schuitema Blog carries inspiring stories of leaders from around the world. We have picked Almir Narayamoga this time for his valiant battle against illegal loggers and developers who threatened the very existence of his primitive tribe living in the Amazonian jungles of Brazil.
As the chief of an endangered tribe, Almir decided to focus on what he could do to avert colossal tragedy for his people rather than wither into oblivion with resentment. That he has relied on innovation and creativity to partner with people from around the world shows that he believes the universe to be a friendly place. His story manifests his courage because in spite of receiving death threats, Almir continued to work for a purpose that would serve his people and the future generations. And finally, the story of Almir Narayamoga is inspiring because he made is primitive people adapt to change and take up modern technology to protect the forest and its biovariety which he considers extremely precious.
Almir aged 37, is the chief of his Paiter-Surui tribe and is the only member of his tribe who has attended University. For many years, the tribe tried bringing the timber and land mafia’s activities around their colonies to international notice but there was little response. Diseases from contact with urban westerners and loss of habitat reduced the Surui tribesmen from a once thriving 25000 to only 1300 people in 23 villages across 600,000 acres.
For his intense lobbying, Almir started getting threats from the influential land grabbers who placed a $100,000 bounty on his head which eventually made him escape to the US. Things changed when Almir used the opportunity to visit the Google Head Office in California and suggested a wonderful plan to save his people and the dear forest. He asked Google to help him map his native land on Google Earth so that any changes from logging and deforestation would be detectable and visible to the entire world. An online tour of his land with its unique hunting grounds, worship sites and villages would arouse the interest of people who might want to help.
Google responded promptly and sent teams to the Amazon which trained the Surui tribesmen on using computers, internet, smart phones to photograph logging activity, and to upload the activity on Google Earth. Within four years, the tribe managed to map the entire reserve, record the biodiversity and the density of the rainforest. The tribesmen have to drive two hours of dirt roads to get to the nearest Wifi connection to upload their work painstakingly which can be seen on www.paiter.org
Almir capitalized on the public interest from his supporters and convinced the state government to build schools, wells, medical clinics for his and other indigenous tribes of the jungle. He convinced the World Bank to re-structure a regional development program, ensuring that funds for the community should be distributed directly to the indigenous communities rather than through a government intermediary, where the ability to direct its application was minimal.
The chief plans to raise more funds currently by planting one million trees and making a formal request to the United Nations to approve a carbon trading program through which the industrialized countries will pay to preserve the Amazon rainforest. Together, the tribe has managed to drive out each and every logger from their land. Almir has also joined with other tribal leaders to formulate a “50-year plan” to ensure the economic vitality of the region’s native inhabitants. His tribe plans to be financially independent within the next ten years through coffee plantation and ecotourism.
For his contribution, Almir Narayamoga has been named as Brazil’s Most Creative Person in Business by the Fast Company Magazine which has listed him as the 53rd most creative businessman of the world.
The information for this article has been taken from the sources mentioned below:
http://www.rd.com/true-stories/inspiring/how-an-amazon-tribe-used-google-to-save-their-land/
http://brazilportal.wordpress.com/tag/almir-narayamoga-surui
http://www.wise-qatar.org/content/chief-almir-narayamoga-surui
http://www.aquaverde.org/en/surui_respect.shtml