Meet the Mothers of the Mangrove
The Mothers of the Mangrove Savings Club
In Pará, the Mothers of the Mangrove network not only protects nature, it also strengthens the financial autonomy of women through savings clubs known collectively as “Clube de Poupanca.” The savings clubs include nearly 600 members who saved a cumulative R$178.256,00 (approximately $37,000 US dollars) in their first seven months alone.
And their business initiatives keep growing.
Through seed funds, each savings club earns a micro-investment of R$5,000 (approximately $875 US dollars) to finance a business related to fisheries activities, natural medicines, local food, or sustainable crafts and fashion. The women of Pará’s Santa Clara and Tatu communities have one of the greatest success stories yet.
The women identified a market for underutilized native tree seeds and used traditional knowledge to produce ten natural oil products. After a year of collecting and processing the seeds, the group participated in a Rare Brazil community business acceleration program and adopted the name “Rexistir Natural do Campo.” Today, the women of Rexistir Natural do Campo sell their products at fair trade markets and raise awareness about the importance of conserving the nearby mangroves.
For us, it was very rewarding to see people inquiring about our story and our products."
Rexistir Natural do Campo member Iara Amorim is a mother and agroecology student from Tatu who has gained a new sense of entrepreneurship since participating in the fair trade markets.
Rexistir Natural do Campo members Dalva Ribeiro, Taciane do Socorro, Iara Amorin, and Oneide Rosa pose with their natural oil products, created with seed funding from their local savings club.
Rexistir Natural do Campo members Dalva Ribeiro, Taciane do Socorro, Iara Amorin, and Oneide Rosa pose with their natural oil products, created with seed funding from their local savings club.
Mothers of the Mangrove video series
In this four-part video series, we explore the fundamental roles many women play as coastal guardians in northern Pará state, nurturing and protecting the ecosystem that supports their lives and livelihoods and helps mitigate our global climate crisis.
1The “marisqueiras” share the community solutions and behavioral shifts they have inspired in their communities.
2The lives of female fishers in Pará state, which has Brazil’s highest concentration of female fishers (95,000).
3Explore how mangroves shape women's memories, identity, and wisdom, inspiring a lifelong commitment to their protection.
4See how women, community leaders, collectors, and mothers come together to protect the mangroves and their community network.
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