The Guardians of the Forests Program receives the Periphery Alive Award.

The program was created in 2023 with the goal of strengthening the dialogue between the City Hall and the communities and organizing direct actions in the territories - Press Release

The Guardians of the Forests program, from the Municipal Secretariat of Environment and Climate (Smac), was awarded the Periferia Viva Prize granted by the Ministry of Cities. Developed exclusively by women from favelas and peripheries, the project is active in more than 30 territories in Rio de Janeiro, working to defend the environment and promote climate justice. The guardians play a fundamental role in the preservation of the Atlantic Forest in urbanized areas, mediating actions with residents, associations, schools, and public facilities in the communities.

According to the municipal secretary for the Environment and Climate, Tainá de Paula, the recognition reinforces the importance of the program in combating environmental racism, especially since women—mostly Black women—are at the forefront of the initiatives.

Receiving the Periferia Viva Award reinforces the importance of environmental public policies that directly engage with the territories. The Guardians of the Forests program is a concrete strategy for climate justice and community empowerment, with women as the protagonists. This recognition affirms that we are on the right track.

Promoted by the National Secretariat for Peripheries, the Ministry of Cities award recognizes initiatives to combat socio-spatial inequality. Among the main impacts of the Guardians of the Forests project are increased environmental awareness in the peripheries, mapping and monitoring of green areas, strengthening of community partnerships, and reduction of illegal waste disposal. In the award-winning project, women act as key agents in selective waste collection, reforestation and tree planting campaigns, maintenance of community gardens, and Creative Economy initiatives, contributing directly to food security.

Women coordinate local environmental education initiatives.

Rio de Janeiro is one of the states with the highest percentage of Atlantic Forest coverage—one of the most biodiverse and threatened biomes on the planet. The program was created in 2023 with the goal of strengthening the dialogue between the Rio de Janeiro City Hall and the communities, and organizing direct actions in the territories.

Since then, the guardians have been appointed by Civil Society Organizations to coordinate educational activities, promote community events and workshops in schools with lectures, activities and debates on sustainable practices. They also lead actions such as the collection of used oil for reuse, expanding recycling and waste transformation initiatives. Another area of ​​great impact is combating the illegal dumping of rubble and garbage in wooded areas, with systematic collection and constant monitoring.

More information:

About the program Guardians of the Woods

About Living Periphery Award