In Brazil’s hottest region, the Maxakali indigenous people are restoring life to their ancestral land through an agroforestry project called Hāmhi Terra Viva. Amid soaring temperatures and rampant wildfires worsened by invasive guinea grass (introduced by cattle farmers) and widespread deforestation of the Atlantic Forest, the Maxakali are reviving traditional planting methods infused with ancestral songs. Once lush with biodiversity, the forest is now over 85% destroyed, leaving their territory dry, scorched, and vulnerable to climate extremes. In response, they have replanted over 215 hectares of fruit trees and native vegetation and formed fire brigades using traditional techniques. Music is central: songs, rich in ecological knowledge, guide daily work and honor the spiritual connections between people and nature. These songs contain forgotten names and behaviours of now-vanished species, serving as living archives of the forest’s past. By combining ritual, reforestation, and community effort, the Maxakali are resisting ecological collapse and calling on both nature and ancestors to help the land heal.
Brazil: seeking to restore the land with seed and songs
Written by David Fletcher 01 May 2025
Additional Info
- Pray: giving thanks for these indigenous stewards seeking to restore God’s earth. Pray for strength and perseverance. (Psalm 67:6-7)
- More: www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2025/4/30/with-song-and-seed-brazils-indigenous-maxakali-confront-climate-change