Pequi de Ouro: Honoring the Women Protecting Brazil’s Threatened Cerrado

In a heartfelt celebration of courage, dedication and love for nature, the Brazilian development organisation 10envolvimento, supported by horizont3000, presented the Pequi de Ouro ('Golden Pequi') awards once again. These annual awards recognise individuals who have made outstanding contributions to preserving the Cerrado, one of the world's most endangered ecosystems.

The Cerrado, a vast savannah-like region in central Brazil, is often overshadowed by the Amazon, yet it is equally rich in biodiversity. It is home to countless endemic species and is the source of major river systems. However, it is under severe threat from the aggressive expansion of industrial agriculture and cattle ranching. The cultivation of soybeans, the region's 'golden crop', has transformed large areas of the Cerrado into monocultural farmlands.

In contrast to the 'Golden Soybean' award celebrated by agribusiness in Western Bahia, 10envolvimento created the Pequi de Ouro to honour individuals who strive to protect the land, water and communities of the Cerrado. The award's symbol, the pequi fruit, embodies the essence of this ecosystem: a golden, oil-rich fruit with a distinctive flavour that has nourished generations of people living in the Cerrado.

This year's Pequi de Ouro was remarkable for one special reason: all of the honourees were women. Their work reflects the strength and resilience of those at the forefront of environmental and social justice:

• Aurenilde Aires dos Santos (Formosa do Rio Preto): for her exemplary advocacy of local, small-scale female farmers.
• Denísia Rodrigues de Araújo (São Desidério) – for her courageous opposition to the construction of dams on the Rio Grande.
• Isaltina Guedes da Silva Gomes (Gatos) – for her service as a health assistant in remote Cerrado communities.
• Dr.ª Luciana Espinheira da Costa Khoury – for her dedicated legal defence of traditional farming families.
• Rosivania Jesus Batista: for fearlessly representing the Kiriri Indigenous people in the Rio Grande basin.
• The Babaçu Women’s Group: for sustainably using the native babaçu palm fruit and protecting riverbanks along the Rio Grande.

The ceremony radiated the energy, artistry and solidarity of the women who nurture the land and its inhabitants. Women led the entire programme, including the music, food and festivities. Guests were served the region’s beloved traditional dish of chicken and rice with pequi free of charge, while songs of the Cerrado filled the air.

The Pequi de Ouro 2025 was not just an awards ceremony; it was a tribute to the women who are fighting for the future of the Cerrado and its people. Their courage, resilience and love for the land continue to inspire hope in one of the most fragile yet vital regions on Earth.

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Ein Beitrag geteilt von Agência 10envolvimento (@10.envolvimento)