Edinalda Pereira do Nascimento
Brazil
Edinalda Pereira do Nascimento is a young environmentalist from the Acorizal traditional community in Barão de Melgaço, Mato Grosso, Brazil, located in the heart of the Pantanal. She is an active member of the Pantaneira Traditional Communities Network, an organization that represents and advocates for the preservation of traditional Pantaneira communities and the vital ecosystems they protect.
Hailing from the world’s largest continuous wetland, Edinalda plays a critical role in raising awareness about the challenges her community faces due to climate change. Traditional Pantaneira communities act as guardians of biodiversity and the last line of defense for the Pantanal. Through ancestral knowledge, they contribute to conservation and the recovery of degraded areas caused by human activity. However, these communities are also among the most affected by climate change, with longer droughts, diminishing rainfall, dying rivers, and increased deforestation threatening their livelihoods.
Edinalda is pursuing a degree in Environmental Engineering and an English course to expand her capacity to advocate for climate action on both local and global stages. Her goal is to amplify the voices of Pantanal's traditional communities, share their invaluable knowledge, and highlight the environmental impacts they experience. By participating in initiatives like the “Humedales Sin Fronteras” program, she is gaining skills to collaborate with international networks and promote sustainable solutions.
Edinalda dreams of a sustainable future and believes urgent action is needed to combat the climate crisis. She is determined to inspire others to protect the planet, recognizing there is no "Planet B."
