Indigenous Maxakali Restore Atlantic Forest Through Spiritual Connection
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: A Mongabay feature on Indigenous-led reforestation in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest has been longlisted for the 2025 One World Media Awards, highlighting the Maxakali people’s successful restoration of 55 hectares of degraded land.
📈 One key stat: In just one year, the Maxakali people’s Hãmhi Terra Viva project restored 55 hectares of forest and planted 35 hectares of food crops, demonstrating the effectiveness of Indigenous-led ecological restoration.
💬 One key quote: “Land is like a dog when it gets mange: you have to give it medicine for it to be cured,” said Sueli Maxakali, one of the most important women leaders of the Tikmũ’ũn people.
1️⃣ The big picture: A Mongabay feature documenting the Maxakali Indigenous people’s efforts to restore Brazil’s Atlantic Forest has gained international recognition through its longlisting for the prestigious 2025 One World Media Awards. The Maxakali, who also call themselves Tikmũ’ũn, are rebuilding their degraded ancestral lands by combining spiritual traditions with modern agroforestry techniques. Through the Hãmhi Terra Viva project launched in 2023, they’ve trained Indigenous community members to plant native trees and food crops across land that had been cleared for cattle grazing decades ago. Their restoration approach is deeply connected to their spiritual beliefs, as they see the forest’s health as directly linked to the well-being of forest spirits called yãmĩyxop.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The recognition from the One World Media Awards brings visibility to an effective Indigenous-led conservation model that respects traditional knowledge. Since the publication of Mongabay’s feature, the Maxakali’s restoration project secured crucial funding renewal from environmental compensation fines from Brazil’s largest mining company. Their approach merges spiritual practices with practical restoration techniques, creating a holistic model for degraded land recovery. Birds and wildlife are returning to the formerly barren landscapes, signaling ecosystem recovery. The project demonstrates how Indigenous communities can lead effective environmental restoration while maintaining cultural practices and improving their own quality of life.
3️⃣ What’s next: The Maxakali will continue expanding their reforestation efforts across their territory, now supported by renewed funding secured partly through the visibility gained from Mongabay’s feature. Their nursery of 72,000 seedlings provides materials for ongoing planting campaigns led by trained Indigenous agroforestry agents. The project aims to further reconnect their fragmented land areas while restoring biodiversity and cultural practices simultaneously.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – Global prize longlists Mongabay feature on Maxakali reforestation in Brazil
