Reforestation Drive — Amazon Basin

Restoring biodiversity through large-scale native tree planting

Manaus, Brazil

Project Details

Project details
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Manaus, Brazil

Reforestation Drive — Amazon Basin

Project category: Community

Planting 100,000 native trees across degraded land in the Amazon Basin to restore biodiversity and combat deforestation, executed in close partnership with indigenous communities who lead the long-term stewardship of the restored areas.

Areas of Focus

Environment
Community Economic Development
Basic Education and Literacy

Community Needs, Project Impact and Sustainability

Community Assessment

A thorough assessment was conducted to identify the most pressing needs within the community. Local leaders, health workers, and residents were consulted through a series of focus group discussions and household surveys to ensure that project priorities reflect ground realities. The data collected revealed that over 60% of households lacked access to safe drinking water within a 500-metre radius. Environmental health officers confirmed elevated levels of waterborne pathogens in existing water sources. The assessment also documented a high incidence of diarrhoeal disease among children under five, directly attributable to contaminated water. Community mapping exercises identified five priority zones where borehole placement would deliver maximum coverage. These findings shaped every aspect of the project design, from borehole placement to community education programming.

Project Impact

This project is expected to directly benefit over 5,000 individuals by improving access to clean water and reducing waterborne disease rates. Baseline health surveys recorded a 43% reduction in reported diarrhoeal cases within the first three months following infrastructure completion. School attendance among children improved by an estimated 18% as fewer school days were lost to illness. Women and girls, who previously spent up to four hours daily fetching water, have gained significant time that is now redirected toward education and income-generating activities. The project has also stimulated local economic activity, with small businesses such as food vendors and brick-makers benefiting directly from the reliable water supply, creating a measurable multiplier effect across the community.

Sustainability

A local maintenance committee of twelve trained community members has been established and equipped with tools, spare parts, and a dedicated operating fund to manage the infrastructure autonomously. Ongoing partnerships with the district water authority and the Ministry of Health ensure continued technical oversight and regulatory compliance beyond the project lifecycle. A cost-recovery model was introduced whereby households contribute a modest monthly fee, generating sufficient revenue to cover routine maintenance and minor repairs. Annual third-party audits are scheduled to verify fund management and infrastructure condition. Rotary will conduct follow-up visits at six-month intervals for the first two years to provide mentorship and address any emerging operational challenges.

Timeline & Funding

Start
Sep 01, 2023
5 Months
End
Feb 28, 2024
100%
funded
Funded
Remaining
Funded $40,000
Goal $40,000
Remaining $0
Funding Sources
  • Rotary Foundation Grant
    $20,000
  • Brazilian Environment Ministry
    $12,000
  • Corporate Sustainability Fund
    $8,000

Partners

Rotary's Partners in Service

  • Amazon Conservation Association
  • Brazilian Environment Ministry
  • Indigenous Communities Network

Contacts

Reach out to the project team

Lucas Mendes

Rotary Club Manaus

Contact

Ana Costa

Amazon Conservation Association

Contact

Project Engagement Metrics

Metric
Progress
Status
Volunteers Engaged
75%
Active
Funding Secured
70%
Primary
Project Timeline
60%
In Progress
Tasks Completed
80%
Completed