Mangrove March in Belém defends fish from extractive reserves in school meals. Disclosure/Associação Rare do Brasil Traditional communities from the Marine Extractive Reserves (Resex) of Pará gathered in Belém for the 3rd March of the Amazon Mangroves. Among the main demands of the movement, carried out last Sunday (26), is the regular inclusion of local fish in public school meals, replacing ultra-processed foods. The president of the Users Association of Resex Marinha Mocapajuba, Renilde Piedade da Silva, summarized the demand by highlighting the importance of feeding students with the communities' own production. "We don't want mortadella or processed foods in schools. Our children need to eat our fish", defended Renilde. "We want the fish produced by our fishermen in school meals, because it is our children who are there." March in defense of mangroves, in Belém. Disclosure/Associação Rare do Brasil The leadership celebrated the advancement of the Food Acquisition Program (PAA), which already makes it possible for public authorities to directly purchase fish from Resex, but highlighted that the next step is to ensure that this food continuously reaches schools. "For the first time, the government buys directly from fishermen in our Resex to feed their own families, and we want this to also reach other schools", he added. Sociobioeconomy and preservation The demand for quality school meals is part of a broader context: the strengthening of community associations on the coast of Pará, fundamental for the consolidation of sociobioeconomy in the Amazon. These organizations structure and scale local production chains, such as crab, shellfish, fish and oilseeds, generating income for hundreds of families and working directly towards environmental preservation. Maura Sousa, senior manager at Associação Rare do Brasil, an NGO that has been working with community projects in the region for over 15 years, warns of the importance of supporting those who actually protect these ecosystems. "Many people visit the coastal area just as a leisure space, but they don't imagine the work carried out daily by communities to keep this ecosystem alive. If we don't strengthen those who protect these territories, we run the risk of losing this heritage", said Maura. Despite the financial challenges faced by associations, Renilde highlights that unity between residents and institutional partners has been the key to resistance. "Sometimes we run into a lack of resources, but we don't give up. Preserving the mangroves means taking care of our livelihood and also contributing to the environmental balance of the planet. We can't do it alone. United we are stronger", he reflected. March in defense of mangroves, in Belém. Disclosure/Associação Rare do Brasil Feminine leadership and the 'school of life' The march was part of the program of the Julho Verde Campaign, which mobilizes traditional communities throughout the month in the states of Pará, Amapá and Maranhão. One of the highlights of the debates was the advancement of female leadership in decision-making within extractive reserves, spaces historically led by men. According to Renilde, the change began with the creation of support networks and incentives for women's participation. These initiatives gave rise to Rede Mães do Mangue, community savings clubs and income generation projects, such as Cozinha da Maré. "The savings club wasn't just about money. We realized it was a way of talking about the role of women, to occupy decision-making spaces, since the presidents were always men", he recalled. Currently, women preside over associations, are part of Resex deliberative councils and represent their communities in state, national and international debates. Renilde shared her own trajectory as an example of this social transformation. "I didn't go to college, but the Extractive Reserves movement was my school of life. It was here that I learned about territorial management, social participation and public policies", reported the community leader, who started as a founding member and today presides over the association of her Resex. At the end of the event in Belém, the leaders reinforced the urgent need to expand public investments to the traditional territories of the Amazon. For the protesters, conserving mangroves means protecting biodiversity, boosting the bioeconomy and ensuring food, income and dignity for future generations. VIDEOS: see all the news from Pará Read more news from the state on g1 Pará