Community organization mobilizes residents to clean up the stream and fight a blackfly infestation, without adequate materials and in the face of public neglect. Photo: Support and Integration Network Clouds of blackflies are part of daily life for residents of the Mata Machado favela, in Alto da Boa Vista, near Tijuca Forest in Rio de Janeiro. To try to contain the proliferation of the insect, which has been negatively affecting their quality of life, residents organize mont

Sustainable Favela Network champions the COP30 Letter from the World’s Informal Settlements—“We Want Favelas at the Center of Climate Decisions!”—at the Global Climate March during COP30 in Belém. Photo: Bárbara Dias Headlines since the 30th Climate Conference (COP30) in Belém have focused on the diplomatic exchanges among heads of state and global authorities in the Blue Zone, particularly the lack of an agreement on fossil fuels, deforestation and climate adaptation financi

In addition to promoting knowledge exchange among residents, community organizers and volunteers, Time to Plant’s action sought to ensure effective environmental recovery. Photo: Amanda Baroni On December 7, environmental agents, local organizers, residents and visitors gathered at Morro do Salgueiro, a favela in Tijuca, in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone, for a collective action reforesting local Atlantic Forest land. The activity, organized by Salgueiro’s very own Time to Plant