Sowing Knowledge, Cultivating Futures: ERA Hosts Hands-On Agroforestry Course with EFA Porto Nacional

At ERA, we believe in the power of the land—and the power of young people to steward it. In March 2025, we had the honor of hosting a hands-on agroforestry course in partnership with the Escola Família Agrícola (EFA) de Porto Nacional, in the state of Tocantins. The immersive Agroforestry in Practice course brought together an enthusiastic group of students from EFA, the Federal University of Tocantins (UFT), and women from the local community.

Set in the heart of the Cerrado, the course invited students to get their hands dirty—literally—while learning how to regenerate soil, plant biodiverse systems, and understand the connections between agroforestry and climate resilience.

🌱 Agroforestry in Action

The learning journey started where it matters most: in the field. Right from day one, students were introduced to agroforestry through hands-on activities—observing, planting, and managing real systems. These initial experiences laid the groundwork for deeper understanding.

After working on the land, participants engaged in a mini-lecture on agroforestry and carbon, connecting their practical experience to broader concepts: how integrated land-use systems can sequester carbon, restore ecosystems, and support sustainable livelihoods. The cycle of learning continued as they returned to the field to apply and expand their knowledge.Over several intensive days, students practiced:

• Selective weeding and pruning

• Successional planting strategies

• High-density planting and ground cover techniques

• Management of species like urucum, leucena, margaridão, and feijão de porco

• Hands-on experience with camera traps for wildlife monitoringForest inventory

  
  

Gender equity was also a key topic throughout the course, addressed through dedicated talks and a reflective community circle.

Guided by ERA’s field team—Olivia and Lorena— alongside our partner Cadu, the students also participated in the practical management of our project’s Fundo Agroflorestal: pruning trees, organizing tools, maintaining the site, and reflecting on the role of agroforestry in their own communities.

👩🏽‍🌾 Rooted in Learning, Branching into Leadership

What stood out most was the students’ curiosity and commitment. Coming from rural backgrounds and with a passion for farming, they brought deep lived experience to the learning process. As they planted baru, angico, tingui, and cajueiro, they weren’t just learning techniques—they were imagining futures where agriculture and ecology coexist.

We closed the course with a sense of collective achievement and inspiration. For us at ERA, it reaffirmed our mission: to build climate solutions that are rooted in local knowledge, inclusive leadership, and biodiversity.

📸 Moments

Interested in learning more about our agroforestry initiatives or bringing a course to your school or community? Get in touch with us! Let’s regenerate the future together!