Presentation short abstract

This panel examines inclusive climate policies to combat desertification in Brazil’s semi-arid northeast. Working with Indigenous and Quilombola communities, we explore tensions in adapting global frameworks and strategies that empower local knowledge, practices, and technologies.

Presentation long abstract

This panel explores how global climate frameworks intersect with local adaptations to address desertification in Brazil’s semi-arid northeast. Centred on a collaborative project in Pernambuco, it aims to generate inclusive, evidence-based policies that enhance community resilience while informing national strategies. Endorsed by Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, the initiative contributes directly to the Brazilian Action Plan to Combat Desertification and Mitigate the Effects of Drought.

Using an intersectional and participatory approach, combining focus groups, photovoice, interviews, participatory mapping, and spatial modelling, the project works with Quilombola and Indigenous communities to: (a) document and systematise local practices and technologies; (b) identify priority areas and measures for ecological restoration; (c) foster dialogue between traditional knowledge and environmental science; and (d) co-produce actionable policies that empower local actors rather than merely integrate their knowledge.

This work interrogates the challenges and possibilities of participatory and co-produced policy design in contexts marked by historical marginalisation. It advocates for an ontological shift in evidence-informed policymaking to move beyond tokenistic inclusion of different ethnic communities, toward genuine co-production of knowledge and governance. The panel will showcase methodological innovations, reflect on tensions in aligning global and local priorities, and outline pathways for scaling community-driven solutions to combat desertification under accelerating climate change.