WCS-Brazil aims to increase the understanding of connections between local livelihoods, biodiversity and ecosystem change through research and interaction with local organizations to:
Identify and support win-win activities that provide long-term, sustainable benefits to both local livelihoods and biodiversity (see for example, our work boosting cattle productivity while reducing land degradation in the Pantanal).
Strengthen the incentives for people to conserve natural resources by supporting markets for non-timber forest products, which are produced in a sustainable way that preserves ecosystem function.
Ensure the meaningful and equitable involvement of people that may be affected by conservation practices,especially traditional and indigenous people.
Support and promote the WCS Global Human Rights principles as appropriate within the scope of our conservation programs, including through the improvement of governance systems.
Increase capacity of rural communities to sustainable manage and use natural resources.