Permaculture Design for Sustainability

Environmental planning should not only address the physical, biological, and natural systems aspects but also assumed greater complexity in terms of comfort and quality of life, public health conditions, in addition to energy and food security. Helping communities understand so they can incorporate climate risk into their residential projects and also into infrastructure planning is essential for us to have greater adoption and development of low-carbon and sustainable housing. The environmental and sustainable development paradigms consider different hypotheses formed from specificities based on visions, such as, for example, the holistic one, from the understanding that the phenomena of the Universe are intrinsically linked at different levels of totality.

- Black, indigenous, Latino, and social minority populations tend to be most affected by environmental degradation, such as floods, air pollution, and proximity to the disposal of solid and/or toxic waste, among others.

- In Brazil, 40 million girls and boys are exposed to more than one climate or environmental risk (60% of the total) and climate change compromises the guarantee of fundamental rights.

The Permaculture Design Solution for Sustainability and Climate Impact Mitigation is a set of design principles and practices aimed at creating sustainable and resilient systems for both the natural environment and human communities.

Permaculture uses concepts and patterns observed in nature to design integrated and regenerative systems that seek to minimize environmental impacts and promote sustainability. It seeks to maximize the use of renewable resources, reduce dependence on non-renewable resources and strengthen the resilience of ecosystems. It can be applied in different contexts, from sustainable agriculture projects to the planning of ecological communities. It uses a combination of agricultural techniques, sustainable construction, water resource management, renewable energy and efficient design principles to create holistic, integrated systems.

The technologies used in permaculture can vary, depending on the context and available resources. we work together
They may include techniques such as organic agriculture, agroforestry, composting, rainwater harvesting and storage, solar energy, biodigesters, among others.

The main idea behind permaculture is to create systems that are sustainable in the long term, promoting the conservation of natural resources, the resilience of ecosystems and the quality of life of human communities. This holistic and regenerative approach seeks to mitigate climate impacts, promoting climate change adaptation and mitigation, while offering practical and achievable solutions to human needs.

Applying permaculture in a practical way involves implementing the principles and techniques in real projects.

Observation and analysis: Start by observing and understanding the environment in which you want to apply permaculture. Look at weather patterns, topography, existing vegetation, resource availability, human needs and challenges specific to the area.

Design planning: Plan the design of the permaculture system. Identify interactions between natural and human elements, and seek to create synergies and beneficial relationships between them.

Choosing appropriate techniques: This may include implementing agroforestry systems, organic gardens, composting, rainwater harvesting, renewable energy, soil management and efficient use of resources.

Gradual implementation: Start implementing the design gradually, working in small steps and seeing results over time.

Integration and diversification: Seek to integrate different elements of the system harmoniously. For example, fruit trees can provide shade for annual crops, while crops can attract pollinators to the trees. Also, promote species diversity, both plant and animal, to increase system resilience.

Education and sharing: Promote the exchange of experiences with others interested in permaculture, participate in courses and workshops, and share your own learning with the community.

The target community for the Enedine Project is the Pici community, more specifically Planalto-Pici, which is a periphery located in Fortaleza, Ceará. As it is a peripheral neighborhood, Pici is part of a Special Social Interest Zone (ZEIS), which are portions of public or private land that primarily seek urban and land regularization of existing low-income settlements. Currently, there are several public and municipal proposals to improve the quality of life of those who live there, more specifically environmental and sustainable proposals.

The beginning of the Solo da Vida Project took place in the surroundings of this community, therefore, in the search for an increasingly effective approximation of the communities in their surroundings, we want to promote the program in the Community.

The Project in partnership with Pici aims to:
- strengthening bonds with young people and families who will be assisted, enhancing or promoting real social impacts in the territories where they live;
- environmental analysis and topography of regions that are strongly affected by rainy seasons;
- establish a partnership for the operation of a program for the selective collection of solid waste associated with the Ecopoints, the Recycling Center, and the Center for Environmental Education.

As a team leader and representative of the Permaculture Design for Sustainability solution in onshore and coastal areas, I am deeply committed to understanding and serving the needs of the communities my solution aims to benefit. I recognize the importance of a participatory and inclusive approach, where the voices and perspectives of those affected are valued and integrated into the solution development process.

To ensure an in-depth understanding of the needs of target communities, we are taking an approach based on active listening and participation. We initiate an open and ongoing dialogue with communities to understand their challenges, priorities and visions for the future. What's more, most of the team live/study around the target community for this project, so these interactions allow us to gain valuable insights and ensure our solution aligns with their needs and aspirations.

We believe that ongoing collaboration with communities is essential to the success of our solution. We are building relationships of trust, seeking to involve all segments of the target population and creating governance structures that guarantee representativeness and meaningful participation of communities. We are dedicated to promoting inclusion, respect for diversity and valuing local knowledge.

10 people are benefited, as the project lasted about a year to make it possible to revitalize the space where the meetings took place.

I'm applying to MIT Solve because I recognize the power of this platform to connect teams of solvers like myself with partners and resources that can comprehensively power our solutions. By participating in MIT Solve, I look forward to establishing valuable partnerships and accessing a global network of experts, investors and mentors who can collaborate to advance my solution and maximize its positive impact.

One of the financial barriers I hope to overcome is the lack of resources to implement permaculture practices on a large scale. The adoption of sustainable climate adaptation techniques in terrestrial and coastal areas requires significant investments, especially in vulnerable regions. Through MIT Solve, I hope to gain support to help enable the implementation of my solution and make it accessible to low-income communities.

In addition, overcoming technical barriers is essential for the success of my proposal. Implementing climate-smart agriculture and permaculture practices requires expertise in sustainable design, ecosystem management, advanced agricultural technologies, and much more. So I look forward to accessing mentors and renowned experts who can provide technical guidance, share best practices, and assist in overcoming specific technical challenges.

Awareness, education and stakeholder engagement are essential to overcome these barriers and promote a paradigm shift towards sustainability.