# Brazil women climate defenders network

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-women-climate-defenders-network
> Updated: 2026-08-02T11:45:07.000Z. Sources: 20. Developments: 2.

In late May 2026, Brazil’s Observatório do Clima released the book *Mulheres que Sustentam o Clima* in São Paulo, documenting the experiences of 26 women from Indigenous, quilombola, riverine, fishing, family‑farm, trans, travesti and peripheral communities. The launch coincided with the conclusion of the country’s first Climate Action Week in Porto Alegre, where activists, researchers and officials marched to demand protection of urban forests and greater transparency over reconstruction funds after the 2024 floods.

A week later the Observatório expanded its support through the Defensoras por Defensoras programme, bringing 36 women from across Brazil into a network that provides training, experience‑exchange and mutual‑support mechanisms. Participants highlighted local challenges such as unplanned urban expansion in Recife, forest loss in Santa Catarina, and the linkage of Indigenous rights with climate activism in Pará. The programme aims to strengthen leadership and coordinate actions to safeguard Brazil’s ecosystems and communities.

Recent reports show the network’s activities taking concrete form. In Recife, activist Sara Marques of the Caranguejo Tabaiares community describes how unchecked urban growth has canalised the Rio Capibaribe, converting a diverse fishery into a shrimp‑only operation and reshaping livelihoods. In Santa Catarina, Mirian Prochnow co‑founded the Associação de Preservação do Meio Ambiente e da Vida (Apremavi), which now runs a nursery producing more than one million native seedlings each year for Atlantic Forest restoration. In Pará, Valdineia Sauré (Val Munduruku) emphasizes the intersection of Indigenous rights and climate action, reinforcing the network’s territorial‑defence focus.

## Claims

- Thirty‑six women from different regions of Brazil participate in the Defensoras por Defensoras programme. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The programme is promoted by the environmental network Observatório do Clima. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Sara Marques lives in the community Caranguejo Tabaiares in Recife, Pernambuco. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Urban expansion has canalised the Rio Capibaribe, reducing its productivity and shifting local fisheries to mainly shrimp production. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Mirian Prochnow co‑founded the Associação de Preservação do Meio Ambiente e da Vida (Apremavi) about 40 years ago in Santa Catarina. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The network provides training, experience exchange and support to strengthen environmental activism in urban, rural, indigenous and traditional communities. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Apremavi now produces more than one million seedlings per year of about 200 native species for Atlantic Forest restoration. (single source)
- Valdineia Sauré (Val Munduruku) is from Jacareacanga, Pará, and works on indigenous rights and climate justice. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-02: Brazilian women create network to defend climate and territories

Brazil's Observatório do Clima unites 36 women in the Defensoras por Defensoras network, linking activists like Sara Marques, Mirian Prochnow and Val Munduruku to protect climate, territories and indigenous and

17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazilian-women-create-network-to-defend-climate-and-territories

### 2026-07-27: Brazil climate activists release new book on women defenders and close first Climate Action Week

Brazil launches a book on women climate defenders and ends its first Climate Action Week in Porto Alegre, highlighting justice, care and funding concerns.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brazil-climate-activists-release-new-book-on-women-defenders-and-close-first-climate-action-week

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Cite as: Brazil women climate defenders network. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/brazil-women-climate-defenders-network