The drained fields of Jalapão in wetlands of Cerrado Biome in Brazil.
Camila Rosado
2025
The system originated in the Quilombola communities of the remote Jalapão region, a conservation unit in Brazil since 2001. Quilombola refers to an Afro-Brazilian ethnic group descended from enslaved people who escaped the colonial plantation system. These communities found refuge in isolated areas, far from European influence, where they established self-sustaining lifestyles largely dependent on natural resources. For nearly two centuries, their livelihood has depended on the offerings of the Cerrado Biome and the region’s geographical conditions.
The process of the system, from the start to maintenance, requires intense human involvement, such as deep knowledge of the geography, natural conditions of the place, and communal effort. The drainage technique has been developed based on empirical experience from the local farmers, who observed the natural water flow of a flooded gallery forest and passed it on through generations. The field’s primary purpose is to provide food, but it also connects people to the socio-ecological relevance of the Veredas (wetlands). The communities in Jalapão become known for their rich craft that utilizes the grass Capim-Dourado from the Veredas, and the fiber of the Buriti palm tree.
Veredas and seasonally flooded gallery forests are crucial in maintaining consistent water resources, especially during dry periods in Cerrado’s biome. In that sense, the drained fields are essential as they allow food production during the dry season.
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The fields are cultivated within Veredas (wetlands) or flooded gallery forests, areas with peat-rich soil. Utilizing these wetlands for agriculture led to the development of a method involving ditch digging for drainage, cultivation, and allowing fields to regenerate.
The system forms the basis of the agricultural practice of this region and continues to be a key element of the local farming system. It does not count with a complex structure, however, it comprises a sophisticated rotation system based on the knowledge of the land condition and capacity of the soil to recover.
During the cultivation period of the fields, some native tree species are preserved, among which the Buriti palm (Mauritia flexuosa) stands out for its profound ecological and cultural significance. Referred to as the “tree of life,” in indigenous cultures, the Buriti plays a crucial role in maintaining wetland ecosystems.
