Local communities in Madagascar, the fourth most climate-vulnerable country in the world, found that cyclones were damaging tree nurseries, particularly in 2023, when three cyclones hit the area. Communities voiced a need to build cyclone-resilient nurseries and worked with HIH to implement these designs: learn how a cyclone-proof nursery is built, the impacts of climate resilience, and this initiative’s progress so far.

Traditional nursery bags are made of plastics that cannot be recycled and harm the environment as well as human health. To address this issue, Health In Harmony worked with communities in an initiative to reduce waste as well as support local livelihoods in a sustainable way.

Located in São Félix do Xingu, Pará, Brazil, the Apyterewa Indigenous Territory comprises ~750k hectares of primary rainforest, sequestering over 80 million tonnes of carbon. Apyterewa has the highest deforestation rate among Indigenous territories in the Amazon, but in just a few months, community-led solutions here have begun to heal the forest, restore biodiversity, and strengthen the Parakanã’s rightful stewardship of their land.

2025. Another vital year for Earth's climate. More audacious goals. Find out more about what Health In Harmony has worked on in 2024 and aims for this year.

In 2024, in Brazil, Indonesia, and Madagascar, rainforest community members have designed innovative and sustainable pathways to protect the ecosystems they call home. Watch a video now to hear accounts of planetary health solutions from community members first-hand. 

In August 2024, Health In Harmony was honored to attend Juma Institute’s first Meeting of Indigenous Xipai Women and Riverine at the Kaarimã village in the Xipaya Territory. This joyful event’s focus was to unite and strengthen women's ancestral knowledge, promote cultural practices, and encourage the exchange of knowledge between communities of the Xipaya Indigenous territory and its partners. 

Meeting the expressed healthcare needs of women and girls is not only critical for their well-being but also for fostering sustainable livelihoods, empowering decision-making, and strengthening community resilience to the cascading effects of climate change. In Madagascar, cervical cancer prevention is a pressing health concern; find out more about HIH’s cervical cancer initiatives.

It’s time to do things differently.

We must acknowledge that Indigenous Peoples have been the stewards of biodiversity since time immemorial. Their tested ways of knowing and science are not only integral to conserving nature but also to restoring ecosystems and addressing the climate and biodiversity crises. 

In honor of exchange and reciprocity, HIH's latest donors trip was a learning and sharing opportunity for supporters to better understand and witness how their contributions amplify the wisdom and solutions that already exist within community-led initiatives. Find out more at our blog.