ELTI Participant Shares Knowledge and Strengthens Communities in Southern Bahia, Brazil

In the southern Bahia municipalities of Eunápolis and Porto Seguro,  important remnants of the Atlantic Forest coexist with a working landscape dominated by pastures, agricultural lands, and extensive eucalyptus plantations. Forest fragmentation and longstanding inequalities in access to land and economic opportunities create significant challenges for family farmers and rural communities that depend directly on natural resources for their livelihoods. Fragmented landscapes can reduce ecosystem services such as water regulation, pollination, soil protection, and climate resilience, increasing the vulnerability of rural livelihoods. At the same time, these families play a vital role in biodiversity conservation and landscape restoration throughout the Atlantic Forest.

It is within this context that Oliveira Leite works. A biologist and rural extension practitioner dedicated to strengthening family farming through agroecology, she began her journey in the biological sciences program at the Federal University of the São Francisco Valley (UNIVASF). Since then, she has worked alongside family farmers, members of Indigenous communities, and participants in traditional communal land use systems. Her motivation is deeply rooted in her personal history. Encouraged by her parents, grandparents, and extended family to pursue education, Oliveira Leite developed an early conviction that access to knowledge has the power to transform lives. She says, “I have always believed in my ability to learn and to share knowledge with those who did not have the same opportunities I had. That is why I continue studying, because it is the best thing I can do for myself and for others.”

Through the Socio-Environmental Development for Family Farming Project (DSAF), an initiative of the Pau-Brasil Agroecology Center at the Federal University of Southern Bahia , Oliveira Leite provides technical assistance to family farmers from agrarian reform settlements and other rural communities in southern Bahia. Through a partnership between the IPÊ-ELTI program and DSAF, she served as an instructor for three field courses: “Agroforestry Planning” (2023), “Essential Oils Production” (2024), and “Agroforestry Systems Management” (2024). The courses engaged farmers from the Nova Vitória Association and the Sister Dorothy Stang, Santa Maria, and Miramar settlements as well as participants from other rural communities in the region, strengthening agroecological practices that contribute to income generation, food security, and Atlantic Forest restoration.

Oliveira Leite first learned about ELTI through IPÊ’s social media channels. Since then, she has completed four courses: “Productive Recovery” (2023), Restoration Monitoring” (2023), “Sustainable and Socially Impactful Business Plan” (2024), and both the online and field components of the "Restoration of Atlantic Forest Ecosystems: From Theory to Practice" blended course (2025). According to Oliveira Leite, these experiences significantly expanded her understanding of the region where she works.

The courses also strengthened her professional confidence. She says, “Today, I feel more confident working in areas where I did not see myself before, such as ecological restoration.” She explains that the knowledge she acquired through ELTI has informed her daily work, influencing technical discussions, planning processes, and decision-making. Another aspect of the courses she values is their accessibility. “The flexibility of the courses allows us to access knowledge without having to leave our home communities. Financial limitations can be a barrier, so the fact that most courses are free and offer such a high level of quality makes a real difference.”

When asked to describe ELTI in a single word, her answer comes immediately: “Opportunity.”

Driven by a vision of a more equitable society, Oliveira Leite believes that everyone should have access to clean water, healthy food, healthcare, a balanced environment, and dignified living conditions. She also hopes to see family farming receive greater recognition for its essential contributions to both food security and environmental conservation.

by Mabel Ludka, updated October 27, 2026

The ELTI-IPÊ courses were important because they helped me gain a broader understanding of the southern Bahia landscape. This wider perspective allowed me to better connect with communities and make more informed decisions in the activities we develop."

Isabela Oliveira Leite