Foundation houses Casa Brasil IBGE Fundaj

Casa Brasil IBGE Fundaj, in Recife, will host the seminar “Caatinga in Dispute: science, territory and environmental justice in the face of desertification” on June 17-18. The event is part of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Mitigate the Effects of Drought, celebrated on June 17, and is part of the Earth Journey 2026 program.

Researchers, public managers, social and academic organizations and civil society will debate territorial transformations and the importance of data in the construction of public policies. The seminars will be divided into four thematic panels, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, on both days.
Participation in the seminars is open and free of charge, but is subject to the capacity of Casa Brasil IBGE. Registration can be made directly at Fundaj, in Recife.

Researcher Andre Luiz Ferreira, from the Department of Environment and Geography at SES/BA, will participate in the third panel, on the morning of June 18th, with the presentation “Who counts the Caatinga? Public statistics, territorial invisibilities and the dispute for recognition.”

The panel addresses the role of information in constructing narratives about the Semiarid region, discussing the articulation between data, public management and local knowledge. In addition to Ferreira, Ludmila Calado, from Sudene, Carlos Magno, from Centro Sabiá, and Sara Brito Cruz, from Asacom will be in this debate. The panel will be moderated by Paula Reis, from the UFPE.

Climate, territory and environmental economy are panel themes

The “Caatinga in Dispute” seminar program is structured into four thematic panels. On Wednesday (17), the date that marks the World Day to Combat Desertification, the impacts of desertification in the Semiarid region and the dynamics associated with environmental markets will be discussed.

The debates include topics such as extreme climate events, territorial vulnerability, technical limits for reversing desertification and disputes related to carbon credits and critical minerals in the region.
On Thursday (18), discussions turn to territories, knowledge and narratives about the Caatinga, in addition to the challenges associated with the expansion of renewable energy in the Semiarid region, including legal aspects, governance and energy justice.

The second day's schedule also includes the launch of the Desertification Dossier of the Collective Magazine and a wrap-up session dedicated to the systematization of discussions and the construction of future proposals and agendas.

The seminar is promoted by the Joaquim Nabuco Foundation (Fundaj) and the National Semi-Arid Institute (INSA/MCTI), with support from several institutions, including the IBGE.

The seminar's proposal is to strengthen the articulation between science, public policies and civil society in combating desertification, promoting greater integration between different actors and perspectives on the Brazilian Semiarid region.

Service
Seminar: Caatinga in Dispute: science, territory and environmental justice in the face of desertification
Date: June 17th and 18th, 2026
Venue: Casa IBGE Brasil, at Fundação Joaquim Nabuco (Fundaj) – 2187 17 de Agosto Avenue, Casa Forte, Recife (PE).