Balancing Immediate Needs with Long-term Planning

Piracanga Ecovillage, Brazil

As the community mapped their strengths and challenges regarding overall resilience, they realised their vulnerability was more significant than they had previously understood. They noticed a tension in the level of participation and decision-making concerning short- and long-term effects. They gained clarity as they identified the major tipping points they were vulnerable to, which helped them prioritise. For them, this included water, food, transport, and social engagement. However, they still face the challenge of addressing immediate issues like pollution, roads, and energy while designing a systematic and holistic plan for the future. For example, how do they allocate land for construction and development to provide immediate housing while also making it available for food production, wildlife habitat, and other benefits? They celebrated their high capacity to deal with crises and will now work to enhance their ability to implement long-term solutions.