Ocupação Anchieta is a four-year old land occupation in São Paulo. This water-rich district contains important Atlantic Forest reserves. The Occupation is in the property of a non-profit, and it is home to some 800 families living in poverty. The construction of the rudimentary houses and precarious sewage, involved the partial deforestation of the area. During our field studies in March 2017, we adopted the USAID Rapid Appraisal approach, drawing on multiple evaluation methods to collect data (including door-to-door household surveys, interviews, community meetings, direct observation, soil and water testing, and drone imaging). The plan, co-developed with land occupiers through Ocupação Anchieta Association, develops interventions to improve residents’ quality of life, while minimizing environmental impact, and restoring the ecological functions of natural systems through specific actions: Sewage Free Anchieta; Housing Cluster; Cultural Anchieta; Creek Revival, and Solid Waste Management.
