Dates / Project duration
April 2023 - February 2025 / 23 months
Field of action :
Combating deforestation Integrated and sustainable management of water resources
Branch : 
Monaco
Location :
Brazil
Project sponsor(s) :
Instituto Terra
?Brazil's history is closely linked to the Atlantic Forest, one of the world's greatest reservoirs of biodiversity. It is considered one of the most important and threatened ecosystems on the planet. Chaotic development and predatory exploitation of natural resources have devastated this forest, which is now home to Brazil's largest urban areas and highest concentration of industry. Natural vegetation has been drastically reduced, with only 7% remaining.
The Atlantic Forest is Brazil's largest agricultural and industrial area, responsible for 75% of the gross national product and home to 70% of the country's population. Its rivers feed more than 130 million people and irrigate Brazil's largest arable land. But deforestation has led to falling water levels, soil erosion and widespread desertification in many regions, resulting in the economic impoverishment of rural communities.
The project consists of rehabilitating and protecting water sources on smallholders' plots through reforestation, and installing a domestic septic tank on each farm involved in the project (18 in total). This work will be carried out in synergy with the rural smallholders, with the aim of improving their life expectancy by increasing the quantity and quality of water. It focuses on the micro-catchment to create a circular economy.
The steps for reforestation and protection of each water source are as follows
1. Mobilisation of 18 rural farmers.
2. Environmental planning of the land,
3. Provision of tools and equipment, including seedlings, wire and other materials.
4. Fencing and planting. This is the responsibility of the farmer under the guidance of the project technicians.
5. Installation of a mini septic tank to treat waste water through bacterial activity. By avoiding contamination of the local soil and groundwater, it is possible to reduce the level of pathogens and organic matter in the wastewater.
At the end of the project, it is estimated that reforestation will improve soil quality in ecologically strategic areas, thanks to the planting of around 19,800 native seedlings over a total of 18 hectares.
The Atlantic Forest is Brazil's largest agricultural and industrial area, responsible for 75% of the gross national product and home to 70% of the country's population. Its rivers feed more than 130 million people and irrigate Brazil's largest arable land. But deforestation has led to falling water levels, soil erosion and widespread desertification in many regions, resulting in the economic impoverishment of rural communities.
The project consists of rehabilitating and protecting water sources on smallholders' plots through reforestation, and installing a domestic septic tank on each farm involved in the project (18 in total). This work will be carried out in synergy with the rural smallholders, with the aim of improving their life expectancy by increasing the quantity and quality of water. It focuses on the micro-catchment to create a circular economy.
The steps for reforestation and protection of each water source are as follows
1. Mobilisation of 18 rural farmers.
2. Environmental planning of the land,
3. Provision of tools and equipment, including seedlings, wire and other materials.
4. Fencing and planting. This is the responsibility of the farmer under the guidance of the project technicians.
5. Installation of a mini septic tank to treat waste water through bacterial activity. By avoiding contamination of the local soil and groundwater, it is possible to reduce the level of pathogens and organic matter in the wastewater.
At the end of the project, it is estimated that reforestation will improve soil quality in ecologically strategic areas, thanks to the planting of around 19,800 native seedlings over a total of 18 hectares.
