Last updated: May 2025
The rate of deforestation in the Brazilian Legal Amazon in 2023 was consolidated at 9,064 km2. Initiatives that promote forest restoration in this biome are emerging to overcome this scenario. One such initiative is Floresta Productiva which aims to reforest more than 200 hectares of degraded land in the southwest of the Brazilian Amazon, known as the ‘arc of deforestation’ (1). Led by the Instituto Socioambiental in partnership with the NGO Rioterra, it focuses on creating and disseminating native forest restoration models that combine ecosystem recovery with income generation for rural producers in Porto Velho (2). By fully integrating local communities, the project promotes traditional agroforestry practices (muvuca) and trains communities to maintain the planted land. This not only restores the forest but also provides economic benefits through the cultivation of timber, fruit trees and other species (2), strengthening sustainable agriculture, breaking the cycle of deforestation and restoring deforested areas through various native species grown in nurseries (1). The project is being developed in the cultivation area of the Amazon Bioeconomy Centre (CBCA), from 2023 to 2025, where it will directly benefit the rural community of Vila Nova de Teotônio (3). The project started in 2019 and has impacted other communities in the area, such as the communities in Nova Mutum Paraná and Ji-Paraná (1). During these years, more than 123,000 trees have been planted in agroforestry on about 110 hectares of land, and edible forests have been created. Since 2022, a new planting phase has been underway, to plant more than 100,000 trees of 87 native species on 40 hectares of degraded forest (4). In conclusion, this project focuses on the development of agroforestry in the face of widespread monospecific soybean fields and intensive cattle ranching (3); the creation of edible forests (3); and the restoration of forest cover to ensure the long-term resilience of the forest (3).
View of one of the plots to be reforested
ReforestAction
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Allotments
- Other
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Rewilding
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
- Preservation of historic traditions
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Effective management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Environmental and climate justice
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: agriculture
- Employment/job creation
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable production
- Food scarcity / security
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Environmental Degradation
- Biodiversity loss
- Deforestation and forest degradation
- Resource Scarcity and Competition
- Over-exploitation of natural resources (water resources, overgrazing, fisheries, mangroves, fore products)
Key priorities
Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of areas for food production (community gardens, allotments), Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Ecological restoration of existing green spaces, Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems), Protection of natural ecosystems, Expansion of protected areas, Habitat restoration, Habitat conservation, Creating nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, or biodiversity hotspots to conserve unique ecosystems, Knowledge creation and awareness raising, Protection of agroecology approaches (agroforestry & silvopastoral systems), Indigenous and community-based conservation initiatives, Educational and awareness raising programs, Scientific research of biodiversity or ecosystems, Monitoring and maintenance of habitats and/or biodiversity, Habitat mapping, restoration and monitoring-focused management
Project objectives
- To support the reforestation of the Amazon rainforest (1)
- To support local populations towards sustainable agricultural production (1)
- To create and disseminate innovative models of forest restoration that combine the recovery of ecosystems with income generation for rural producers (2)
- To establish a sustainable agricultural model in the face of the generalisation of monoculture soybean fields and intensive livestock farming (4)
- To promote the sustainable development of the Amazon through the dissemination of scientific and empirical knowledge on the need to rehabilitate the native vegetation of the Amazon rainforest (4)
- To maximise the environmental, social and economic impact of the restoration of forest ecosystems (4)
- To contribute to the food security of local communities (4)
Implementation activities
The project aims to expand its reforestation efforts by planting an additional 40 hectares, bringing the total to 210 hectares (1). Rioterra continues to integrate local communities, educating them about agroforestry benefits and ensuring long-term sustainability (1).
Key activities include:
Innovative restoration techniques: Implementing direct seeding and seed houses (2). They are developing and practising the "muvuca" reforestation method, which involves scattering diverse native seeds on the ground to mimic natural regeneration (2). The focus has been on native species such as acai, Amazonian walnuts, peach, and cupuaçu palms (1).
Research and management: An information system is being developed to organise data on seed collection and marketing, and an economic model for biodiverse production systems is being designed (2). And workshops have been developed including community members to provide training on how to maintain and manage the agroforestry plots (4).
Food security: Planting native fruit trees to benefit local communities (4).
Community involvement: Partnering with a local association and inviting residents to participate in project activities (4).
Employment generation: Training and hiring local labour for planting and maintenance (2).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Restore ecological connectivity
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Food producers and cultivators (i.e. farmers, gardeners)
- Other
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) in partnership with the NGO Rioterra: initiators of the project (1, 2). Rioterra is also a field partner and provider of technical expertise and experience (4)
Reforest'Action: certified B Corp (1). Funding and suporting actor (1)
Amazon Bioeconomy Center (CBCA): the cultivation area is part of the centre (2). Involved in research and dissemination of technologies for the recovery of the Amazon. This project is a partnership between Santo Antônio Energia, the Rioterra Study Center and the Amazon+21 Institute (2)
Local association of producers and residents: involved in the implementation, monitoring and maintenance of the forests (4)
The project has the cooperation of the Amazonia +21 Institute and Eletrobras (2)
Redário Initiative: articulation between networks and groups of seed collectors. It supports the professionalization of seed network governance, contracts, management, training and knowledge dissemination, among others (4)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Capacity-building projects, NGOs/Community groups driving the implementation, City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city, Collaboration with other projects that implemented NBS
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Private sector (businesses, financial institution)
- Other
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Achieved increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
- Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
- Achieved increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Expected increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
- Expected increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
- Generation of income from NBS
- Expected generation of income from NBS
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Expected increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Promotion of cultural diversity
- Achieved promotion of cultural diversity
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
- Achieved increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Avril, A. (2020). Brazil : the results of our Amazon reforestation project. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
2.
RIOTERRA (n.d.). REFORESTATION IN THE AMAZON WITH THE MUVUCA SYSTEM PROVIDES LOWER COST AND INCOME POSSIBILITY. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Initiative 20x20 (n.d.). Centro de Estudos Rioterra. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Makhabee, L. (2023). Brazil : new planting season within the Center for Bioeconomy and Conservation of the Amazon (CBCA). Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Rondoniaovivo (2023). TURISMO: Conheça Vila Nova Teotônio, na zona rural de Porto Velho. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Celentano, D., Malta, E., Junqueira, R., Murer, B., Rezende, M., Ono, A. (n.d.). Seeds of Change: Embracing the 'Muvuca' Method for Biodiversity and Social Restoration. Accessed on September 19, 2024, [Source link];
The Muvuca mix of native seeds. The method used for restoration
Matheus Rezende/ ISA/ Redário
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.