Sustainable land use

The Biriba Project in Brazil

Much like the celebrated Amazon rainforest, the Cerrado (also known as the Atlantic Forest) is an impressive ecosystem unlike any other. Covering around two million square kilometers, this region plays a crucial role in climate protection and biodiversity conservation. However, the Cerrado is severely endangered due to many years of sugarcane and soybean production. These monocultures have altered the landscape and compromised the pristine nature of this natural paradise. This is where the Biriba Project comes in. 

Less monoculture

Located in the Brazilian state of São Paulo, the project covers an area of around 582 hectares. The aim is to enable the practice of balanced agroforestry and ecological farming methods, particularly for the local small-scale farmers. By creating financial incentives for the use and preservation of local tree species and productive crops like coffee, farmers are given the opportunity to diversify their income and switch from monocultures of sugarcane and soybeans to more economically and ecologically resilient farming practices. Currently, 194 smallholder families benefit from this initiative. They are also creating additional food security in the region through the establishment of local markets. In total, 523 people are directly impacted by the project. At the same time, there is also a focus on promoting women as decision-makers in agricultural communities and educational networks. A significant portion of the supported farms are family businesses run by women.

Positive impact on climate and biodiversity

In addition to the sustainable economic aspects, the project's priority primarily lies on nature conservation. Ecological agroforestry systems, combining native and productive tree species, ensure the binding of carbon in the soil and help improve soil health. This creates islands of biodiversity in an otherwise deforested and intensively farmed region. The project shows that such models also work in regions dominated by monocultures. The project areas are predominantly located along riverbanks. These riparian zones form natural corridors that are important for biodiversity. This helps protect endangered species, including fauna such as the black howler monkey, the tapeti (Brazilian cottontail) and the lowland tapir, as well as flora like the American mahogany.

More life in the ecosystem

Clarissa Chúfalo from the Chúfalo Divindade Farm highlights the potential success of this approach: "The positive results of the project are manifold – benefiting the restoration of vegetation in the different areas, enhancing the micro- and macrofauna, and increasing overall biodiversity. In the future, the forest will even change the microclimate, which will lead to even more water recharge areas and the formation of new springs that will bring even more life into the ecosystem."

Project development by the Ubá Sustainability Institute

The project has been developed by the Ubá Sustainability Institute, community networks and local academic institutions. Over a period of 30 years, up to 150,000 metric tons of CO2 can be sequestered from the atmosphere. Marina Gavaldão, founder and managing director of the Ubá Sustainability Institute, sees the realization of the project as a dream come true: "I have been working on climate protection projects for 22 years and have always wanted to realize a project that transforms the landscape in my home region. This project shows that reforestation is extremely important for mitigating and adapting to climate change and at the same time can also act as a catalyst for regenerative agriculture and family-run farms."

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