Restoring biodiversity in Brazil through partnerships with farmers
A delegation from the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Brazil was invited by the Black Jaguar Foundation to visit their work sites on the Araguaia river in the state of Pará. Ambassador André Driessen and biodiversity counselor Emiel Mulder participated on behalf of the Netherlands Embassy and learned how the Black Jaguar Foundation restores biodiversity by planting native vegetation. All in close cooperation with local famers. ‘Without farmers we cannot achieve or goals to restore the native vegetation along the Araguaia corridor’ says founder of Black Jaguar Foundation Ben Valks.
Biodiversity corridors
The Black Jaguar Foundation is undertaking a significant biodiversity restoration project along the Araguaia River, a major Brazilian waterway spanning over 2,600 kilometers. Their core objective is to establish biodiversity corridors connecting fragmented natural habitats within the Cerrado and Amazon biomes. These biomes are critical for the health of the planet and the hydrological cycle in the Amazon and Brazil.
These reforested areas play a fundamental role in supporting and maintaining biodiversity, acting as sources of essential resources such as oxygen production and carbon sequestration. By creating these corridors, the Foundation aims to facilitate the movement of species, promote genetic exchange, and enhance the resilience of these crucial ecosystems in the face of ongoing environmental challenges.
Building on common goals
The organization has developed a comprehensive, 17-step methodology for restoring biodiversity, specifically focused on the revitalization of healthy forests. This structured approach encompasses a range of activities, from initial site assessment, biodiversity planning, seed collection and preparation to maintenance and long-term monitoring.
This Dutch/Brazilian organization works in close cooperation with local farmers so that they meet the requirements from the Forest Code and maintain and restore Permanent Protection Areas and Legal Reserves. This legislation stipulates the amount of native vegetation landowners are required to conserve. The Amazon biome requires 80% conservation, while the Cerrado requires 20-35%.
By working directly with landowners, the Black Jaguar Foundation contributes to both biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management practices, ensuring that agricultural activities are balanced with the preservation of vital ecosystems. This collaborative approach fosters local ownership and promotes the long-term success of conservation efforts. The Black Jaguar Foundation has already restored more than 600 ha (over 1 million trees!). and is now working on scaling the reforestation with many partners. They have set a goal to restore 1 million ha (1.7 billion trees) by 2042.
Reforestation is an arduous, complex and costly process, and is much more than planting trees. It is building an entire supply chain for forest restoration – an economy of restorations. And it is building partnerships at the local level with farmers, municipal governments, communities and private sector, nationally with government institutions and globally with supporters, philanthropists and corporate partners, said strategic partnerships advisor Marco van der Ree.
Visiting the project sites
The Netherlands has also made a contribution to restore native vegetation and supports the Black Jaguar Foundation to achieve their goals via the Partners for Water program. The visit by the Dutch embassy delegation provided a firsthand look at on-the-ground efforts. Their itinerary included a visit to a local nursery, where they learned about the propagation and cultivation of native plants used in restoration projects.
The delegation also toured several restoration sites, observing the progress being made in revitalizing degraded ecosystems and the techniques being employed. Finally, they visited a seed collectors' site, gaining insights into the crucial role of seed collection and preservation in ensuring the genetic diversity and success of restoration initiatives.
More information or similar plans, contact us
The Dutch embassy in Brazil supports initiatives dedicated to conserving and restoring biodiversity, and reversing its decline. If you want to know more about this or other initiatives, or if you have similar plans, please contact us via bra-lvvn@minbuza.nl.