SPVS, Brazil

SPVS has built a strong and committed agenda for biodiversity conservation, aligning the protection of natural environments and environmental education. SPVS owns and manages three Private Reserves, ensuring the conservation of around 19.000 hectares – located in Antonina and Guaraqueçaba towns in the North Coast of Paraná State. This is an important region that holds largely preserved remains of the fragmented Atlantic Forest biome. With an extensive background on ecological restoration, the organization has successively restored 1.500 hectares of degraded areas within those Private Reserves. Focusing on regenerative agroforestry with native fruits, this project contributes to combining SPVS’ conservation efforts with stimulating sustainable agricultural production from the surrounding farmers, enabling the harmonization of land uses in the region.

Linking Conservation and Regional Development

The Atlantic Forest is one of the most biodiverse biomes in the world and holds a high level of endemism – hosting species that only occur in its fragmented remains. This important biome has now only about 7% of its original coverage, which was spread across the long Brazilian shoreline and hosts 70% of the current Brazilian population. The project is located in a region marked by exuberant landscapes, protected areas, and low economic activities, proving a great opportunity for sustainable rural development as an important land use strategy to enable inclusive growth and nature conservation.

Providing Alternatives to Meat Production

The project will be implemented in a degraded area previously used for buffalo ranching, and currently in a natural process of regeneration. The guidelines for the regenerative agroforestry design will consider the edible potential of native species (mainly fruit trees), long term profit (native timber trees), and high levels of complexity (biodiversity), while taking into account the local needs for food security. The project will target the neighboring smallholder farmers of the Private Reserve, supporting their efforts to adhere to the Brazilian forest code that enforces farmland preservation at a minimum of 20% of its surface. The project will showcase how to comply with these stringent regulations, ensuring economic use while maintaining the forest coverage.

The objective is to create a business case that works for the region, to enhance farmland forest coverage while ensuring the sustainable use of its natural resources, providing food security, and supporting farmer livelihoods – offering alternatives to meat production that provide financial security in the long run.

Restoring Farmland for Conservation

Together, SPVS protects more than 19,000 hectares of native forests in the towns of Guaraqueçaba and Antonina. The biodiversity is outstanding, as they point out: “The nature reserves are home to thousands of species of fauna and flora, including some facing extinction risks, such as the Jacutinga (Aburria jacutinga), the Jaguar (Puma concolor) and the Jussara Palm (Euterpe edulis).” The reserves are open to visitors and offer great research infrastructure and support. They also provide valuable ecosystem services – such as water supply (currently captured inside and distributed to communities in the region).

The project will promote the protection of such water-related ecosystems and improve soil quality through increasing biomass levels. It will also strengthen climate resilience and ensure the conservation of the terrestrial ecosystem and its services through the implementation of sustainable practices. As the agroforestry system will be carried out within the Private Reserve, it will also contribute to long-term carbon sequestration.

1.500 ha Restored Forests | 700.000 Trees Planted | 10.000 ton CO2 per year

Ecological Restoration and Carbon Sequestration 

The carbon potential within the private reserves is remarkable, as the estimation by the local partner indicates: 

“The forest conserved in the reserves have accumulated approximately two million tons of carbon, over 18 years of conservation efforts. However, the restoration of degraded areas around the reserves adds a carbon potential of ten thousand tons/year. This carbon stock helps to reduce the impacts of global climate change.”

The Atlantic Forest Great Reserve

Inserted in the largest continuous remnant of the Atlantic Forest biome, the three SPVS reserves are inserted in the Atlantic Forest Great Reserve, in the largest and well-preserved portion of this biome. The Great Reserve has approximately 1 million hectares of non-fragmented natural areas, covering three states (São Paulo, Paraná, and Santa Catarina), connecting existing conservation sites and promoting initiatives that preserve its natural and cultural heritage.

Meat Offsetting

This project is currently being supported by Vertis, a Carbon expert and trading leader that helps companies to reduce emissions, and is piloting a meat offsetting scheme.

Interested in knowing more about meat offsetting?

We are still searching for funding for this project

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