Copaíba drives ecological restoration in the Rio do Peixe basin with more than 351 thousand seedlings planted

As part of the Raízes do Mogi Guaçu program, the association maintains 344 hectares in the restoration process

As part of the Raízes do Mogi Guaçu Program, developed through a partnership between global institutions Sylvamo and WWF-Brazil, the Copaíba Environmental Association has achieved significant results in its ecological restoration actions in the Rio do Peixe basin, a strategic area for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest and water resources in the region of the Circuito das Águas in São Paulo and southern Minas Gerais.

With more than 351,000 native seedlings planted, the initiative has already promoted the recovery of approximately 3.4 million square meters, equivalent to 344 hectares of degraded areas. The work directly benefits 89 rural properties, distributed among seven municipalities that make up the basin: Águas de Lindóia (SP), Bueno Brandão (MG), Itapira (SP), Monte Sião (MG), Munhoz (MG), Serra Negra (SP) and Socorro (SP).

In addition to recovering vegetation cover, the action resulted in the protection of 131 springs and more than 34 thousand linear meters of rivers and streams, essential for maintaining water quality and local biodiversity.

“The impact goes far beyond planting trees. We are talking about restoring ecosystems, protecting the water that supplies people and crops, and promoting a new culture of caring for the land,” explains Ana Paula Balderi, Ecological Restoration Coordinator at Copaíba.

Copaíba's work is part of the objectives of the Raízes do Mogi Guaçu Program, which seeks to protect and restore springs and deforested areas of the Atlantic Forest in the Mogi Guaçu River basin, in the eastern part of the state of São Paulo and southern Minas Gerais, which includes sub-basins such as the Rio do Peixe. Through partnerships with rural producers, educational activities and technical support, the organization has contributed to transforming previously degraded areas.

“Restoration is a process that requires planning, community involvement and continuity. The numbers we have achieved so far show that we are on the right track and that it is possible to reconcile rural production and environmental conservation,” says the Ecological Restoration Coordinator.

With a focus on the regeneration of the Atlantic Forest and regional water security, Copaíba invites owners of areas important for the conservation of the waters of the Rio do Peixe to participate in the environmental restoration developed by the association. To learn more about the process, contact: (19) 99667-0229. 

More about Copaiba

Created in 1999 by a group of friends who were concerned about the degradation of the Atlantic Forest in the municipality of Socorro-SP, the Copaíba Environmental Association is a non-profit organization, qualified as a Civil Society Organization of Public Interest (OSCIP) and which operates in 19 municipalities in the eastern region of the State of São Paulo and southern Minas Gerais. Currently, the association promotes ecological restoration projects and programs; production of native seedlings; environmental education initiatives and participation in public policies. In total, more than 4 million seedlings have been produced, more than 1 million trees have been planted involving 700 partner landowners, 809 hectares have been restored and 40 thousand participants have participated in Environmental Education experiences. Learn more at: https://copaiba.org.br/.