ID: 1266

Tietê Forests project

Brazil’s Atlantic Forest stretches along the Atlantic coast and inland as far as Paraguay. It is thought to have covered as much as 150,000,000-ha, but today at least 72% has been cleared, mainly for agriculture. Most of the remaining forest patches are small and isolated, and many plant and animal species are threatened with extinction. Serving the state of São Paulo, the Tietê river in the Atlantic Biome is a powerhouse, yet it’s one of the most polluted rivers in Brazil. WeForest and AES Brasil are collaborating to restore the forest on the edges of the Tietê river and its tributaries with native species, protecting water bodies from soil siltation and runoff from herbicides and pesticides. The project is also providing a testing ground for pioneering restoration approaches that aim to reduce the use of herbicides – which are usually relied on in Brazil to control invasive grasses – or even eliminate them entirely. To do this, the project has adopted a three-pronged approach: 1. The removal of grass prior to planting will be carried out mechanically by mowing. 2. Green manure – Guandu or pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan) – will be used in between native vegetation as an extra contribution to the fast-growing and large-crowned plants that shade and suppress invasive grasses, accelerating the growth of all native species. 3. The biomass of both the mown grass and the green manure will be used as mulch during tree planting, also to stop invasive grasses growing again. AES Brasil is already restoring sites that the Brazilian Forest Code requires to be placed under restoration. The Tietê Forests project will focus on additional sites where this is not obligatory by law, actively planting native vegetation, enhancing a wildlife corridor and helping protect the river basin from erosion.

Planned actions

Protection of land/water

Management of land/water