One of Brazil’s largest ecosystem restoration initiatives has been given a new lease of life with the support of cooperation between Brazil and Germany. Through an agreement with the German development bank KfW, the Terra Institute started the Terra Doce program, aimed at environmental recovery and strengthening communities in the Doce River Basin.
The proposal involves restoring springs on small and medium-sized rural properties, prioritizing degraded and socially vulnerable areas. Instituto Terra leads a process that begins with the collection of native seeds and continues through to planting and technical support, promoting a model that combines science, environmental education and community protagonism.
Thanks to the partnership with the German government, the Institute has been able to expand its field structures, its nursery and its technical capacity. This strengthens a complete cycle of restoration that is born in the territory and spreads from the hands of those who live there. Many of the seeds used in the plantations are collected by producers in the region, connecting environmental conservation to new opportunities for belonging and income.
Terra Doce also encourages sustainable production practices, such as agroforestry systems, and invests in training young leaders and community coordination. All of this reinforces a vision of the future in which caring for the land also means caring for people – and where environmental restoration goes hand in hand with social transformation.
The partnership between Instituto Terra and KfW marks a new stage in the regeneration of the Rio Doce Valley, opening up ways for the territory to flourish with more biodiversity, cooperation and hope.