The World Bank’s Post

When Tânia and Henrique Gravel arrived at their property in the mountains of the Caparaó Range, there was only one spring. Today, there are fourteen. The change did not happen by chance, but through years of reforestation and conservation of the Atlantic Forest. Honey became their flagship product, sold locally and used in school snacks, while bees helped pollinate dozens of fruit tree varieties growing around the hives. Their work gained momentum with support from Espírito Santo’s Reflorestar Program, backed by the World Bank. Since 2011, the program has invested in protecting watershed headwaters through reforestation and payment for environmental services, compensating rural producers for restoring and preserving native forests. Over the past 15 years, Reflorestar has supported more than 5,000 rural properties, restoring 12,000 hectares and conserving 13,000 hectares. These efforts help store water in watersheds, reduce sediment in reservoirs, and lower flood risks, with benefits reaching as far as the metropolitan region of Vitória. This is not a miracle. It is the result of consistent work—by rural producers and communities—showing how restoring the Atlantic Forest can multiply springs and opportunities at the same time. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eRBehC4x