When forests gains value: private conservation in Alagoas, Brazil
In the state of Alagoas, in northeastern Brazil, private conservation is gaining new momentum thanks to a model that combines real incentives with technical solutions adapted to the local context.
Through the Payment for Environmental Services (PES) mechanism, implemented by the Alagoas Institute of the Environment (IMA) and supported by SAVE Brasil, conservation agreements were consolidated with an initial group of seven rural landowners. These agreements offers direct payments, technical support, legal advice, and training. The result: greater trust among local actors, the opening of new partnerships, and more robust management of Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs).
Restoration and local economy
The program also promotes active restoration in degraded areas, applying techniques such as mechanized direct seeding with native seeds, assisted regeneration, and seedling planting. To sustain this effort, local seed collection networks have been created to supply restoration work, diversify rural families’ incomes, and strengthen the local economy.
Also, the initiative has reached the classroom: at the Pedra D’Antas RPPN, forest conservation has been integrated into the municipal curriculum. Thus, children grow up recognizing the value of these ecosystems, generating from an early age a sense of belonging and responsibility towards the landscape.
A replicable model
What is happening in Alagoas shows how well-designed incentives can transform historical dynamics of degradation. Here, the forest is beginning to have tangible economic and social value. This model demonstrates that conservation advances when it connects with the interests and aspirations of those who inhabit the territory, offering a replicable route for other regions of Brazil and beyond.