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Rodrigo Spuri
From Brazil Conservation Director
We are close to reaching half of a decisive decade for the planet. Record temperatures and changes in rain patterns defined 2023 and made the negative impacts of climate change on our lives even more evident. Climate change affects the ecological balance, the day-to-day, the population’s health, production activities in the fields, and the country’s economy.
At The Nature Conservancy (TNC), we know that facing the climate challenge and bringing about significant changes for the planet and all of us demands collective efforts. Through innovative, scalable collaboration, we achieved significant results in 2023. They pave the way for nature and people to thrive together because we have only one planet and one possible future.
Last year, TNC Brazil turned 35, and during that time, we found our way. We are a bridge between governments, businesses, and society, all of whom understand the urgency of working together to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises.
We must act now to find and promote solutions that make transforming the production chains possible, fomenting public policies, and developing innovative financial mechanisms for nature conservation and restoration of degraded areas. And doing so based on science that is aligned with the traditional knowledge of Indigenous Peoples, Quilombolas[1], and traditional communities.
Last year, we also celebrated the advancement of important Amazon conservation public policies aligned with TNC’s strategies. One was the Pará Government’s State Program for Livestock Chain Integrity and Development, the first required cattle traceability policy based on environmental requirements. That was an essential step in curbing deforestation and promoting the resilience of ecosystem and production areas, water security, and people's well-being.
In the Cerrado, we developed a comprehensive study of the Araguaia River basin, a tributary of the Amazon River basin and one of the last free-flowing rivers in the country. The study helped us understand the region's situation more broadly so we can support decision-making in building a future that all can share.
We also worked on a scientific study that mapped the carbon stock potential in the Cerrado, reinforcing the importance of restoring degraded areas and conserving native vegetation.
That also applies to the Atlantic Forest, a biome where we work with various sectors to increase forest restoration. We do that by promoting the establishment of Payment for Environmental Services (PES) public policies or consolidating a high-quality carbon market with incentives and appreciation for rural landowners who conserve and restore the forest.
All those significant achievements for climate change adaptation and resilience were only possible because of our network of partners and supporters. Thank you for being part of that community. Your support is and will continue to be vital to building today the future we want tomorrow.
Rodrigo Spuri
Director of Conservation – TNC Brazil
We already feel the effects of climate change and biodiversity loss, which affect people’s health and day-to-day activities, natural ecosystems, and the economy. Discussions on nature conservation have been especially spotlighted in a year marked by record temperatures and an increase in the frequency of extreme weather events, such as flooding. Nature is our ally in tackling the crises of climate change and biodiversity loss; transforming the relationship of people, markets, and governments with nature is a collective responsibility that needs to be a priority for all sectors of society.
The year 2023 marked the 35th anniversary of TNC in Brazil. Over that period, we have built a solid network of local partners by collaborating with governments, businesses, and communities to achieve important advances for nature conservation in the biomes where we work. We have well-defined goals to achieve a future where nature and people can thrive together.
TNC Brazil’s 2030 Objectives
In 2021, TNC’s network set bold goals for 2030 to tackle the climate and biodiversity challenges we face. Those goals help us prioritize our activities and gauge how we are doing in achieving our mission because it has clear metrics to measure our progress. TNC Brazil contributes to those global goals with:
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Sequestration or avoided emissions of 369 millions tons of CO2 annually
Using the power of nature and strength of policy and markets to store carbon, support the renewable energy build-out and reduce emissions.
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Improved management or avoided impacts on 71 millions conserved hectares
Partnering with communities across the globe to restore & improve management of working lands, support the leadership of Indigenous peoples as land stewards, & conserve critical forests, grasslands and other habitats rich in carbon & biodiversity.
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Improved management of 187 thousand kilometers of rivers
Promoting innovative solutions and policies that improve the quality and amount of water available in freshwater ecosystems and to communities.
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Improved and adequate access for 3.8 millions people to decision-making
Partnering with Indigenous peoples and other communities to learn from and support their leadership in stewarding the environment, securing rights to resources, improving economic opportunities and shaping their future.
Our 2023 results
Our conservation results are focused on the Amazon, Cerrado, and the Atlantic Forest. Still, since we know that nature is not contained within the limits of a border, our work seeks to influence the conservation agenda for all of Brazil.
Amazon
What happens in the Amazon affects the entire world. The carbon sequestered in the planet’s largest tropical forest helps ensure climate stability throughout the Earth; its rivers hold one-fifth of the planet’s water, and its rich biodiversity is unique, housing one in every ten species. The region is also home to millions of people, including 350 Indigenous Peoples who have protected their territories for centuries. Despite decreasing deforestation rates in the biome, tropical forests and other ecosystems are at increased risk of collapse due to the surge in global temperatures. That would contribute to global warming, feeding the tipping points yet again. To tackle those threats and protect biodiversity, TNC’s work in the region is focused on Pará state, which has 95 million hectares of forest cover but also conservation challenges mainly related to low-yield agriculture and livestock farming and the illegal seizure of public land. That is why we work with governments, businesses, Indigenous Peoples, rural producers, and many other partners to strengthen more sustainable production models, promote restoring degraded areas, protect conservation units, and encourage innovation of sustainable financing, governance, and public policies for conservation.
See how our work in Amazon is aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Highlights of TNC’s work in Amazon in 2023
Click in the buttons to see the main results of TNC work in the Brazilian Amazon.
Strengthening Socio-bioeconomy
The Projeto Inovatec Sociobiodiversidade[AT1] supported six projects that advance standing forest economic development ventures and offered scholarships to 30 youth from Indigenous, Quilombola, and riverine communities to participate in research and development projects. The goal is to add value to traditional products and contribute to implementing new technologies in Tapajós basin communities. Conversely, the Inova Sociobio project contemplated 30 communities by implementing six Pará bio-economy innovation points.
Conservation Public Policies in Pará
The Pará Livestock Integrity and Development Program was launched at COP28. TNC was one of the organizations that supported the state government in developing Brazil's first mandatory cattle traceability policy focused on environmental requirements. Complementing the traceability program, TNC has supported Pará state in developing its Payment for Environmental Services Program (PES), which will compensate family farmers and local communities for regeneration, recovery, maintenance, and environmental conservation efforts.
Community-based Conservation
O projeto Águas dos Tapajós expandiu sua atuação de 10 para mais de 200 comunidades nas regiões do Baixo e Médio Tapajós e do Baixo Amazonas. A união entre o conhecimento tradicional das comunidades ribeirinhas e o conhecimento científico pode contribuir para a conservação de 1.000 km de rios e 4.000 km de igarapés, gerando impactos positivos para os recursos pesqueiros e a qualidade de vida. A TNC também apoiou as comunidades ribeirinhas da região do Lago Grande, entre os municípios de Santarém, Óbidos e Juruti, no Pará, em um novo acordo de pesca, fruto do envolvimento de diferentes atores.
Technological Innovation to End Deforestation
TNC joined Google and other partners in the Digitais da Floresta Project to seek innovative tools to fight illegal timber exploration in the Amazon, such as stable isotopes, a type of tree “fingerprinting” that allows verifying their origins. Conversely, the Módulo de Inteligência Territorial (MIT) is a digital platform developed by the Pará Environmental Agency (SEMAS-PA) with technical support from TNC. It integrates environmental, land, and production data to improve territorial management and value chain processes important to Pará’s economy. Its initial focus will be on livestock farming.
Other Effective Conservation Mechanisms
The challenge of executing the new Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted at COP15 in 2022, has mobilized countries to debate innovative ways to conserve nature. Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) can be great allies in that context. That was the theme of a new study led by TNC, demonstrating a current view of those mechanisms and the possibilities for their implementation in Brazil, especially in the states of Pará and Amazonas.
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Cerrado
The Cerrado is a unique biome for Brazil’s ecological balance and one of the most vital areas for agriculture and water production. It covers one-fourth of the country’s territory and houses the world’s most biodiverse savanna, along with soil-use practices that threaten biodiversity. Nearly half of the Cerrado (84 million hectares) has been converted for agricultural and livestock use, and some of its rivers have had their courses altered by dams, affecting the routine of traditional communities, interrupting the migration of aquatic fauna, and various other ecological processes.
TNC has worked in the region for over 30 years and has developed specific actions for the Araguaia Basin since 2016. Eighty percent of the area has been altered. Our focus has been on restoration efforts in degraded areas and implementing regenerative agricultural and livestock farming practices, including redirecting their expansion to already-cleared areas, which increases productivity. We also support the leadership and economic activities of the region’s Indigenous Peoples, connecting local efforts with state, federal, and global initiatives to reduce deforestation and promote nature conservation.
See how our work in Cerrado is aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Highlights from TNC’s work in the Cerrado in 2023
Click in the buttons to see the main results of TNC work in the Cerrado.
Carbon Removal and Restoration in Mato Grosso
TNC led a study to evaluate estimated carbon removal in the secondary forests of Mato Grosso. The analysis, conducted based on the REDD+ ART/TREES requirements, helps understand the potential to generate credits for carbon removal in state forests, considering the age of the vegetation. The study generated detailed data that can help consolidate carbon and forest restoration projects in the region and systematize important information for decision-making and public policies geared to natural climate solutions.
Water-Management Resources
We conducted a complete study of the Araguaia River basin, including various environmental, ecological, economic, social, and soil use indicators, among others. This resulted in an Atlas of the basin. The Araguaia Blueprint integrates geographical and socio-economic data about the basin to help create a shared understanding of possible regional development scenarios. It will also create opportunities for evaluating indirect, cumulative, and synergistic impacts from large-scale infrastructure projects that are being established and assessing the use of the region’s natural resources.
Support for the Xavante Indigenous Peoples
TNC, in partnership with Fundo Podáali and the Mato Grosso REDD Early Movers (REM-MT) launched a pioneering award initiative among the Xavante Indigenous People, managed by Indigenous representatives appointed by the Xavante themselves. Sixteen initiatives in territorial management, sustainable economy, and food sovereignty will be awarded. TNC also supported the A´Uwe Uptabi Environmental Agents Training cycle, which trained 26 environmental agents focusing on agrobiodiversity to enable participatory monitoring of REM Program activities in the region.
Strengthening Barra do Garças’ PCI Program
TNC has cooperation agreements with the Mato Grosso state via the Produce, Conserve, Include (PCI) Program in Barra do Garças, part of the state’s PCI. The goal is to conserve and restore forests and curb deforestation to promote a low-carbon economy. Recently, we have supported the establishment of the framework for a Barra do Garças PCI executive committee, which has worked to integrate the various sectors of society to promote inclusive activities that conciliate production and conservation in the region.
Environmental Compliance in Rural Properties
TNC supported developing and implementing the Legal Commercialization Reinstatement and Environmental Compliance State Plan for embargoed Mato Grosso rural properties. The partnership strengthens the Reinstatement and Monitoring Program (PREM), which includes a virtual geo-monitoring platform to track the regeneration of illegally deforested areas blocked from commercial activities for not following the current market protocols. It also includes activities to reinstate rural producers into the legal beef market.
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Atlantic Forest
The Atlantic Forest has already lost more than 90 percent of its native vegetation due to a history of degradation caused by human activity. The region, extending over 17 Brazilian states, also concentrates most of the Brazilian population and around 70 percent of the country’s GDP.
Considering the biome’s hydrological importance, TNC concentrates its work on the Mantiqueira Mountain Range, conducting activities that seek to maintain or recover streams via forest restoration. Those bodies of water contribute to water supply and other environmental services essential to the population and the economy. In the Mantiqueira Range alone, the potential exists for restoring 1.5 million hectares of forests divided between the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro. The initiative aims to strengthen municipalities’ public environmental policies, ensure technical capacity for restoration, and support local governance partnerships. Efforts also seek to find new financial mechanisms that can help make possible forest restoration and conservation of streams at scale.
See how our work in Atlantic Forest is aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Highlights from TNC’s work in the Atlantic Forest
Click in the buttons to see the main results of TNC work in the Atlantic Forest.
Technology, Monitoring, and Capacity Development
Throughout 2023, more than 450 people, including technicians, government and academia representatives, and rural owners, participated in 14 training sessions to promote forest restoration. These sessions included field day visits and online and in-person training. Territorial management via the Mantiqueira Portal has already mapped 100,000 hectares in a restoration databank that supports forest restoration monitoring and decision-making activities in the region.
Promoting Forest Restoration
By the end of 2023, six Mantiqueira Range municipalities had created PES programs, and ten other towns had begun drafting restoration programs legislation, which will mean more hectares protected in the future. Six municipalities in the Terras Altas region in Minas Gerais state also signed a protocol to formalize an environmental consortium with support from the Plano Conservador da Mantiqueira group. The goal is to stimulate working collaboratively and strengthen public environmental policies to protect natural resources.
Expanding Scale and Generating Income
We partner with the Caminhos da Semente initiative, which promotes seed collection for direct seeding restoration in the Zona da Mata in Minas Gerais state. It also supports the acquisition of five tons of seeds from Vale do Paraíba and Ribeira in São Paulo state. The benefits go beyond the conservation agenda and generate income diversification for those who make their living from rural production, positively impacting the families and technicians in the region.
Mechanisms to Finance Restoration
The carbon market is another option to promote restoration via natural regeneration and conservation in the region. It is also vital to help mitigate the effects of climate change. In 2023, as we continued the project in partnership with Mercado Livre, we initiated the third PES cycle for rural property owners who joined the project. Additionally, the project finished the fencing restoration areas in all 160 properties, aiming at isolating areas in 2,717 hectares destined for natural regeneration.
Strengthening Ecological Corridors
TNC partners with the Rio de Janeiro State Waters and Sewers Company (CEDAE), and together, they have launched an ambitious reforestation and conservation program for the ecological corridor between the Tinguá Range and the Bocaina Range on the border between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo states. The project contributes to maintaining biodiversity and water resources and promoting sustainable development. In addition to recovering 30,000 hectares and promoting water security, the program will make possible the conservation of more than 20,000 native species.
Invisible Reservoir
Com realização da The Nature Conservancy e lançado no Dia da Água de 2023, durante a Conferência de Água da Organização das Nações Unidas, o estudo “O Reservatório Invisível” analisou o impacto econômico e biológico das Soluções baseadas na Natureza (SbN), como a restauração, na disponibilidade de água e na adaptação climática. Analisando os últimos 30 anos do Sistema Cantareira chegou-se à conclusão de que o Sistema Cantareira teria mais água disponível, se as intervenções necessárias de infraestrutura verde tivessem sido realizadas.
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How We Work
The impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises demand conservation actions at an unprecedented pace and scale. To achieve results with the urgency needed, we must create and promote solutions that encourage and accelerate systems change, transforming the way societies produce, consume, estimate, invest, and manage natural resources.
To reach those goals, TNC’s role as a science-based organization is to help develop, implement, and disseminate the necessary actions to ensure the balance between conserving nature and economic and social prosperity. That is why we work with representatives from various sectors, helping them meet the goals of the International Paris (climate) and Kunning-Montreal (biodiversity) Acords, which are also aligned with the United Nations SDGs.
TNC Communication
Em 2023, a TNC fortaleceu ainda mais a sua missão de engajar as pessoas na conservação das terras e águas das quais toda a vida depende, trabalhando ativamente a comunicação de forma integrada em seus diversos canais e aumentando a sua presença na imprensa por meio de seus estudos e especialistas em restauração, água, agricultura e pecuária regenerativa, povos indígenas e comunidades tradicionais, ciências, clima e biodiversidade.
Transparency
TNC values define who we are as an organization and how we behave as individuals. They inspire us to do what is right, always guided by our Code of Conduct. We conduct our work with a deep commitment to responsibility, diversity, and respect for people and communities. We seek to use every single donation to TNC efficiently through a solid corporate governance framework.
