In Espírito Santo, Brazil, multiplying springs is not a miracle—it’s smart public policy

Rural producers Tânia and Henrique Gravel, from Guaçuí in Espírito Santo, are what you might call “water multipliers.” In 1999, when they moved to a 25-hectare property nestled in the mountains of the Caparaó Range, the land had only one spring. Today there are 14. Their achievement is not a miracle but the result of daily work in reforestation and conservation of the Atlantic Forest.

“Honey is our flagship product,” Henrique says proudly. In addition to producing honey, which they sell at local markets and is used in school snacks in the region, the bees play a crucial role in pollinating the area. Around the hives there are about 80 varieties of fruit trees, not only from the Atlantic Forest but also from biomes such as the Amazon. “I test, grow, and sell. We have cambuci, mango, avocado...,” he lists.

The couple’s efforts, together with those of other farmers in Espírito Santo, gained momentum thanks to investments made since 2011 by the state government with World Bank support.

During this period, the Reflorestar Program has invested more than R$ 100 million (US$18.4 million) in actions aimed at protecting the headwaters of watersheds. The goal is to improve integrated water management and reduce flood risks by encouraging water storage in watersheds and decreasing sediment in the reservoirs that supply the state capital’s metropolitan region, Vitória. One of the program’s activities is payment for environmental services (known as PES), which compensates rural producers like Tânia and Henrique for restoring and preserving native forests.

“Beyond supporting producers, Reflorestar has helped Espírito Santo maintain water quality in reservoirs used for supply, generating concrete economic benefits by reducing spending on infrastructure investments, dredging of sediments in reservoirs, and the need for treatment and chemicals. We have also observed that roads suffer less erosion and remain passable during the rainy season. We are still studying other positive impacts,” says Catalina Ramirez, from the World Bank’s Water and Sanitation team and manager of the Waters and Landscapes II Project, which supports the Reflorestar Program.

Viviane Virgolim, co-manager of Waters and Landscapes II, explains why the Gravel family’s work brought springs back to life on their property, with positive impacts in the state capital, 220 km away: “Planting trees helps water infiltrate and be retained in the soil, preventing the transport of solids that normally occurs at water sources when an area has been deforested. That’s why reforestation improves not only the quality but also the quantity of water in watersheds.”

Over the past 15 years, Reflorestar has served more than 5,000 properties, promoting the restoration of 12,000 hectares and the conservation of 13,000 hectares. 

Quality coffee

About 25 km from downtown Guaçuí is the municipality of Alegre, home to the rural community of Feliz Lembrança, where 62 families share 152 hectares. There, people of all ages are part of an effort that generates jobs and prosperity while preserving nature.

“In 2003, there was a group of young people at São José Church, and we talked a lot about rural exodus, especially among women, who were leaving to seek other opportunities in the city,” recalls Fabio de Souza of the Feliz Lembrança Association.

Until then, the land had been used for beef cattle pasture and showed signs of severe erosion, not to mention the large amount of garbage scattered across the area. “We collected around 15 truckloads. Environmental awareness was really lagging,” he adds.

The initial meetings at the church led residents to form an association to participate in family farming projects. They also revived cultivation techniques used by their ancestors, such as intercropping conilon coffee with other food crops like banana, avocado, and orange. The farmers also raise free-range chickens and practice beekeeping, both for their own consumption and for sale. But the star is coffee, which now competes in local contests and carries a quality seal.

“Areas that were riddled with gullies and where the soil washed directly into the river have been restored. That is a service to humanity and needs support,” Fabio sums up. “With Reflorestar funds, we were able to buy many seedlings and fence off springs... Wastewater treatment is now at 100%, and the water flowing from here is clean.”

“Stories like this serve as an example for our work in other states,” says Catalina.

In the current phase of the project, the idea is to further improve investments in nature-based solutions, with small physical interventions that help retain water, such as contour trenches and micro-catchments. Biodigesters are also being implemented. All this aims to increase resilience to the climate impacts of floods and droughts, as well as improve water quality after productive and domestic use. “We will only be able to assess the results in a few years, but expectations are good,” says Viviane.

The next chapters of Reflorestar’s story are yet to be written, but one thing is already certain: investing in the restoration of the Atlantic Forest multiplies not only springs, but also opportunities for the families it serves.