Forest Protection through Improved Dairy Farming in Desengano State Park, Brazil
Case Study C0052
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| Agency | Pro-Natura |
| Donor/support agency | White-Martins/Praxair Industrial Gases Ford Foundation Summit Foundation |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Protected area |
| Geographic coverage | Brazil |
| Locality | State of Rio de Janerio |
| Biodiversity focus | Ecosystem/landscape |
| Development focus | Dairy Farmers living around Desengano State Park |
| Conservation goals | Conservation of largest remanats of protected Atlantic forest in the state of Rio de Janerio |
| Poverty reduction goals | Improvement of dairy farm productivity and incomes |
Summary
The Atlantic forest of Brazil is a unique and one of the most threatened types of humid subtropical forest. It is rich in biodiversity with hundreds of endemic birds and rich flora. Over the years population growth, land clearing for coffee, livestock production and conversion of forests in to pastures, have reduced the forest to 7% of its original area. Desengano State Park is one of the largest remaining parts of Atlantic forest in Brazil. It is located in the state of Rio de Janerio, where dairy farming is one of the most important economic activities. In the past, due to low productivity of dairy farming, farmers had to keep large herds, which in turn needed bigger areas of pasture. This was posing a serious threat to the remaining forest area. In early 1990s, an NGO called Pro-Natura started working with the dairy farmers to protect the forest. The organisation made a deal with the dairy farmers that it would provide them technical assistance to improve dairy farm productivity and incomes and in return farmers would have to regenerate and reforest their lands. It assisted farmers to invest in genetic improvement of their dairy herds, use mineral supplements, improve fodder and produce silage. This tripled the milk yield and incomes increased by more than 100%. With the improvement of cattle breed and fodder quality, small pastures became sufficient reducing the pressure on forest. More than 60 ha of pasture could be converted back to forests. Nurseries were established to distribute free seedlings to the farmers for reforestation of their private lands. Farmers and local communities supported the reforestation for water flow regulation and to check soil erosion.
Conservation impact
With the improvement of cattle breed and fodder quality, small pastures became sufficient reducing the pressure on forests. More than 60 ha of pasture could be converted back to forests. Local communities became entusiastic and undertook regeneration of private lands
Poverty reduction impact
Milk yield tripled and incomes of participating farmers increased by more than 100%.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Ecoagriculture
Other
Reference 1
Ecoagriculture Partners, undated: Saving Brazil’s Atlantic Forest through Improved Dairy Farming: http://www.ecoagriculturepartners.org/cases/CSIII.htm
Reference 2
Pro-Natura, undated: Cordão de Mata - Northern Rio de Janeiro Biodiversity Corridor, Brazil: http://www.pronatura.org.br/en/projects/
More information
http://www.ecoagriculturepartners.org
Related records above this one:
- Ford Foundation (Organisation O0023)