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February 6, 2007
Water shortages and contamination are a fact of life for São Paulo's more than 18 million residents, who have spent an additional 51 percent on chemical treatment in the last five years to make their water potable. Since eight river systems supply the city and much of the region with its water, restoring these rivers—particularly their headwaters—could greatly improve water quality.

A partnership between the Conservancy, the Brazilian National Water Agency and the Environmental Secretary of the São Paulo State aims to reforest one of São Paulo's most important watersheds—the Piracicaba, which diverts 33 cubic meters of water per second to the São Paulo Metropolitan Area and is responsible for the water supply for 8.8 million people, nearly 50 percent of São Paulo’s population.

The Piracicaba watershed spans 5,869 square miles and is an important center of agriculture, specifically the cultivation of sugar cane. Over time, much of this region's original forests have been converted for crop production. The loss of so many trees also has decreased the system's ability to cleanse and purify water. Trees play an important role in keeping streams and rivers healthy: one mature tree in a riparian area can filter as much as 200 pounds of pollution per year.

To start this ambitious task, the Conservancy’s Atlantic Forest program, through the Great Rivers Partnership, recently signed an agreement with the Extrema municipality to start the first environmental services payment project through reforesting key areas for water protection within the Piracicaba watershed. Beginning next month, hundreds of tree seedlings are being planted in and around 1,000 acres along riparian areas and hill tops, expecting to protect 50 water springs. Landowners will receive money for their efforts to protect existing forests and reforest degraded areas. About 120 properties will receive technical assistance to improve their sanitation systems. This initiative is expected to be replicated in an additional six micro-watersheds. Scientists believe reforesting this landscape will help improve the Piracicaba River’s water quality and quantity.

Piracicaba's watershed committee, responsible for managing all financial resources collected from water-users, has agreed to use some of the money to reforest Piracicaba's headwaters and riparian forests. The Conservancy and partners are working closely with the committee to gain their support for strengthening this reforestation project and expanding it throughout the region.

Nature picture credits: Photo © Gilberto Tiepolo