Faces of Restoration Silvany Lima: Cultivating "Money Trees" in Brazil's Dry Forest

This case study describes how farmers in the Caatinga region of Brazil, specifically in Pintadas, Bahia, are adopting agroforestry by cultivating native trees like the umbu to diversify income and build resilience against climate change and desertification.

• The Caatinga biome, the most biodiverse semiarid region globally, covers 11% of Brazil, but 80% of its natural landscapes have been converted for commercial agriculture and pasture since colonization, leaving many areas degraded.
• Climate change is driving desertification in northeast Brazil, with nearly 13% of the semiarid region already turning into desert. In Bahia state's Jacuípe Drainage Basin, rainfall has decreased by 50% since 1962.
• Farmers in Pintadas, Bahia, are using agroforestry to increase income and climate resilience by growing native umbu trees (Spondias tuberosa) on livestock pastures. The umbu tree provides supplemental income and serves as animal feed and shade during dry spells.
• The Ser do Sertão cooperative, established in 2008, created the Delícias do Jacuípe factory to process native fruits into frozen pulp. During peak months, the plant processes up to 2.4 tons of pulp per day, with 90% of production sold to the government for local school students.
• Native fruits like umbu often command higher prices from farmers than non-native commercial species such as pineapple or mango. For some farmers, monthly revenues from umbu during the season can exceed earnings from cow's milk.
• Beyond the umbu, other native species with market and ecological potential include the licuri palm (Syagrus coronata), used for oil and candies, and the mandacaru cactus (Cereus jamacaru), which provides animal feed and fruit similar to dragonfruit.
• Agroforestry practices, including the cultivation of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia ficus indica), help retain soil moisture and prevent surface runoff, which is critical for farmers relying on beef and dairy cattle in the Caatinga.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Faces of Restoration Silvany Lima: Cultivating "Money Trees" in Brazil's Dry Forest. https://www.wri.org/faces-restoration/silvany-agroforestry-brazil

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Faces of Restoration Silvany Lima: Cultivating "Money Trees" in Brazil's Dry Forest. n.d. https://www.wri.org/faces-restoration/silvany-agroforestry-brazil.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Faces of Restoration Silvany Lima: Cultivating "Money Trees" in Brazil's Dry Forest |url=https://www.wri.org/faces-restoration/silvany-agroforestry-brazil |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendfaces, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Faces of Restoration Silvany Lima: Cultivating "Money Trees" in Brazil's Dry Forest}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/faces-restoration/silvany-agroforestry-brazil}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }