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/ Sana Floresta

A scaleable agroforest project for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

Sana Floresta is an organic agroforestry project located in Vale do Ribeira, Brazil, in the heart of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world. Our region has a long history of large-scale banana production, reliant on heavy pesticide use, which has led to significant environmental degradation and health risks for local communities and wildlife.

The project began in 2018, when the first soil preparations were made on a degraded pasture. By the end of 2019, the first area of 6 hectares was already planted. After five years, the cultivation has evolved into a beautiful agroforest with over 16 diverse species of fruits and timber, and the area now spans 20 hectares.

Our plantations.

With each expansion, we have carefully refined our layout to create a scalable and replicable model that can be easily adopted by other farmers in the region. In addition to our current production of organic bananas, we are also focusing on increasing the quantities of cacao and juçara planted in the agroforest.

We have a strong commitment to promoting biodiversity and ecological restoration, aiming for at least 50% of the species in our plantations to be native. Through the development of large agroforests, we seek to create new habitats for wildlife, thereby contributing to the recovery of local ecosystems.

Regenerate the ecosystem, revitalize the region, and improve the quality of life for all beings: Human, Animal, and Plant.

To contribute to the overall health of our ecosystem, we have also recently started working with native stingless bees. These essential pollinators have suffered significant declines in their populations due to pesticide use. Their presence is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring vibrant forests, as well as healthy agricultural productivity.

Location: Rod. BR116 Km439, Arapongal - Registro
Total área planted: 20,85 hectares
Biome: Atlantic Forest
Google Earth link: Sana Floresta

/ Objectives

1. Economic - Prove profitability (of regenerative cultivation).

2. Social - Improve the quality of life of workers, families, and the local community.

3. Ecological - Regenerate the ecosystem, increase biodiversity, and provide a refuge for wildlife.

4. Organic - We cultivate without the use of chemical products, promoting the health of workers, communities, animals, and plants.

5. More valued products - We produce high-quality local foods, developing the regional economy and fairly remunerating workers. We meet the growing demand for organic products with ethical commitment, quality, and socio-environmental responsibility.

6. Long-term benefits - By reducing opur carbon footprint and preserving natural resources, we ensure the vitality of the soil for future generations.

/ Our agroforest model

We are in constant expansion. Initially starting with 6 hectares, we have now reached 20 hectares planted. This expansion is driven by the sale of organic bananas and is what makes this large-scale agroforestry model viable.

SAF Ribeira and Extensions 1 & 2

Banana trees grow very quickly and produce shade delaying growth of all younger plants coming beneath. This delay allows for a few years of strong banana production, as banana trees love ample sunlight. Underneath, the saplings grow and slowly reach for the sunlight, and after four years, we can see the first mahogany trees breaching the banana canopy.

Over time, banana production in each agroforest area is expected to decline due to the shading by upper canopy species. However, by the time this occurs, banana sales will have financed further expansions into new areas, and other planted fruits will start coming into production.

Fruit species planted:

Banana (Maça Princesa)
Avocado
Cravo Lemon
Juçara
Jackfruit
Achachairu
Cacao
Grumixama
Cupuaçu
Papaya

Wood species planted:

Guanandi,
African Mahogany
Ingá
Jatobá
Copaíba
Eucalyptus
Junteira

Wildlife sighting

In september, 2024, a puma was seen walking with its cub in this area. A few days later it would hunt and eat a few ducks leaving this footprint nearby.

Goals & Objectives

2024

STINGLESS BEE KEEPING

• Produce 80 traps for stingless bees of various sizes and types and spread them across the farm.

• Capture 15 swarms of stingless bees.

Atualização (4/12/24)

• Of the 13 swarms captured so far, 4 have abandoned the traps. In two cases, the reason was ant attacks. OBSERVATION: I noticed that near watercourses, especially the Ribeira River, the capture rate is much higher.

AGROFOREST DEVELOPMENT

1. Purchase more seedlings to enrich new areas and for replanting.

29/10/24

Purchased from Dna Irene (Iguape):

500 seedlings - Guanandi

800 seedlings - Cinnamon

1300 seedlings - Grumixama

500 seedlings - Jatobá

Arrival at farm 31/10/24

2. Make Cacao and Cupuaçu seedlings

• Production of 750 Cocoa seedlings and 100 Cupuaçu seedlings from seeds.

3. Plant Cocoa in 60% of consolidated areas of SAF Ribeira, including extensions (where there is shade), and 30% in the new areas where there is also shade.

2025

Construct our own seedling nursery.