1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Porto Velho (FUA) Region Latin America and the Caribbean Native title of the NBS intervention Terra Cura Short description of the intervention According to data from the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), Rondônia ranks fourth nationally among the states with the highest number of detected fire outbreaks (2). In response to this issue and to restore devastated areas in the Amazon, Terra Cura was established in 2016 by resident Luana Lopes, promoting the planting of more than a thousand trees in the Porto Velho region (1). The areas benefiting from this initiative were those degraded by deforestation, causing erosion along the riverbanks (1). This reforestation effort took place in the scenographic city of Jerusalem of the Amazon, from 2016 to 2022, a cultural and touristic complex in Porto Velho, where erosion caused by deforestation was observed along the riverbanks next to it (2). It was developed as a collaboration with the club and the founders of the Associação Clube Teatral Êxodo, who gave the space so that we could recover the land (3). The project focused on developing an agricultural strategy known as syntropic farming, by implementing an agroforestry system. This approach seeks to reorganize and restore the natural environment, creating better conditions for planting and allowing trees to thrive. In the reforestation process, volunteers and experienced technicians worked together Additionally, the project included a nursery used for donating seedlings and for offering forestry and agro-construction courses to the community, held in the reforestation area (2). The Terra Cura project, in addition to working on reforestation and recovery of degraded areas, promoted environmental and cultural integration at the site, promoting sustainable fairs and bazaars, training courses in ancestral practices such as soil cultivation and bioconstruction, and thematic events, bringing together artists and local communities (3). Although they were evicted from the area surrounding the scenic city of Jerusalem (5, 6), they are still active in the area. Website of the intervention https://www.facebook.com/terracuraro/?locale=pt_BR Principal problems Climate-Related Hazards Forest fires and wildfires Environmental Degradation Deforestation and forest degradation Soil degradation and loss Land use and Socio-economic change Agriculture/ crop production Resource Scarcity and Competition Over-exploitation of natural resources (water resources, overgrazing, fisheries, mangroves, fore products) Implementation area characterization Climate Tropical (Tropican rainforest, tropical monsoon, tropical savanna) Ecosystem Urban or built environment Address 56M7+76 Porto Velho, Rondonia, Brasil Porto Velho Brazil Location The NBS is a city-wide initiative, the GIS point marks the centre of the city Area boundary (map-based) Total area 40000.00m² Area description Urban (main city) Type of area before implementation of the NBS Other Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS Private vacant land Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) 2016 Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2016 End date of the intervention ongoing Present stage of the intervention Ongoing 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention - Recovering devastated areas in the Amazon (1) - Recovering and restoring degraded areas around riverbanks (1) - Reorganise and restore the natural environment, creating a better place for planting and enabling trees to grow healthy (1) - To keep the forest alive (1) - To create sustainable human settlements in full harmony with nature (5) - To invest in raising awareness and reforestation activities (5) Key Priorities Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration) Sustainability challenge(s) addressed Environmental quality Soil quality improvement Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15) Green space creation and/or management Habitat and biodiversity restoration Regeneration, land-use and urban development Rewilding Cultural heritage and cultural diversity Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure Preservation of historic traditions Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10) Environmental education What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention? Ecosystem-focused What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets? Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified) Restore native species Restore valued species Restore endangered species Public engagement Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities In October 2016, the project began with the planting of 150 seedlings of native trees and various fruit trees, which were purchased by order from the Porto Velho City Hall nursery. Two months later, they received 150 seedlings from friends and supporters, and by January 2017, 300 trees had already been planted at the site. In 2017, more people volunteered for the project, embraced the cause and planted more than 1.000 trees, created a nursery with seedlings of various species, an orchard around the community church, an agro-Florestal system in the implementation phase that significantly accelerated the regeneration process of degraded soil and a bio-construction that will also serve as a base to support reforestation and permaculture actions in the area. In 2022, the project had the collaboration of about 50 volunteers, who donated their time and knowledge in their professional areas or areas of interest and contributed to all the activities carried out in the area. Terra Cura also seeks to promote environmental and cultural integration, organizing sustainable fairs, training courses in ancestral practices such as solitary cultivation and bio-construction, and thematic events with performances by local artists (4). Environmental education campaigns have been organised, promoting environmental education and awareness and training courses in reforestation, agroforestry and bioconstruction. They have established partnerships with technical and higher education institutions (5) Type of NBS project Ecological restoration of ecosystems Soil remediation and revegetation Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems) Protection of natural ecosystems Habitat restoration Knowledge creation and awareness raising Protection of agroecology approaches (agroforestry & silvopastoral systems) Sustainable use of natural resources to improve livelihoods and food security (eg. community- based wildlife or forest management) Educational and awareness raising programs 3. NBS domains, ES and scale NBS domain and interventions Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented Blue infrastructure Riverbank/Lakeside greens Parks and urban forests Large urban parks or forests Amenities offered by the NBS Unknown Design elements for well-being Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation) Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Provisioning services Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables) Genetic materials from all biota Regulating services Flood regulation Habitat and supporting services Habitats for species Cultural services Aesthetic appreciation Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational) Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals Scale Spatial scale Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings) Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area In 2022, Porto Velho had a resident population of 460,434 people (6). It has 42.8% of households with adequate sanitation, 40% of urban households on public roads with trees and 21.7% of urban households on public roads with adequate urbanisation (presence of culverts, pavements, paving and curbs). The incidence of poverty is 21.89% (8). Socio-economic profile of the area Mixed income Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts Unknown Non-government actors Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches Citizens or community groups Primary Beneficiaries Researchers/University Citizens or community groups Food producers and cultivators (i.e. farmers, gardeners) Young people and children Specify primary beneficiaries Terra Cura, has the proposal to integrate people in a collective in search of cultural practices of cultivation and sowing with the land. They seek to create a collective that works to preserve these practices and promote local culture through activities that value popular knowledge and promote the diversity of cultures existing in the state of Rondônia (4) Environmental education and tree planting activities were carried out both for children, including those at the Jerusalem School of Amazonia, and in higher education institutions, such as Faculdade São Lucas and the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM). Field classes were held for more than 150 students and a four-month internship in bioconstruction for a group of nine IFRO students in the Construction Technician Course (5). Marginalized groups Unknown Other beneficiaries Native plant vegetation Natural habitats (e.g. wetland, forests, coastal areas) Ecosystem services (e.g. improved air quality, water purification) 4. Governance and financing Governance Governance arrangements Led by non-government actors Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative Luana Lopes: Porto Velho citizen. Journalist, producer and manager of the Terra Cura project (1, 2, 3) The club and founders of Jerusalem of the Amazon, a film city in Porto Velho, provided the space for the project (3), from 2016 to 2022 (5, 6). Community volunteers: foresters, engineers, biologists, students of technical courses and other nature-loving volunteers who helped in the development of the project (3). Partnerships with the Rondônia Tourism Institute (IRTUR) Technical education institutions such as the Federal Institute of Rondônia (IFRO) and higher education institutions such as Faculdade São Lucas and the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) where Terra Cura provided field classes for more than 150 students and an internship in bioconstruction for four months for a group of nine IFRO students on the Building Technician Course (5) Key actors - initiating organization Non-government organisation/civil society Citizens or community group Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) Regional government Local government/municipality Non-government organisation/civil society Citizens or community group Researchers/university Private sector/corporate actor/company Stages of citizen and community engagement Development of project proposal On-the-ground implementation Level of citizen and community engagement Moderate Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives Implementation of educational programs, workshops or trainings Support of local entrepreneurs or small business development related to the project Establishment of mentorship programs or partnerships with local institutions (e.g. schools, kinder gardens, hospitals, nursing homes) Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping) Dissemination of information and education Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting) Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Community & Social Groups Activist groups (e.g. climate, environment, justice, etc) Informal groups with joint interests (e.g. mothers with toddlers, runners, dog walkers) Private Sector Local businesses (e.g. stores, restaurants) Land owners Private sector or company Public space owned by the city Policy drivers NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy No NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan No NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan No Mandatory or voluntary intervention Voluntary (spontaneous) Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers Capacity-building projects Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching) Collaboration with other projects that implemented NBS Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives. The project is led by a citizen who decided to organize reforestation efforts to recover green spaces in her city (1, 2, 3). She has worked together with other projects oriented to the same objectives such as Agrotropical Amazônia, Casa Mae, and six other spaces in different areas of Porto Velho where they work on reforestation, the implementation of agroforestry systems and permacultural practices (5). Governace and decison-making instruments Educational and knowledge sharing instruments (e.g. science/ living labs, awareness raising campaigns, specific educational programs, green hubs) Arrangements for governance cooperation Information-sharing platforms or networks (e.g. websites for sharing best practices, data or resources pertinent to the project) Barriers In the beginning, there were obstacles due to a lack of technical knowledge, leading to difficulties in replanting and regenerating the area. According to reports, of the 100 trees planted, only 20 survived in the region (1). The project was evicted in 2022 from the space where it had been developed, leading to demonstrations by members of the collective (5, 6). They had to sell and relocate the seedlings they had in the nursery (5). Financing Total cost Unknown Please specify total cost (EUR) Unknown What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? Unknown Source(s) of funding Unknown Type of fund(s) used Unknown Non-financial contribution Yes Who provided the non-financial contribution? Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services) Citizens (e.g. volunteering) Private sector (businesses, financial institution) Type of non-financial contribution Provision of land Provision of goods Provision of labour Provision of expertise Co-finance for NBS Unknown Entrepreneurship opportunities Yes What entrepreneurship opportunities have arisen from the NBS project? Sustainable agriculture or agroforestry businesses Social enterprises focused on environmental education or natural resource conservation and stewardship What types of actors are leading the entrepreneurship activities linked to the NBS project? Environmental or climate-focused activitst groups What types of support are provided to entrepreneurs engaged in NBS-related activities? Technical assistance or mentoring Networking events or conferences Business models Business models Local stewardship model Green education model Green heritage model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Citizens / local communities 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Water management and blue areas Increased protection against flooding Achieved increased protection against flooding Green space and habitat Increased green space area Achieved increased green space area Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems Increased conversion of degraded land or soil Achieved increased conversion of degraded land or soil Increased number of species present Achieved increased number of species present Please specify other economic impact Promote local economy: Achieved Description of environmental benefits Increased protection against flooding: "If we had not started this work two years ago, we would surely have lost a large part of the land to erosion by now. " (3) -Increased green space area: "More than a thousand trees planted in degraded areas, the main focus being the banks of the Rio das Garças in the Teatro da Jerusalém da Amazônia, an area that suffered deforestation and, as a consequence, soil degradation and erosion in the riparian forest" (5) -Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems: "More than a thousand trees planted in degraded areas, the main focus being the banks of the Rio das Garças in the Teatro da Jerusalém da Amazônia, an area that suffered deforestation and, as a consequence, soil degradation and erosion in the riparian forest" (5) -Increased conversion of degraded land or soil: "an agroforestry system in the implementation phase that has been considerably accelerating the process of regeneration of degraded soil and a bioconstruction that will also serve as a support base for reforestation and permaculture actions in the area." (5) -Increased number of species present: "the project began with the planting of 150 seedlings of various native and fruit trees, acquired, through request, from the Porto Velho City Hall nursery and two months later they received another 150 seedlings from friends and supporters in January 2017 they already had 300 trees planted on site. " (5) Economic impacts Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation) Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation) Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not) Achieved increase in agricultural production (for profit or not) Other Description of economic benefits -Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation): "The project currently has the collaboration of around 50 volunteers, who donate their time and knowledge in their professional areas or areas of interest and contribute to all activities developed in the space. " (5) -Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not): "We have papaya trees, cassava, and fruits such as chestnuts and cupuaçu, in addition to vegetables that come directly from here to the pot, free of pesticides and pesticides." (3) - Promote local economy: "Sustainable Fairs to promote local production of organic, natural and artisanal products were held." (5) Social and cultural impacts Social justice and cohesion Improved access to urban green space Achieved improved access to urban green space Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces Increased sustainability of agriculture practices Achieved increased sustainability of agriculture practices Cultural heritage and sense of place Promotion of cultural diversity Achieved promotion of cultural diversity Improvement in people’s connection to nature Achieved improvement in people’s connection to nature Increased appreciation for natural spaces Achieved increased appreciation for natural spaces Education Increased support for education and scientific research Achieved increased support for education and scientific research Increased knowledge of locals about local nature Achieved increased knowledge of locals about local nature Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits Achieved increased awareness of NBS and their benefits Social and cultural impact indicators Number of environmental education programs, workshops, outreach activities (eg. in schools, community centers, public spaces) 150 students and an internship in bioconstruction for four months for a group of nine IFRO students on the Building Technician Course (5) Description of social and cultural benefits - Promotion of cultural diversity: "The Terra Cura project, in addition to working on the reforestation and recovery of the degraded area of the theater, promotes environmental and cultural integration at the site, promoting sustainable fairs and bazaars, training courses in ancestral practices such as soil cultivation and bio-construction, and thematic events." (2) -Improvement in people’s connection to nature: "Terra Cura is always open, come back whenever you want. It is also open to volunteers and people who want to have this contact with nature and live this experience more closely." (3) -Improved access to urban green space: "It is also open to volunteers and people who want to have this contact with nature and live this experience more closely. We are always available" (3) -Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces: "From the Terra Cura project, permacultural collective efforts began in 2020, involving six more spaces in different areas of Porto Velho, where reforestation, the implementation of agroforestry systems and permacultural practices are being worked on. " (5) -Increased sustainability of agriculture practices: "It is a very interesting mix: we have papaya trees, cassava, and fruits such as chestnuts and cupuaçu, in addition to vegetables that come directly from here to the pot, free of agrochemicals and pesticides." (3) -Increased appreciation for natural spaces: "Landscaping and gardening aimed at beautifying and improving the area of the Jerusalem Theater of the Amazon." (5) -Increased support for education and scientific research: "Clean-up campaigns on the Garças and Igarapé rivers, promoting education and environmental awareness." (5) -Increased knowledge of locals about local nature: "Environmental education campaigns with partners such as the Instituto Lixo Zero" (5) -Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits: "Training courses and experiences in reforestation, agroforestry and bioconstruction, benefiting more than 100 people, including people from the Jerusalem of the Amazon community itself." (5) Evidence for use of assessment Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process Yes Actors involved in the assessment, monitoring or evaluation of NBS impacts Non-government organisation/civil society Presence of indicators used in reporting Yes Type of indicators Input indicators Output indicators Progress indicators Outcome indicators Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports Yes Link to monitoring/evaluation reports https://terracuraro.blogspot.com/2022/03/terra-cura-projeto-de-reflorestamento-… Availability of a web-based monitoring tool No evidence in public records Name of any specific impact assessment tools Unknown Use of GIS in mapping impacts No evidence in public records Cost-benefit analysis Unknown Transparency Clear communication channels for stakeholders to provide feedback, raise concerns, and ask questions about the project Online disclosure of technical reports (e.g. project documents, reports, or data) Justice Community satisfaction Positive: The majority of feedback and reports indicate high levels of satisfaction and appreciation for the NBS project within the community. Description of locals satisfaction with the project Strong community support for this project is evident. Especially at the time of the eviction, the community rose up to protest and support Terra Cura. Visitors and participants of the activities they carry out thank them for teaching new ways of relating to nature through permaculture. Trade-offs & Negative impacts Unknown Please specify Trade-offs & Negative impacts Selected Unknown Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement Unknown High-quality & Transformative NBS Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community) No Goal setting and impacts delivery No, project goals were not set, and benefits were not delivered in all 3 key areas. Reaching original project goals Most of the project goals were achieved Long-term perspective Yes Cost-effective solutions Unknown Equitable impacts A. All stakeholders benefit fairly from the project Transformative capacity Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them) Ecological change (e.g. ecosystem functions and their distribution) Magnitude of change Transformative: (deep) by focusing on and substantially changing structures, including institutional ones (norms and rules). Application of lessons learned The NBS has been shared or used as a good practice to trigger transformative change Perception of Environmental Change Yes NBS Supports ecological or environmental anxiety Yes References: NBS Supports ecological or environmental anxiety One of the project's volunteers and the project leader said that the consequences of the destruction of ecosystems are already being seen, and these consequences will appear more suddenly in the next five years. Given this scenario, for them, what is important is to keep the forest standing, to keep it alive, because that is what the forest is, the forest sustains, nourishes and is a source of life (1, 2) 6. Sources References 1. Famazonia Brazil (n.d.). Projeto promove reflorestamento em áreas desmatadas de Porto Velho. Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 2. Rede Amazônica (2020). Projeto 'Terra Cura' promove reflorestamento de áreas degradadas em Porto Velho. Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 3. Tv Norte Rondônia (2019). Conheça o projeto de reflorestamento Terra Cura | Allamanda Revista | (19.02.19). Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 4. Ze katraca (2021). Luau Terra Cura é contemplado pela Lei Aldir Blanc e reaviva o teatro da Jerusalém da Amazônia. Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 5. Terra Cura (2022). Terra Cura - Projeto de Reflorestamento e Permacultura. Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 6. NINJA (2022). Grupo que reflorestava Jerusalém da Amazônia é expulso por diretoria de associação. Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 7. Terra Cura (n.d.). Terra Cura - Facebook Page. Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Additional insights As mentioned, the project ceased operating on the land where it began due to a decision by the board of directors of Grupo de Teatro Êxodo, owners of the land where the project began. From the posts on social networks, it is evident that the project is still ongoing, but the new location is not clear. Public Images Image First results of reforestation with the implementation of the Agroforestry System Terra Cura Image Group of people invovled in a reforestation action Terra Cura
