1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Salvador
Region
Latin America and the Caribbean
Native title of the NBS intervention
Salvador, Capital da Mata Atlantica
Short description of the intervention
Recognising the benefits which urban forests bring to its citizens, Salvador has committed to protecting and restoring the Atlantic Forest, and has developed its own local framework which goes beyond national requirements (Ref. 1). The city has launched several programmes under its 'Salvador, Capital da Mata Atlantica' initiative, which together aim to restore the forest which has "suffered from severe deforestation" (Ref. 1). Included under the umbrella initiative are programmes such as the "'Delivery of trees', recovery of parks and collective planting" (Ref. 4).
Address

Salvador
Brazil

Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS
Residential, public and institutional spaces are being particularly targeted by the programme (Ref. 4). Additionally, one programme, the Canabrava Park Environmental Recovery Program, focused on the restoration of an area that had been used as an open-air waste depository for 30 years (Ref. 5).
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2013
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2013
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
The Secretariat of Sustainability, Innovation and Resilience intended that the intervention should "boost awareness of the critical roles trees play in cities—not just urban trees within city limits, but the forests outside of them as well" (Ref. 1). Acknowledging the severe deforestation which the Atlantic Forest had been subject to - with <20% of the original forest remaining, and only 7% remaining "in good condition" - the city intended that urban reforestation should increase the resilience of Salvador's residents by increasing the provision of potential ecosystem services which could be garnered from forests (Ref. 1).
With this project, the city hopes to increase the provision of critical ecosystem services which the Atlantic Forest can provide to its urban residents, including "ensuring a consistent and clean water supply, regulating temperature, purifying the air, improving hydroelectric generation, limiting flooding, safeguarding unique plant and animal species, and encouraging local economic development" (Ref. 1).
Quantitative targets
Ref. 2:
- planting of 20,000 trees at the former "open skies" Canabrava Landfill site;
- creation of the wind park on the space of a former Flying Club. This is intended to cover an area of 86,500m2; and
- implementation of the "Ilha dos Frades" Eco-Station, to cover a total area of 1,621,790.94m2.
Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown
Climate change adaptation: What were the goals of the NBS?
Climate change adaptation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Implementation activities
The project seeks to articulate several initiatives, integrating actions and transforming public and institutional spaces to promote sustainability of the Atlantic Forest, especially so through the physical implementation of parks for the System of Areas of Environmental and Cultural Value – SAVAM, member of the current Urban Development Master Plan, Act 9.069/2016, which is part of a climate resilience strategy for communities" (Ref. 2). Through the implementation of a local reforestation strategy that surpassed national requirements, Salvador city's initiative "help[s to] ensure [that] global and national goals to end deforestation, restore forests and fight climate change succeed on the ground" (Ref. 1).

Within the umbrella programme, several initiatives exist and a total of 15 actions are drawn up to realise the objectives of the programme. As illustrated by Ref. 2, these are:
- Recovery of Salvador’s Botanical Garden, including installation of a roof garden;
- Municipal Plan for the Atlantic Forest Conservation and Recovery (PCRMA);
- Center for Interpretation of the Atlantic Forest;
- Please Water Me (media campaign);
- Atlantic Forest Caravan (community tree planting, where saplings are delivered to residents by a "green-roofed vehicle loaded with tree seedlings, topsoil, and fertilizer");
- Barra’s Marine Park (creation of a marine life nursery);
- My Tree (creation of an open web/mobile georeferencing platform for residents and the state to register and monitor plantings);
- Forest Restoration of the Canabrava Landfill (reforestation of "an old open skies landfill that used to keep all the waste produced by Salvador, and that remained active for 30 years");
- Green Eco-Corridors (reforest areas which would connect spaces and preserve biodiversity);
- Biodiversity in Parks and Squares (introduce birds, butterflies and other insects across the city, stimulating local biodiversity and community engagement);
- Wind Park (creation of a social co-existence wind park on an area of 86,500m2);
- Vale Encantado Ecological Park (renovation of the park);
- "Ilha dos Frades" Eco-Station (implementation of an eco-station in "a privileged space for Atlantic Forest conservation".

Through the implementation of these activities, numerous following sustainability challenges are intended to be addressed. Sustainability challenges addressed and one or two examples of (an) action/intervention which hopes to achieve each of these challenges are presented below:
- Climate change adaptation; Municipal Plan for the Atlantic Forest
Conservation and Recovery (Ref. 2), also see Ref. 1 for a summary of how the programme as a whole promotes climate change adaptation;
- Flood protection; programme as a whole (Ref. 1);
- Improvements to water quality; programme as a whole (Ref. 1);
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation and restoration; Green Eco-Corridors (Ref. 2)
- Green space creation and/or management; Green Eco-Corridors and Atlantic Forest Caravan (Ref. 2);
- Air quality improvement; programme as a whole (Ref. 1);
- Social cohesion and social interaction; Biodiversity in parks and squares (Ref. 2);
- Environmental education; My Tree and Centre for Interpretation of the Atlantic Forest (Ref. 2);
- Enabling physical activity and creating opportunities for relaxation and recreation; “Parque dos Ventos” (Wind Park) and Vale Encantado Ecological Park (Ref. 2);
- Tourism support; Barra’s Marine Park (Ref. 2);
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Nature on buildings (external)
Green roofs
Grey infrastructure featuring greens
Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
House gardens
Green playgrounds and school grounds
Institutional green space
Parks and urban forests
Large urban parks or forests
Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Green corridors and green belts
Please specify other type of green roof
Unknown.
Type of Green Roof
Vegetation Type
Please specify how many trees were planted
The programme to date has seen planting of: 4,500 trees (Atlantic Forest Caravan) (Refs. 1 & 4); 20,000 trees of native species (Restoration of Canabrava Landfill) (Ref. 2); and beyond this, the city "has planted over 51,230 trees" (Refs. 1, 4 & 5).
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Provisioning services
Food for human consumption (crops, vegetables)
Regulating services
Local climate regulation (temperature reduction)
Air quality regulation
Carbon storage/sequestration
Flood regulation
Water purification / filtration
Pollination
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Maintenance of genetic diversity
Cultural services
Aesthetic appreciation
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Mental and physical health and wellbeing
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals
Social and community interactions
Scale
Spatial scale
Meso-scale: Regional, metropolitan and urban level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Governance
Governance arrangements
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
Salvador's Municipal Secretariat of Sustainability, Innovation and Resilience is piloting the programme (Ref. 1).
Key actors - initiating organization
Please specify other Key actors - Other stakeholders involved
Additional partners include the Secretaria Municipal de Infraestrutura e Obras Públicas (SEINFRA, Municipal Infrastructure and Public Works); Fundação Mário Leal Ferreira (FMLF, Mário Leal Ferreira Foundation); Banco Internacional de Desenvolvimento (BID, International Development Bank); and Superintendência de Obras Públicas de Salvador (SUCOP, Superintendence of Public Works of Salvador) (Ref. 2).
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Regional government
Local government/municipality
Financial institution
Private foundation/trust
Other
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an Regional Directive/Strategy
No
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the national regulations/strategy/plan
Salvador is "obligated by Brazil's national Forest Code and a 2006 federal law to protect the Atlantic Forest, [yet] they have developed their own local frameworks to go beyond the national requirements" (Ref. 1).
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
The intervention is outlined by the city's Resilience Strategy, "which is included in the “Sustainable City” axis of the Salvador 360 Program" (Ref. 3). Within this Strategy, the Atlantic Forest Restoration, Recovery Municipal Plan, and the Climate Change Plan have been developed (Ref. 3). The city further "has a Master Plan for Urban Afforestation and a technical manual for planting native trees compatible with local infrastructure" (Ref. 3).
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
As outlined above, the intervention has arisen in connection with Salvador's Resilience Strategy, "which is included in the “Sustainable City” axis of the Salvador 360 Program" (Ref. 3). Within this Strategy, the Atlantic Forest Restoration, Recovery Municipal Plan, and the Climate Change Plan have been developed (Ref. 3). The city further "has a Master Plan for Urban Afforestation and a technical manual for planting native trees compatible with local infrastructure" (Ref. 3).
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Salvador is a member of international networks such as 100 Resilient Cities, C40, the Compact of Mayors and the Cities4Forests network (Ref. 3). It was under the umbrella of the 100 Resilient Cities network that the city's resilience strategy was developed (Ref. 2).
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Co-finance for NBS
Unknown
Co-financing governance arrangements
Unknown
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Financing
Total cost
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
Unknown.
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown.
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown.
Please specify cost savings
Unknown.
Please specify total cost (EUR)
Unknown.
Source(s) of funding
Type of fund(s) used
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Type of innovation
Please specify social innovation
The various nature-based solution initiatives which together fall under the Atlantic Forest Programme and have been - or are in the process of being - implemented in Salvador have been driven by the creation of the city's Resilience Strategy (Ref. 2). Salvador has created the resilience strategy and related policy as a voluntary undertaking which surpasses requirements as detailed in national policy (Ref. 1). Creation and implementation of the Atlantic Forest Programme can therefore be considered a policy innovation, as it showcases great ambition and acknowledgement of the need to build climate resilience relative to what is legally mandated of the city.
Novelty level of the innovation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
Unknown
Replicability/Transferability
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
Unknown
Impacts, benefits
Description of environmental benefits
The following environmental benefits have been observed or are expected to be observed as a result of the project, which is ongoing:
- increased protection of water supplies / ensured provision of a consistent and clean water supply (Ref. 1);
- temperature regulation (Ref. 1);
- air purification (Ref. 1);
- reduction in flood risk (Ref. 1);
- the safeguarding of unique plant and animal species and preservation of biodiversity more generally (Refs. 1 & 2);
- increased carbon sequestration (Ref. 1), for example, the Canabrava Park Restoration which began in 2015 now "has more than 20 thousand Atlantic Forest trees planted, providing a reduction of 31,500 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted per year" (Ref. 4);
- revitalisation and expansion of parks / increased presence of greenspace / increased plant coverage (Refs. 1, 2 & 3);
- increased recovery, growing and planting of native tree species (Ref. 1) and native non-tree species (Ref. 2), all supporting the "intensification of urban revegetation" (Ref. 3) ("The Mata Atlântica Disque has already distributed 4,500 seedlings of trees native to the biome to the population of Salvador" (Ref. 3));
- increased protection of remaining existing forest (Ref. 1) through "institutionalization of conservation units...[and] the expansion of the preservation and restoration of forest fragments. Salvador went from only four conservation units and five urban parks (established in the 2008 plan) to 12 conservation units and 13 urban parks by 2021" (Ref. 3);
- creation of a marine life nursery and reduced impacts on local fauna and ecosystems (Ref. 2);
- conversion of previously degraded land including regrowth techniques and soil management (Ref. 2);
- increased ecological connectivity and reduction of habitat fragmentation (Refs. 1 & 2);
- encouragement of animal movement (Ref. 2);
- increased spread of seeds (Ref. 2);
- Introduction of "birds, butterflies, and other insects in parks and squares across the city, stimulating local biodiversity" (Ref. 2); and
- recovery of the lagoon which sits in the Vale Encantado Ecological Park (Ref. 2).

Description of economic benefits
The following economic benefits have been observed or are expected to be observed as a result of the project, which is ongoing:
- fruit production from trees planted (Ref. 4);
- regulation of economic activities "which may produce harmful waste" (Ref. 2);
- maximisation of eco-tourism (Ref. 2);
- Green Property Tax: "generation of a discount on ... Property Tax (IPTU)" (Ref. 2); and
- "encourag[ement of] local economic development" is referred to by Ref. 1, but no further details are given.

Additionally, the Resilience Strategy under which the Atlantic Forest Programme and associated nature-based solutions have been implemented has an overall focus on five pillars of sustainability, 1) Culture and Multiple Identities; 2) Healthy and Engaged Community; 3) Diversified and Inclusive Economy; 4) Informed City and Innovative Governance; 5) Sustainable Urban Transformation (Ref. 3), hence it might be considered that those actions implemented by the city, including implementation of nature-based solutions, are together providing a holistic path to increased economic, environmental and social benefits which are additional to those explicitly mentioned in relation to the nature-based solutions sub-programmes associated with the Strategy. As summarised by Ref. 3, "Drawing upon these five pillars, the city establishes actions to improve resilience, such as: meeting the basic needs of the population; guaranteeing social stability, security and justice; providing and enhancing natural and built protective assets; providing reliable communication and mobility systems; encouraging integrated and long-term planning; promoting effective leadership and management; and promoting cohesive and committed communities".
Description of social and cultural benefits
The following social and cultural benefits have been observed or are expected to be observed as a result of the project, which is ongoing:
- the programme is "especially aiming at physically implementing parks for the System of Areas of Environmental and Cultural Value – SAVAM, member of the current Urban Development Master Plan, Act 9.069/2016
- "user-friendly manuals on planting tree species native to the Atlantic Forest in urban areas" have been developed and distributed to citizens, increasing knowledge about nature (Ref. 1);
- "production of purer air, which helps to maintain and regulate the appropriate climate" and production of shade (Ref. 4), and more generally, citizen health has potential for improvement via benefits to "the air they breathe, the electricity they consume and the water they drink" (Ref. 1);
- promotion of "socio-environmental dynamics of preserving the city’s environmental heritage" (Ref. 2);
- development of "a place to produce practical and theoretical experiences around urban afforestation and gardening of native species from the Atlantic Forest...[including] the creation of classrooms for courses and a library specialized in handling, growing, and landscaping with native species, a nursery, a space to produce plant seedlings and one for cultural purposes, a central square for musical performances, and a lookout with views of the All Saint’s Bay" (Ref. 2);
- "Promot[tion of] a media campaign with flyers, videos, and a release gig, encouraging citizens to engage by adopting planted trees in their neighbourhood, from planting to caring for them" (Ref. 2);
- distribution of written material about growing plants and about sustainability more generally (Ref. 2);
- increased community engagement (Ref. 2) and "strengthening of relations between communities", "“You involve people, enabling them to have a moment of interaction, to get to know each other and integrate, reflecting on the good coexistence in that neighbourhood or street” (Ref. 4);
- recovery of a hiking track and other amenities for socialising and promotion of recreation and health (Ref. 2); and
- increased expansion and improvement in "access to green spaces for Salvador’s residents" (Ref. 3).
Type of reported impacts
Indicators
- number of trees planted (by total number and species);
- number of trees delivered to residents for planting (by total number and species);
- number of public spaces afforested;
- kilometers of road along which trees have been planted; and
- number of public spaces newly created.
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
Environmental justice: The implementation of the NBS project resulted in ...
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of November of 2021.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown.
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
List of references
1. Ray, S., Anderson, W., Chuaire, M. F. (2019). A Tale of Two Cities in Brazil (and the Forest that Connects Them). Washington DC: World Resources Institute. https://www.wri.org/insights/tale-two-cities-brazil-and-forest-connects-them [accessed 11/11/21];
2. Salvador Prefeitura (n.d.). Resilient Salvador. Salvador: Salvador Prefeitura & The Rockefeller Foundation. https://resilientcitiesnetwork.org/downloadable_resources/Network/Salvador-Resilience-Strategy-English.pdf [accessed 11/11/21];
3. Salvador Prefeitura & Secretaria Municipal de Sustentabilidade Inovação e Resiliência (n.d.). Salvador Brazil. Washington DC: Cities4forests. https://cities4forests.com/cities/salvador/ [accessed 11/11/21];
4. Estúdio Correio. (2019). Salvador Capital da Mata Atlântica: conheça ações do programa premiado mundialmente. Salvador: Estúdio Correio. https://www.correio24horas.com.br/noticia/nid/salvador-capital-da-mata-atlantica-conheca-acoes-do-programa-premiado-mundialmente/ [accessed 11/11/21]; and
5. Nova Mata (n.d.). Salvador Capital da Mata Atlântica. Bahia: Nova Mata. https://novamata.org/en/iniciativa/salvador-capital-da-mata-atlantica/ [accessed 11/11/21].
Comments and notes
Additional insights
Within the umbrella programme, several initiatives exist, more details of which can be accessed via Ref. 2. Whilst a selection of these initiatives are particularly pertinent examples of nature-based solution implementation, all contribute to a concerted effort to reforest the urban area and increase the potential for increased ecosystem service provision (Refs. 1 & 2).
Public Images
Image
Salvador City
Salvador City
https://cities4forests.com/cities/salvador/
Image
Caravana Mata Atlântica
Caravana Mata Atlântica
https://resilientcitiesnetwork.org/downloadable_resources/Network/Salvador-Resilience-Strategy-English.pdf
Image
Caravana Mata Atlântica - delivery of trees
Caravana Mata Atlântica - delivery of trees
https://www.correio24horas.com.br/noticia/nid/salvador-capital-da-mata-atlantica-conheca-acoes-do-programa-premiado-mundialmente/