62% of Brazil’s Desertification Risk Is in the Caatinga – Ministry Report

Why the Caatinga Matters – And What’s at Stake

According to a report from Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, in 2022, 62% of all land at risk of desertification in the country lies in areas once covered by the Caatinga – Brazil’s only exclusive biome.

This is not just a climate alert. It’s a signal of deepening poverty, food insecurity, and water stress across the Northeast.

But there’s another side to the story: Restoring the Caatinga isn’t just an ecological imperative – it’s a strategic opportunity to regenerate livelihoods, reverse degradation, and build long-term resilience.

The Numbers Tell the Story:

• 465,800 jobs could be created

• 702 million tons of CO₂ removed from the atmosphere

• 1 billion seedlings grown and planted

• R$ 15.1 billion in investment could return R$ 29.7 billion in net revenue

• 1 million hectares of degraded land ready for restoration

• 7.4 million tons of fruits, vegetables, and greens could be produced through agroforestry

  
  

The Approach

This is not about charity. It’s about circular regeneration.Native vegetation, agroforestry, local water retention, and knowledge-led stewardship form the backbone of a viable, high-impact strategy.

In regions like the Sertão – where Terravive Group is preparing to pilot low-extraction technologies—we are building on earlier rainwater harvesting insights, including lessons from the discontinued FunnelShader concept. The new approach emphasizes centralized collection and other, innovative, low-cost distribution methods that eliminate the need for traditional pipelines.

What’s Next

The groundwork is already laid. But transforming the Caatinga into a living example of resilience will require aligned investment, policy coherence, and deep local partnerships.

We see the Caatinga not just as a region in need – but as a testing ground for what’s next in large-scale, dignified ecological recovery.