Overview

We are developing a sustainable development project based on the standing forest. We believe in the immense wealth that the forest offers us and we aim to become a model of development for the region that is an important birthplace of rivers that supply water for millions inhabitants in the large suburban area of Rio de Janeiro. We act as an educational center for 20 young volunteers per year where they not only learn on agroforestry and sustainability. They learn that what we eat has great impact on carbon emission and we discuss as a community our concerns about clothing industry as well. During two weeks or more they learn how to eat and prepare local, plant based organic food. We research and cultivate edible plants that are resilient and highly productive in a tropical climate. In our agroforestry system, we cultivate several fruit trees from Atlantic and Amazon forest and other tropical plants adapted to warmer climates and commercially valuable. Fazenda São Marcos has 12 water springs preserved over the last 50 years. Our project is enhancing the forest area of Fazenda São Marcos planting trees, fixating carbon and helping to fight and mitigate climate change. We also cultivate native stingless bees that support polination and mushroom cultivation takes full advantage of the moist and cooler temperatures of the forest.