JUAZEIRO, BRAZIL—Giant spiky cacti tower over farmer Alcides Peixinho Nascimento, 70, one of the residents of Brazil’s unique Caatinga biome, who is on a mission to plant native vegetation in a bid to halt desertification.
“In the absence of laws, it is up to us to act,” said Nascimento, who is trying to regenerate his land by planting mandacaru, an emblematic cactus from the region that grows up to 6 meters tall.
The Caatinga stretches across ten northeastern states, a unique area boasting a tapestry of thorny shrubs, twisty trees and succulents adapted to its semiarid conditions.
Alcides Peixinho Nascimento walks at his plantation of mandacaru —also known as cardeiro (Cereus jamacaru)— in Serra da Canabrava, Bahia State, Brazil on June 12, 2024. The semi-arid Caatinga, a unique biome in the world, has lost more than 40 percent of its territory of traditional agriculture, land used now to intensive agriculture, mining, or wind energy generation, according to MapBiomas records. In addition, droughts, increasingly severe in Brazil and linked, according to experts, to climate change and the expansion of agribusiness, are increasing the pressure on this region, the poorest in the country. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP)
Its plight attracts little interest compared to the lush Amazon, but the vegetation of this dry forest plays a key role in absorbing carbon emissions, and is rapidly disappearing.
The MapBiomas nongovernment organization (NGO) reports it has lost 40 percent of its original surface area due to agriculture, mining and the installation of wind farms.
It is in the Caatinga, which has been facing increasingly severe periods of drought, that scientists recently identified the first arid zone in Brazil.
“Preserving the Caatinga means keeping the land alive,” said the farmer Nascimento.
Communities are adopting various sustainable farming methods to ensure their survival.
Aerial view of goats on the side of the road in Pinhoes, Bahia State, Brazil on June 12, 2024. The semi-arid Caatinga, a unique biome in the world, has lost more than 40 percent of its territory of traditional agriculture, land used now to intensive agriculture, mining, or wind energy generation, according to MapBiomas records. In addition, droughts, increasingly severe in Brazil and linked, according to experts, to climate change and the expansion of agribusiness, are increasing the pressure on this region, the poorest in the country. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP)
Nascimento’s drought-resistant cacti grow fruit that can feed both animals and humans, and protect the soil from the extreme climate.
Their thorns repel predators and are often planted around other crops and native species.
Excess mandacaru production is sold to a French cosmetics brand to make creams and soaps.
Alcides Peixinho Nascimento is pictured at his plantation of mandacaru —also known as cardeiro (Cereus jamacaru)— in Serra da Canabrava, Bahia State, Brazil on June 12, 2024. The semi-arid Caatinga, a unique biome in the world, has lost more than 40 percent of its territory of traditional agriculture, land used now to intensive agriculture, mining, or wind energy generation, according to MapBiomas records. In addition, droughts, increasingly severe in Brazil and linked, according to experts, to climate change and the expansion of agribusiness, are increasing the pressure on this region, the poorest in the country. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP)
‘Guardians of the Caatinga’
Luiz Almeida Santos, of the local agricultural NGO IRPAA said the Caatinga was being preserved in areas where “traditional communities live” who adopt sustainable farming practices.
“They are the guardians of the Caatinga.”
A recent study predicted nine out of 10 species of fauna and flora in the Caatinga could disappear by 2060.
IRPAA also teaches local communities how to stretch their water to last through severe drought.
Aerial view of goats on the side of the road in Pinhoes, Bahia State, Brazil on June 12, 2024. The semi-arid Caatinga, a unique biome in the world, has lost more than 40 percent of its territory of traditional agriculture, land used now to intensive agriculture, mining, or wind energy generation, according to MapBiomas records. In addition, droughts, increasingly severe in Brazil and linked, according to experts, to climate change and the expansion of agribusiness, are increasing the pressure on this region, the poorest in the country. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP)
On her land in northern Bahia, Maria Goncalves dos Santos, 60, shows how rainwater is collected and stored in a cistern.
“Here, all the water is reused,” she said. Wastewater is filtered and used to water animal pastures.
Goncalves measures the level of the 16,000-liter tank with a ruler and logs her consumption in a notebook.
The government has set up nearly a million tanks like this in the region since 2003.
View of a conservation area of Caatinga biome at Irpaa (Regional Institute for Appropriate Small Farming and Animal Husbandry) in Juazeiro, Bahia State, Brazil on June 12, 2024. The semi-arid Caatinga, a unique biome in the world, has lost more than 40 percent of its territory of traditional agriculture, land used now to intensive agriculture, mining, or wind energy generation, according to MapBiomas records. In addition, droughts, increasingly severe in Brazil and linked, according to experts, to climate change and the expansion of agribusiness, are increasing the pressure on this region, the poorest in the country. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP)
Installations slowed dramatically under far-right ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, but the program has recently been relaunched under President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Another threat to the Caatinga is the rural exodus, and IRPAA has set up a training center where it has taught some 200 young people about sustainable farming methods.
Alcides Peixinho Nascimento removes a damaged part of a cactus at his plantation of mandacaru—also known as cardeiro (Cereus jamacaru)—in Serra da Canabrava, Bahia State, Brazil on June 12, 2024. The semi-arid Caatinga, a unique biome in the world, has lost more than 40 percent of its territory of traditional agriculture, land used now to intensive agriculture, mining, or wind energy generation, according to MapBiomas records. In addition, droughts, increasingly severe in Brazil and linked, according to experts, to climate change and the expansion of agribusiness, are increasing the pressure on this region, the poorest in the country. (Photo by Pablo PORCIUNCULA / AFP)
“In our region, we do not have many opportunities, we have to travel to seek knowledge. I am happy to be able to contribute to the well-being of my community,” said Anderson Santos de Jesus, 20, who traveled 200 kilometers to reach the training center.
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