Western SC gains rural areas restoration program

A new environmental program came into effect this month in Santa Catarina with the goal of restoring Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs) on rural properties located in the Uruguay River Basin. The initiative is the result of a partnership between Epagri, Foz do Chapecó Energia, Sicoob and the rural producers themselves. The focus is to restore native vegetation, protect water resources and fauna, and promote the environmental appreciation of participating properties.

According to the coordinator of the Environmental Development and Sustainability Program at Epagri, Juliane Justen, the program includes rural producers who have anthropized APPs — that is, areas in need of revegetation. “There are 148 municipalities in Santa Catarina included in the initiative. Among the actions planned for the properties are fencing the area with wire, planting native species from certified nurseries such as angico, cedar, paineira, pitanga, guabiroba and jabuticaba, with a density of 600 seedlings per hectare,” she says.

The program also provides financial incentives per restored hectare, divided into four stages over three years, totaling R$12.763,44 per hectare. Each year, Epagri will provide guidance and technical visits to ensure that the goals are met and that the producer receives the payments, explains Humberto Bicca, Extension Analyst and program coordinator at Epagri.

For Epagri president Dirceu Leite, restoring areas on rural properties is more than an environmental obligation — it is an investment in the future. “When we restore an APP, we are protecting springs, ensuring water quality, promoting biodiversity and improving the region’s climate balance. In addition, restored areas increase the value of the property and open doors to new opportunities, including incentives and certifications. It is a gesture that benefits the environment, agricultural production and the entire rural community. Preserving today is ensuring sustainability for future generations,” emphasizes the president.

“Together, we can plant a better future” is the slogan of the program, which focuses on the union between society, producers and the energy sector to recover ecosystems that are fundamental to the environmental balance of the region.

How to participate

To join, the producer must own property with an anthropized APP with a minimum area of ​​0,3 hectares, without overlapping previous legal obligations or benefits already received for the same area. It is also necessary to commit to the preservation and maintenance of the planted vegetation.

Interested parties should contact the Epagri office or the nearest Sicoob agency, or contact representatives of Foz do Chapecó Energia.