A weakening spring returned to strength after a farmer planted 1,332 seedlings from 43 species

When the spring on Jair Ferreira Ataíde’s rural property in Jaguaré, northern Espírito Santo, began losing strength, the change threatened more than the landscape. On a 67-hectare farm focused mainly on conilon coffee, water availability was also tied to agricultural production.

Ferreira Ataíde had known the area for decades and remembered that more trees once surrounded the spring. He joined an environmental recovery project that supplied native plants and technical assistance to restore the land around the water source.

The work involved planting exactly 1,332 plants from 43 native Atlantic Forest species. The aim was not only to restore vegetation, but also to improve soil conditions and protect the place where the water emerged. The project included roughly three years of monitoring and care rather than simply planting the trees and leaving them unattended.

The recovering vegetation could reduce soil degradation and create better conditions for water infiltration and moisture retention. The plants included trees with different growth rates and ecological functions. Over time, the jacarandá became one of the most recognizable species in the transformation of the property.

The change did not come immediately. After about three years of vegetation and soil recovery, the spring began behaving more consistently. It remained active when a severe drought hit the region, while nearby properties struggled to obtain water. Its supply even allowed Ferreira Ataíde to help some neighbors during the worst period of scarcity. The farm also includes pastures, eucalyptus and native vegetation, making a stable water source important to its rural activities.