Strategies for conservation

Father Cícero, an important religious icon in the sertão region and who still has devotees throughout the Northeast, taught pilgrims ecological precepts¹: do not cut down the forest, not even a single tree; do not set fire to the fields or the Caatinga; do not hunt and let the animals live; do not raise cattle or goats freely, build fences and let the pasture rest to recover. He also advised not to plant uphill or clear very steep slopes; leave the forest to protect the land so that water does not wash it away and its richness is not lost. He advised planting at least one carob, cashew, sabiá, or other tree every day, until the entire sertão is a single forest; learn to take advantage of the Caatinga's plants, which can help cope with drought. He concluded that if the backwoodsmen obeyed these precepts, the drought would gradually end, the livestock would improve, and the people would always have enough to eat. If they didn't, the entire backwoods would soon become a desert.

These precepts directly and simply translate much of what must be done to conserve the biome. First, conserve what we have, preventing further devastation, restore what has been degraded, and adopt livelihoods that allow us to obtain the necessary resources without further devastating the biome. This aims to ensure the region's sustainable development.

Traditional populations and indigenous peoples deserve special attention when it comes to conservation strategies, because, considering that their livelihoods enable the conservation of the Caatinga, fighting for their rights is essential. It is therefore important to strengthen collectives so that they can act in decision-making spaces, raising their concerns and demonstrating their reality.

Another essential aspect of conservation is knowing how to use resources sustainably, as the people of the Caatinga teach us well. The appreciation of native plants has enormous potential, as already mentioned in the section on Caatinga flora. For this to happen, it is essential that more studies be carried out in the region, as it is one of the least known biomes in Brazil, “due to the combination of inadequate investment, low regional research capacity and difficult working conditions – high temperatures and difficult accessibility”⁸.

A fundamental step toward strengthening conservation efforts for the biome is its inclusion as a National Heritage Site in the Federal Constitution. This demand has been under consideration alongside that of the Cerrado biome since 2003 (PEC 51/2003). Currently, the proposed amendment is still on the agenda in the National Congress, in the version formulated in 2010 (PEC 504/2010). This measure is strategic for the conservation of the biome, as it would formalize its relevance to the country. The PEC has been under consideration for nearly 10 years; it was approved by the Senate but still awaits approval by the Chamber of Deputies. online petition with almost 600 signatures and several civil society organizations that are mobilizing to pressure its approval.

An important practice for "conserving what we have" is the creation and management of conservation units. The Caatinga has 201 of them, totaling almost 75 km², which corresponds to approximately 9% of the biome's territory². Of this area, just over 7% falls under sustainable use and 1,7% under full protection. With these numbers, the Caatinga is the biome with the fewest protected areas³. Increasing this coverage and finding ways to integrate protected areas would be crucial for the biome's conservation.

It's worth noting that Brazil's first National Forest (Flona) is located in the Caatinga. In 1946, the Araripe-Apodi National Forest⁴ was created to preserve the water sources of the Semiarid region—the park is located in a plateau area where water accumulates—and to halt the advance of desertification in the Northeast. In the 1990s, the Chapada do Araripe⁵ Environmental Protection Area (APA) was created, encompassing the Araripe-Apodi National Forest. During the APA's creation, 307 springs were identified at the base of the Chapada do Araripe, eight of which feed the Parnaíba River basin, 54 the São Francisco River basin, and 245 the Jaguaribe River basin. Therefore, when droughts hit the sertão, this humid region becomes a refuge for wildlife, highlighting the need for its protection.

Once conservation strategies are in place, the next step is to reforest the Caatinga, or rather, reCaatingar. This term has been appropriately used by projects and initiatives in the biome, meaning to restore Caatinga areas. Furthermore, taking this a step further, there are already several experiences in the region, such as sustainable forest management, sustainable planting, with techniques like agroforestry⁶, integrated planting with crops, livestock, and forestry⁷, productive backyards, native beekeeping, etc. These practices ensure year-round production through species diversification, soil restoration, community engagement, improved nutrition and health (by increasing the diversity of foods on the table), raising healthy animals, and income generation.
A specific action, but one worth highlighting when it comes to biome conservation, is the National Spix's Macaw Action Plan⁹, which aims to create ways for the species to return to the Caatinga. Considered extinct in the wild, there are currently only 163 individuals bred in captivity, of which only 13 are in Brazil. For the initiative to be successful, it is crucial that the release areas have suitable environmental conditions, with species used by the bird for both nesting and foraging.

As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure. The previous example clearly demonstrates the significant effort required to remedy a problem, something that will require significant resources, time, and research. It is now time to strengthen conservation efforts for what remains of the biome, so that other initiatives like the Spix's Macaw are not necessary.

Certainly, a crucial point for the conservation of the Caatinga is the appreciation of the biome in all its aspects and the maintenance of the way of life of its people, who preserve the biome through their use. To this end, public policies and initiatives that disseminate technologies for coexisting with the peculiarities of the semiarid region are essential, such as the One Million Cisterns Program (P1MC), the One Land and Two Waters Program (P1+2), and others mentioned in the text.Living with the Semi-Arid Region".

It is necessary to translate to the eyes of those who govern the charm of those who make music and poetry spring from the Caatinga, recognizing the beauty of its dry landscapes, the versatility of its plants, the importance of its biodiversity and the wealth of its people.