The city of Campina Grande, in the inland region of the state of Paraíba, in the Northeast of Brazil, has been grabbing headlines in the country and all over the world for its environmental achievements.

With a range of different environmental projects, the city’s plan is to reach its ideal level: two trees for each inhabitant.

Several initiatives have been employed as part of this process, from tree planting projects to raising the awareness of the local population. The Adopt a Tree Project, from the Paraíba State University, is one such initiative.

Created in 2007, it promotes the tree planting, distribution of seedlings of native species, training educators and raising awareness among local inhabitants and students. Along the nine years of its existence, the project has so far distributed one hundred thousand native species seedlings.

Other actions which contribute to the urban afforestation of the city are run by the municipal governing bodies. The programmes Minha Árvore (‘My Tree’) and Habite-se Ecológico (‘Live Ecological’) help to control the number of trees being planted, improving the chances of each one, as well as free distribution of new seedlings.

Through these programmes, the council carries out an official census focussed on the municipality’s afforestation, and has been able to gain a better level of control over issues of environmental respect in new construction sites, as well as in relation to the appropriate species for each location, avoiding future problems. The programmes also take the theme to schools, showing children the importance of planting and taking care of new trees.

This is an example of Brazil acting as an inspiration to the world in honouring one of its most valuable and beautiful possessions: nature.