Restoration of land and knowledge: building a network of indigenous seedling producers throughout the Brazilian Cerrado and Pantanal

Project overview

The Pantanal and the adjacent Cerrado are facing accelerating ecological degradation driven by the suppression of native vegetation, the expansion of agribusiness, recurrent fires, and prolonged droughts linked to climate change. These pressures have disrupted the water cycle, dried rivers and springs, and undermined the resilience of one of the world’s most biodiverse wetland systems. This project responds by scaling a proven, Indigenous-led model of native plant nurseries and seed banks within Indigenous territories. By combining ancestral ecological knowledge with scientific restoration practices, the initiative restores degraded areas, safeguards water sources, and strengthens Indigenous stewardship while meeting the growing demand for native seedlings and creating sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Project aims

• Expand a proven Indigenous-led nursery and seed bank model to three additional Indigenous territories
• Strengthen ecological restoration capacity in the Pantanal and surrounding Cerrado
• Combine ancestral ecological knowledge with scientifically robust restoration practices
• Ensure year-round availability of native seeds and seedlings for restoration and water spring protection
• Place Indigenous communities at the centre of restoration leadership and decision-making
• Build local technical capacity through hands-on training
• Create sustainable income opportunities linked to the growing restoration market

Key activities

• Participatory planning and agreements with Indigenous leadership
• Construction of three 80 m² native plant nurseries with irrigation systems
• Installation of three seed banks (cold chambers, 750 kg capacity each)
• Delivery of a five-module training program on seed collection, storage, production, and planting
• Production and sale of native seedlings for restoration projects
• Community planting ceremonies and restoration actions

Expected conservation impact

• Restoration of degraded areas and protection of water springs
• Increased availability and diversity of native plant species
• Improved resilience of wetlands through re-established vegetation cover
• Reduced fire risk by restoring moisture-retaining native plants
• Strengthened Indigenous stewardship of land and water
• Long-term contribution to biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation in the Pantanal

Expected outputs

• Three Indigenous-managed plant nurseries fully operational
• Three seed banks established within Indigenous territories
• Capacity building of at least 60 Indigenous participants
• Production of 30,000 native seedlings per year (10,000 per nursery)
• Cultivation of approximately 30 native species
• New income generated through seedling sales to restoration partners

Project Team 

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Luciana Leite (2013-14) Co-founder and president of Chalana Esperança and Chief Representative for the Environmental Justice Foundation in Brazil Luciana is a Brazilian conservation biologist, an alumna of the Cambridge Conservation Leadership Programme and holds a PhD in Forest Ecosystems and Society from Oregon State University in the US. Luciana Leite brings extensive experience in leading community-based conservation initiatives in the Pantanal, combining strong academic training with proven on-the-ground results. She is the Founder and President of Chalana Esperança, a women-led collective created in response to the 2020 fires that devastated nearly one-third of the biome. Through Chalana, Luciana has coordinated projects spanning from emergency response to environmental education, from women entrepreneurship to ecological restoration, working closely with local and Indigenous communities. In 2024, she led the pilot implementation of a native plant nursery and seed bank within the Indigenous Territory of Limão Verde, overseeing infrastructure construction, community engagement, and the training program. The initiative successfully produced seedlings for spring restoration and generated income through sales to external partners. Alongside this field leadership, Luciana serves as Chief Representative of the Environmental Justice Foundation in Brazil, linking local action to national and international advocacy.

External collaborators