UAUÁ, Bahia, Brazil — In northern Bahia, 35 communities have united to protect and restore nearly 100,000 acres of the unique Caatinga dry forest in northeastern Brazil. Through the Recaatingamento project, families are learning essential skills to conserve native vegetation, manage goat overpopulation, and explore sustainable income sources, such as foraging for wild fruits.

The Caatinga is particularly vulnerable to climate change, facing recurrent droughts and being Brazil’s third-most deforested biome. Alarmingly, 13% of its soil has already become sterile, contributing to accelerating desertification in the region.

This video highlights the vital work being done by these communities to combat environmental degradation and foster resilience in the face of climate challenges.

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Banner image: Goat in a communal pasture area, Uauá, Bahia. Image by Xavier Bartaburu/Mongabay

A community-led strategy to save Brazil’s dry forests from desertification