Building the Evidence Base: How Nature Projects Enhance Agricultural Resilience in a Changing Climate

This platform is a central hub for evidence on the value and benefits of integrating nature recovery with productive agriculture, based on studies in the Upper Paranapanema Basin. 

This platform is underpinned by research led by the Center for Studies in Spatial Ecology and Sustainable Development (NEEDS) at the Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR). 

The platform has been developed through the Farming for a Nature Positive Future initiative.

Why is this region so significant?

The Upper Paranapanema Basin is a key agricultural region, with approximately X% of its land area dedicated to farming.  Soy cultivation is the dominant agricultural activity, accounting for X% of total production.

However, the region’s agricultural sector faces growing risks from a changing climate. Shifts in rainfall patterns and rising temperatures are expected to significantly disrupt crop cycles and reduce yields—posing serious challenges to farm profitability and long-term resilience.

Farmers are under pressures to intensify land use which risks accelerating habitat loss.  There is also variable compliance with the Forest Code [reference].

The region is also one of Brazil’s most important landscapes for biodiversity and water security.  It sits at the interface of the Cerrado and Atlantic Forest biomes, and provides important habitat for many endangered species of animals and plants.

There is evidence that nature projects in this region  can safeguard rivers, soils, and pollinators while supporting productive farming and resilient communities.  The region has the potential to become a model for other regions facing the same challenges, both in Brazil and in the rest of the world.