Centro Sabiá team carries out agroecological joint effort at Sítio São João in Abreu e Lima

Pernambuco’s first agroforest receives the Sabiá Center for an agroforestry management brigade

Bárbara Bittencourt
Sabiá Center Communication Intern

The Sabiá Center was present at Sítio São João, in the community of Inhamã, in the municipality of Abreu e Lima, from June 10 to 12, to carry out an agroforestry management brigade, an activity of the “Climate Resilient Territories” project, supported by the German cooperation agency Misereor.

Considered the first agroforestry site in Pernambuco, established in 1994, the site of Lenir Pereira and Jones Severino (in memory) has become a benchmark in Agroforestry Systems (SAF). The region used to be an agrarian reform settlement, degraded by the continuous use of practices that were harmful to the soil. With the support of the Sabiá Center, the couple’s land has undergone a major transformation: from degraded soil and crops to rich, quality production that respects nature’s cycles.

Thirty years later, Sítio São João demonstrates the importance of agroecological practices for sustainable coexistence between human beings and nature. In agroforestry, there is a relationship of reciprocity, of exchange, in which there is no room for exploitation and exhaustion of the land. Different species are planted to provide cover for each other, and their remains serve as mulch to nourish the soil. Fire, deforestation and poisons are not used. The result is a living system that feeds back on itself and also produces excellent food.

The agroforestry management brigade maintained this system for three days, using equipment that makes it easier to manage, such as a chainsaw, motopoda, brushcutter and tractor. The experience was very well received by the participants in the activity, which brought together everything from Dona Lenir’s family and the technicians from the Sabiá Center to friends and volunteers.

One of them was Tiago Jatobá, an agroforestry worker, who returned to Sítio São João to help with the brigade. “I came back here after a long time. It’s as if I’ve been to a lot of places, learned a lot of things, to prepare for this day. To give back, with my hands and my strength, this priceless knowledge that Jones and Lenir gave me. To be part of this story, of a milestone of recovery, of a restart. It’s just the restart of this journey, in that cycle of beginning, middle and beginning, as Nego Bispo says,” he said.

Ms. Lenir, for her part, thanked the participants for their joint efforts. “These three days of management were very rewarding for me. I just have to thank everyone who came, especially the Sabiá Center, which organized this joint effort. The energy we had with each other, the union and the combination were very good, it was very important,” said the farmer.