Between 2023 and 2025, rural producers in the state of São Paulo collected more than 1,100 tons of pine nuts, the seed of the Araucaria angustifolia, known as Paraná pine.
The initiative aims to repopulate southern Brazil and protect this endangered species, whose silhouette is an inseparable part of the Atlantic Forest and the indigenous cultural memory.
The program includes economic incentives: up to 36,000 reais for rural producers and 250,000 reais for organizations participating in conservation actions, equivalent to about 6,000 and 43,000 euros respectively.
Economic and cultural value of the pine nut
The pine nut is not only vital for wildlife but also for local communities. Its economic use makes the tree a more valuable resource standing than cut down.
In Cunha, a municipality in the Paraíba Valley that concentrates 95% of the collection in São Paulo, the activity has been part of the family economy for generations.
Additionally, the tree has a strong connection with the Xokleng people in Santa Catarina, who consider it a source of food, traditional uses, and spiritual meaning.
Critical conservation status
The araucaria is classified as an endangered species in Brazil.
- Remaining area: only between 2% and 5% of the original forests remain.
- Fragmentation: natural populations are isolated, and the logging of large specimens is prohibited by law.
- Maturation time: it takes between 12 and 15 years to produce pine nuts, although it can live for centuries.
Restoration efforts
The project is not limited to seed collection. It includes:
- Payment for Environmental Services: economic incentives for producers and organizations.
- Planting of seedlings and restoration of permanent preservation areas.
- Creation of orchards and conservation of adult trees.
- Indigenous resistance: indigenous peoples lead the planting of thousands of specimens as cultural and territorial defense.
Ecological, nutritional, and cultural importance
The araucaria is a biocultural emblem of southern Brazil:
- Ecological: a key species of the Atlantic Forest, essential food for birds like the azure jay and local mammals.
- Nutritional: the pine nut is rich in proteins, healthy fats, iron, and zinc; a protagonist of traditional cuisine and the Festas Juninas.
- Historical: a millennial tree that coexisted with dinosaurs, a symbol of strength and resilience.
The harvest of 1,100 tons of araucaria seeds represents a strategic effort to save the Paraná pine from extinction. The project combines ecological conservation, economic incentives, and cultural defense, strengthening the pine nut chain as a driver of sustainability.
The survival of the araucaria is vital not only for the biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest but also for the historical and cultural identity of southern Brazil.
