When a water spring is restored

2020 is definitely turning out to be a year to remember, and though lockdown has been lifting slowly in the UK it continues in Brazil. Despite the struggles, our partners have been continuing to work tirelessly where they can.

Wender is an agricultural engineer turned environmental activist, working with RAIN on the frontline in the Valley of Jequitinonha in the state of Minas Gerais (he is in the foreground of the image above). He and his team have been protecting and reforesting the springs around his hometown of Cachoeira to improve the streams systems and ecosystems.

There are three stages to a spring restoration.

• Firstly, many of the springs are filled with silt from eroded soil, so the water source must be dug out and protected. With casing, clear water runs from the spring, and can support a variety of flora and fauna.

• Secondly the area must be fenced off to keep cows and horses away from the spring. As explained in the video, below, cows step on the ground around the spring destroys the beginning of a stream, and also the cows eat whatever saplings begin to grow there.

• Thirdly, the area can be reforested. Left alone, a spring and the area around streams will recover its native vegetation, but this can be a slow process. Replanting the area, particularly with rare and endangered species, speeds up the process and increases the water flow.

To help Wender and other Brazilians regenerate their environments, please consider a monthly donation to RAIN. Even the smallest donations add up to make a big difference.

Wender and his team replanting around a spring

Building casing around a water spring

This is what happens when cows step on a spring