A Nature Reserve owned by SPVS and located in Antonina, it provides water to the municipality, boosts financial revenue with Ecological ICMS and becomes a model for nature production in Brazil.
Amid growing pressure on natural resources and the water crisis facing several Brazilian municipalities, Antonina, on the coast of ParanĂĄ, stands out for its management model that combines environmental conservation, water security, and public revenue generation. With just over 18,000 inhabitants, the municipality is supplied by springs located within two Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs) maintained by the SPVS (Society for Wildlife Research and Environmental Education)âthe Ăguas Natural Reserve and the Guaricica Natural Reserve.
These Conservation Units, in addition to ensuring the quality and quantity of water consumed by the population, have also yielded direct economic benefits. Since the creation of the Ecological ICMS in ParanĂĄ, Antonina has increased its revenue thanks to the conservation of the RPPNs and the quality of their management. The SPVS estimates that, since their creation two decades ago, the reserves have contributed almost R$40 million to the public coffers through this tax mechanism.
The most recent example of this strategy is the municipal Payment for Environmental Services (PSA) program, known as FĂĄbrica de Natureza (Nature Factory). Established by law and regulated by decree, the program offers financial support to owners of private areas recognized as RPPNs (Natural Reserves) as a way to encourage conservation. This resource allows those responsible for the reserves to invest in developing management plans, hiring community members, supporting scientific research, implementing public use activities, and improving the management of the areas. As a result, in addition to strengthening nature conservation, these actions increase the amount of ICMS EcolĂłgico (Economic ICMS) transferred to the municipality. The result is a virtuous cycle: Antonina rewards conservationists, increases its revenue, and ensures the continuity of ecosystem services, such as water supply.
The model has attracted national attention for demonstrating that conserving biodiversity can also be a smart local development strategy. In the following interview, Reginaldo Ferreira, coordinator of SPVS’s Natural Reserves, details how this partnership works in practice and why it can serve as a benchmark for other Brazilian cities, and even countries.
Reginaldo, qual a relação entre a SPVS e o abastecimento de ågua em Antonina (PR)?
The Antonina City Hall collects water directly from springs located within the Reserva Natural das Ăguas (Water Nature Reserve), an area conserved by SPVS. This partnership has a direct impact on the quality and quantity of water available to the population. By preserving native vegetation, regulating the hydrological cycle, and preventing erosion and contamination, we ensure the recharge of springs and contribute to the city’s water security, including during periods of scarcity or extreme weather events.
Besides the environmental benefits, what are the main impacts of this initiative? It also impacts the local economy. Through the Ecological ICMS (VAT), created by State Law No. 59/1991, Antonina receives a larger share of state revenues because it houses Conservation Units such as the SPVS RPPNs (Natural Heritage Reserves). These resources strengthen the municipal budget and are partially allocated to essential areas such as health and education. Furthermore, the Municipal Payment for Environmental Services Program â FĂĄbrica de Natureza (Nature Factory) recognizes and rewards the conservation of these areas, generating jobs and income, strengthening management, and further increasing revenue.
How does this management work in practice, on a day-to-day basis?
It’s an ongoing process that combines technical planning, field action, and institutional coordination. All activities follow the Reserve Management Plans and the SPVS’s annual strategic plan. On a daily basis, we conduct environmental monitoring, control invasive species, fight fires, restore degraded areas, and monitor illegal activities and public use, with visits from local schools, universities, and researchers. We also maintain the reserves’ physical structures and invest in training local teams, made up of people from the community itself. This integrated approach contributes both to the conservation of the areas and to ensuring a water supply, both in quantity and quality.
Can this model be replicated in other municipalities?
Yes, it’s a viable and efficient model. It combines science, technical operations, coordination with government agencies, and legal instruments such as the PSA (Payment for Environmental Services) and the Ecological ICMS (VAT). The results go beyond environmental conservationâthey include revenue generation, strengthening public policies, and enhancing the value of local communities. The experience in Antonina proves that the conservation of private lands is a strategic tool for local development.
What are the main results achieved to date?
Investments have already been made in restoring degraded areas, which are still undergoing recovery and still require ongoing protection for many years to come. Protected forests preserve water sources and ensure the municipality’s water security. We also promote education on nature conservation, generate jobs in local communities, and strengthen the connection between the population and reserves. The municipality has significantly increased its revenue through the Ecological ICMS (VAT), particularly with the support of the municipal PSA (Social Assistance Program). It is a model that demonstrates how conserving nature can be economically beneficial, socially fair, and environmentally necessary.
By Claudia Guadagnin, press officer for SPVS and the Great Atlantic Forest Reserve.
