Created and regulated by State Decree No. 42029/11, the State Payment for Environmental Services Program (PRO-PSA) recognizes and encourages actions to protect water resources, conserve biodiversity and mitigate the impact of climate change.

Based on the "user-pays" and "provider-recipient" principles, PSA encourages and rewards rural producers who adopt forest conservation actions, recover degraded areas, and implement sustainable production practices within their properties.

In 2011, the state had only one PES project under execution. In 2022, 11 projects were implemented (completed or under execution) in the state, covering 22 municipalities and totaling investments of more than R$40 million. The initiatives involve 429 farmers benefited, 986 hectares of restored areas, 6,134 hectares of conserved forest remnants, and the implementation of 627 hectares of integrated-farming-livestock-forestry systems (ILPF). In 2023, two more new projects are expected to start.

One of the most important PES initiatives is the Atlantic Forest Connection Project (Projeto Conexão Mata Atlântica), financed with resources from the Global Environment Fund (GEF).

Currently, 256 farmers benefit from the project by developing actions for the conservation of native forests, ecological restoration and productive conversion through the implementation and maintenance of sustainable production practices (agroforestry and silvopastoral systems) in areas with low productivity. Overall, 2.640 hectares have been conserved and restored by the Atlantic Forest Connection, which is currently - in number of beneficiaries, scope, and resources - the main initiative of PES in the state of Rio de Janeiro.

Inaugurated in 2017, the project has paid out R$ 5.8 million for environmental services so far. Through the Technological Leap, a project guideline that links the application of PES resources to boost rural businesses in a sustainable way and improve the quality of life in the countryside, these resources have been invested in several innovations, such as solar energy, improvement of production systems, recovery of degraded pastures, rural infrastructure, inputs and machinery, among others.

Access the Become a partner area to expand PES initiatives

Example of Partnership: The Atlantic Forest Connection Project has the support of several partners, through the formalization of cooperation agreements with Inea. The Nature Conservancy is collaborating in the formulation of a web-based platform to improve the management of PES contracts and environmental monitoring of rural properties. The Boticário Group Foundation provides training and technical support for PES project management and to strengthen sustainable production chains. CEDAE donates seedlings for forest restoration actions and sustainable production practices. UNIFAA, University Center of Valença, provides infrastructure, staff and technical support for local actions.