Sustainable Pajeú
General information
Land876989
Forest cover578268 (2024)
Cropland263462 (2024)
Population307756 (2024)
Conveners
IDH
ConsortiumsNot specified

About

Sertão do Pajeú is located in the state of Pernambuco, in the Northeast region of Brazil. Composed of 17 municipalities, the territory stands out for the strength of family farming and for its rich cultural and tourist vocation. Recognized for the beautiful natural landscapes shaped by the Caatinga — the only exclusively Brazilian biome — Pajeú is also the cradle of a vast intangible cultural heritage, bringing together the largest concentration of poets and cordelistas in the state.

This landscape has been strengthened through the Sustainable Pajeú Compact approach, and is currently in the consolidation phase. The territory has an active local governance structure, composed of representatives of the public, private and civil society sectors, and guided by clear goals based on the three pillars of the Raízes da Caatinga Program: Produce, Protect and Include.

The initiative seeks to articulate efforts around sustainable production, the conservation of the Caatinga biome, and socio-productive inclusion, with special attention to the role of women and young people in local production chains.

The Pajeú Sustainable Compact acts in an integrated manner in the territory, promoting the development of a sustainable landscape that is resilient to climate change. Its actions prioritize the conservation of ecosystems, the expansion of agroecological and regenerative agriculture, and the strengthening of a fair and inclusive rural economy.

The vision for 2027 is to consolidate the Pajeú Sustainable Compact as a reference in the promotion of more resilient territories, connecting sustainable production and environmental conservation, through a supply model that values the ways of life in the semi-arid region and strengthens the dignified permanence of the familiesin the field. The initiative articulates productive, social and economic dimensions in synergy with public policies and regional planning instruments.

Main production chains worked in the territory:
• Agroecological cotton
• Goat
• Poultry
• Fruit
• Products sociobiodiversity (such as honey)