Established since 1969 in Itacoatiara/AM, along the margins of the AM-010 highway, Agropecuária Aruanã began its activities by establishing pastures for cattle ranching. Holding a property of 12,000 hectares, its original plan was to utilize 6,000 hectares (50% of the property, as permitted by the forestry code at the time for Multiple Use Areas – MUA). However, after converting 1,500 hectares into pastures, Aruanã voluntarily decided to cease cattle ranching and initiate a reverse process: reforestation with Brazil nut trees (Bertholletia excelsa).

With approximately 1,400 hectares planted primarily with Brazil nut trees and some “perimeters” (plots) of other species such as tonka bean (Dipteryx odorata), the property holds the largest Brazil nut reforestation project in Amazonas (possibly in Brazil). The main goal of the project is to generate carbon credits through: a. Avoided Emissions (waiver of the right to deforest MUA); b. Reduced Emissions (change in land use from pasture to forests); and c. Sequestered Emissions (storage of plantings exceeding the original stock). The mere continuation of nut harvesting activities, even without revenue from carbon credits, demonstrates that well-executed REDD+ projects yield excellent results with low risk and attractive economic returns.