Marginal Pinheiros to receive 30,000 saplings of native and rare species

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The exuberance of the native pines that named one of São Paulo’s most traditional neighborhoods and one of the city's main rivers is today restricted to old photographs. While this could be just another nostalgic account, it actually serves as the catalyst for an ambitious project by Legado das Águas – Reserva Votorantim: bringing the Atlantic Forest back to the city. Designed by Cardim Arquitetura Paisagística, in partnership with the São Paulo State Secretariat for Infrastructure and Environment and the Metropolitan Water and Energy Company (EMAE), this new phase of the Pomar Urbano (Urban Orchard) Project will see Legado das Águas execute the state's largest urban landscaping project using native Atlantic Forest species, offering an innovative approach to transforming the relationship between the river and the metropolis.

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The Atlantic Forest—which lends the names of its flora and fauna to streets, neighborhoods, and squares, such as the Cambuci neighborhood (a native fruit) and Moema's Inhambu, Canário, and Pintassilgo streets (named after birds)—is inseparable from São Paulo's historical and cultural identity. In the past, the biome covered almost the entire region of the capital. The original urban vegetation was cleared due to rapid and environmentally negligent urbanization during the last century, particularly in the city's central areas. Gradually, green areas were populated with exotic species from other regions and countries, which now dominate 90% of the city's urban landscaping. This causes numerous environmental issues, such as pests, tree falls involving non-native species unadapted to the local terrain, and the displacement of native fauna.

The new phase of the Pomar Urbano Project, proposed by Legado das Águas – Reserva Votorantim, aims to mitigate this situation by reforesting 13.5 kilometers of the west bank of the Pinheiros River (along the Interlagos-bound lane of the Marginal highway), corresponding to approximately 8 hectares. In total, 30,000 specimens of over 30 native Atlantic Forest species will be planted. These are cultivated at the Legado das Águas nursery, the largest private Atlantic Forest reserve in the country, preserved by Votorantim for over 50 years and located about two hours from the capital in the Vale do Ribeira.

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The main differentiator of this proposal lies in a method that reproduces tropical forest dynamics on a small scale, enabling the creation of genuine pocket Atlantic forests within the urban environment. According to the project's lead botanist, Ricardo Cardim, the goal is to reclaim the original aesthetic of the Pinheiros River and foster a closer connection with the community. The technical proposal prioritizes species that encourage the return of birds, provide thermal comfort, and harmonize well together, resulting in lower maintenance, pruning, and watering needs.

The primary challenge for conventional landscaping projects is maintenance costs. Projects using exotic species not only cause environmental damage but also incur maintenance costs that are often significantly higher than those of reforestation with native plants. For this new phase of the Pomar project, the design proposed by Legado das Águas and botanist Ricardo Cardim incorporates native Atlantic Forest species with lower pruning, watering, and maintenance requirements, making it financially viable and resource-efficient. Moving forward, maintenance costs will not pose the kind of burden that typically leads to the neglect of urban green spaces.

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A Haven of Quality of Life and Well-Being

Although a 13.5-kilometer stretch of forest may seem small in a metropolitan context, Ricardo Cardim of Cardim Arquitetura Paisagística points out that much smaller spaces in São Paulo planted with native species exhibit greater plant diversity than the entirety of England.

This stretch can be understood as a haven of quality of life and free ecosystem services in the heart of the city. For example, each medium-to-large Atlantic Forest tree—such as a wild fig—absorbs approximately 160 kg of CO2 from the atmosphere during its first 20 years. Additionally, studies on the thermal comfort provided by trees show that they lower local ambient temperatures through shade. Such ecosystem services, along with other green initiatives, are highly welcome in a city like São Paulo, which has 7.4 motorized vehicles for every 10 inhabitants and a deficit of green space per capita.

For local fauna, this stretch connects to other fragments of native forest in the city, creating an ecological aerial corridor, particularly for birds, many of which are essential for urban pest control. The new project features a variety of native fruit-bearing species—many of them rare and highly prized, such as Cambuci, Uvaia, Araçá, and Jaracatiá—making the site an ideal stopover for migrating birds and small mammals to feed.

While revitalizing this stretch will not solve the pollution of the Pinheiros River, it can help mitigate contamination from pollutants. This is because the plant roots act as filters for “invisible waste”—as the micropollution from burning motor oil is known. Fifty years ago, the Pinheiros River's flow was reversed toward the coast to meet electricity demands. Although a major and necessary engineering feat at the time, it neglected the river's natural ecosystem, which now suffers under heavy pollution.

“The functional landscaping we are proposing here—where aesthetics are combined with social and environmental benefits—is key to what we envision for the city of the future. After years of study to find the best urban landscaping method, driven by a tireless desire to revive São Paulo's native forest, in the medium term, what we see in black and white in old photographs will come alive outside our windows, full of color, marking a new era for the Pinheiros River. Currently, nothing like this is being done in the state, and we have a major opportunity to show the country how we should care for our cities,” says botanist Ricardo Cardim.

Plant Origin Certification

Another feature of the specimens grown in the Legado das Águas nursery is traceability, which guarantees quality standards throughout all stages of production. This process minimizes the need for replacements through genetic improvement, optimizing planting and ensuring responsible production in compliance with environmental laws. The plants are tagged with QR codes; by scanning them with a smartphone, visitors can access their entire history, including their specific origin in the forest.

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Combined with the climate and soil conditions of the native biome, these factors ensure significantly faster growth. The project includes native species ranging from shrubs to ground cover from various families, genera, and species of the Atlantic Forest. Among the selected species are Quaresmeiras, Manacás, Ipês, Araucárias, Brazilian Cherry, Juçara Palm, Pitangueiras, and Jabuticabeiras.

“We view this project as much more than simply planting trees along the Marginal Pinheiros. It is a successful combination of technical expertise and aesthetics, offering a path to address the challenges facing metropolises like São Paulo. International experiences show that using native species in green infrastructure can be key to tackling some of the millennium's major challenges—which have already affected São Paulo—such as increasing water availability and building resilience against flooding. Through our proposal, we aim to refocus attention on the Pinheiros River and encourage individual and collective action to make our city more humane and collaborative, while inspiring other efforts to restore one of Brazil's most iconic rivers,” says David Canassa, director of Reservas Votorantim.

Via CicloVivo.