• Saving primeval forests and planting native trees to reforest damaged areas.
• Plant forest corridors to link isolated forest fragments.
• Set up tree nurseries to produce trees and create local jobs.
• Ensuring access to water for all by protecting springs and installing cisterns and rainwater collectors.
• Raising awareness among local people of the importance of tropical forests for water, soil, biodiversity and the climate.
• Organising seminars and workshops on ecology for local teachers to enable them to act as multipliers.
• Work to preserve biodiversity in the classroom and in the field.
• Promote the installation of solar panels for schools and environmental centres.
• Encourage research into all available renewable energies.
• Help farming communities fight forest fires and find new ways to help them survive in harmony with the forest.
• Developing the breeding of indigenous bees called "melipona" to ensure pollination and the preservation of the forests.

• Building schools and libraries.
• Create training workshops to teach young people woodwork, pottery, drawing, gardening, sewing and screen printing.
• Supporting the schooling of girls through our "The way to school for every girl" project launched in 2001.
• Equipping local centres that provide accommodation, care, food and education for street children.
• Encouraging local farming programmes by participating in sustainable organic plantations and helping to set up beehives.
• Participating in the fight against hunger through projects under the "Zero Hunger" programme launched by President Lula da Silva, such as school gardens, bee-keeping, bakeries and equipment for small farmers.

The projects supported by Nordesta all meet the following criteria:

• Priority is given to projects initiated by the local population.
• Beneficiaries must be committed to carrying out their project / Beneficiaries must demonstrate their involvement in the project at all levels.
• The project must achieve long-term financial autonomy.
• Among the beneficiaries, preference is given to poor children and single-parent families.
• Each project must generate "Multiplier Agents" who will help to consolidate and expand the project.
• The projects are part of a sustainable development approach that links human beings to their environment.
• The municipalities working with us are required to set up or strengthen their local Agenda 21.