Jaborandi transforms nature and innovation into attractions for the future Credit: Disclosure Those who arrive in Jaborandi, in the interior of São Paulo, will find the peaceful rhythm characteristic of small towns. Squares, trees and a leisurely routine are part of the landscape of a municipality that, despite its size, has been developing projects that draw attention for their innovation and the way they connect environmental preservation, tourism and development. The city's history began around 1902, on the banks of a stream in the region currently known as Prainha, close to the lake. The name Jaborandi came from the first property that appeared in the area, Fazenda Jaborandi, and is related to the plant that existed in abundance in the region. The species, which can still be found in some parts of the municipality, is part of the local biodiversity and the city's historical identity. According to experts featured in the program, the plant can reach between two and four meters in height and contributes to environmental balance, serving as shelter and a source of food for different species of animals. But it is another tree that promises to gain prominence in a new tourism project. The jabuticabeira, a species native to Brazil, will be the center of a botanical park that aims to become a new attraction for those visiting Jaborandi. The project envisages the construction of a space with what is presented as the largest pot in the world, nine meters high, where a jabuticabeira tree will be planted. The proposal is to allow visitors to enter the structure, have contact with the tree and collect jabuticabas, in addition to recording the experience. The initiative seeks to value an element of Brazilian nature and, at the same time, create a tourist experience for the municipality. Jaborandi transforms nature and innovation into attractions for the future From sun to development Nature is also at the center of another project that puts Jaborandi in a prominent position when it comes to innovation. Jaborandi Power is presented as a public company focused on the generation and commercialization of photovoltaic energy. The initiative works with solar energy projects aimed at municipalities, local authorities and state governments, transforming the generation of clean energy into a development strategy for the city itself. According to information presented in the Terra da Gente program, the municipality currently has three photovoltaic plants installed at the Olimpo Junqueira de Oliveira School, the Gina Henrique Brunozzi Exhibition Center and the Doctor Amadeu Pagliuso Hospital. Together, they have an average production of 36 thousand kilowatts per month. The energy generated is also used to power other public equipment. The plant installed at the school, for example, contributes to the supply of two Basic Health Units. In addition to saving resources, the initiative seeks to expand the municipality's energy autonomy and reduce environmental impacts, with lower carbon emissions and less dependence on conventional energy sources. The proposal also has an economic and social impact, as the commercialization of photovoltaic projects to other institutions can contribute to training the workforce, generating new opportunities and increasing income in the municipality. Rio Pardo preserves biodiversity and traditions If the sun represents innovation, the waters of Rio Pardo reveal another important side of Jaborandi. The river is one of the city's main natural resources and is home to different species, contributing to biodiversity and the population's relationship with the territory. It is in this scenario that fishing becomes a tradition shared between generations. The activity brings together residents who find the river not only a form of leisure, but also moments of coexistence and connection with nature. Among them are Neiva and Neide, who learned and perfected fishing techniques together and today share this experience with those who come to visit the place. It was also on the banks of the Rio Pardo that the program team had a learning and relaxation experience. On a fishing trip accompanied by residents, presenter Larissa had the opportunity to learn how to cast a line and, after a few attempts and a few snags, she managed to catch her first fish. The animal was returned to the river, reinforcing the respectful relationship with nature and ending the experience in a symbolic way. More than a leisure activity, fishing showed how the Rio Pardo is part of the lives of residents and helps preserve traditions that pass from one generation to another. A city that looks to the future without forgetting its roots In Jaborandi, nature, innovation and development go hand in hand. The plant that gave the municipality its name remains part of history; the jabuticabeira appears as a symbol of a new tourist project; the sun is transformed into energy and opportunity; and Rio Pardo continues to be the scene of meetings, traditions and biodiversity. With initiatives that value natural resources and seek new forms of development, Jaborandi shows that the size of a city does not determine the size of its projects. Between the tranquility of the interior and ideas that go beyond the municipality's borders, the city builds its own identity and bets on a future in which preserving nature also means creating opportunities for those who live there.