Small dams are small drainage ditches excavated in the soil in the shape of a circle or a half moon, with average diameter of 16 m and average depth of 1.8 m. They are built to be widespread in pastures and croplands and to capture torrent water, controlling erosion and keeping water in the subsoil.

Deforestation and the conversion of areas into croplands and pastures without the use of appropriate technologies results in soil compaction, reducing its infiltration capacity. Interrupting such process of degradation and rehabilitating degraded areas require the collection of water from flash floods, soil infiltration and the water table supply, and make it available in cisterns, wells and natural springs.

Whom does it benefit?

Farmers of all categories, associations.

Partners

City governments, Rural workers' unions, Churches, Rural Extension Companies, Petrobras, Banco do Brasil Foundation, Foundation of Support to Research and Development, Case New Holand, National Water Agency, Minas Gerais Public Prosecution Service, Brazil's Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Agrarian Development, and Ministry of the Environment.