Heineken launches pocket forest in Recife as Brazilian cities adopt green infrastructure

Heineken announced a micro‑forest project in Recife, planting native Atlantic Forest seedlings on a 1,250‑hectare site on Rua Mário Campelo in the city's Várzea district. The effort, begun in December 2024, is a partnership with Grupo Cornélio Brennand and the Green Your City platform, and follows the company's goal to establish pocket forests in 19 Brazilian capitals by 2030. So far, Heineken‑backed mini‑forests exist in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Belo Horizonte, Recife, Belém, Porto Alegre and São Luís.

The initiative reflects a broader push across Brazilian cities to mitigate urban heat islands through green infrastructure. Experts highlight that trees, green roofs, and living walls can lower surface temperatures, enhance water infiltration, and reduce energy demand for cooling. Such measures are increasingly seen as essential to improve public health and livability as climate‑driven heatwaves intensify.