The seed in the earth must be life,
to guarantee lives in the future.

350 Native trees were
planted in the Amazon

HOW WE DO

The restoration

To restore a degraded area in the Amazon, or in practically any other biome, it is essential to have an ecosystem of partners dedicated to making the initial restoration process viable through the planting of diverse trees. This ecosystem includes seed networks with local collectors who work collecting seeds from the forest, nurseries specializing in the production of seedlings of different species and farmers who establish partnerships with us to restore their Permanent Preservation Area (APP) areas or even for the creation of agroforestry systems. Each part of this ecosystem plays a fundamental role in environmental restoration, and it is this collaboration that allows us to advance in the recovery of degraded ecosystems.

Seedling production

Native seedlings are not produced with special attention. Starting by collecting seeds from hundreds of trees native to the region. Then these seeds are processed and selected to ensure quality and genetic diversity. In the nurseries, the seedlings are grown under control, resulting in robust seedlings that make restoration more effective.

Restoration project

The restoration project begins with the identification of farmers interested in recovering APP areas or creating agroforests. Our technicians visit the areas, collect soil samples and carry out a detailed survey, including planting areas. This helps you understand the needs of each location and choose the appropriate tree species.

Planting

Planting begins with the start of the rains in Rondônia, generally at the end of November. First, we fence the area and prepare the holes for planting seedlings and seeds. We fertilize the soil according to the analysis and use hydrogel to reduce losses. Planting is done in a collective effort, with beneficiaries and local helpers.

Maintenance and monitoring

During maintenance, we remove grass with brush cutters and control ants. In the first year, we replant seedlings that have not adapted to the new location (from the nursery to the degraded area) and install monitoring cameras, when necessary.

Preliminary list of tree species
which we will plant in 2023.

Download list

HOW WE DO

Maintenance and monitoring

In the maintenance phase, we implement several measures to ensure the success of the project.

We use mowers to control grass growth, we adopt ant control strategies, we carry out replanting when necessary to replace seedlings that have not adapted to the new location (from the nursery to the degraded area) and we install fauna monitoring cameras, allowing us to monitor the animals that already frequent or will begin to inhabit the new area. In addition, we maintain continuous monitoring, both via satellite and in person, for a minimum period of three years. We will continue to monitor as long as these observation channels are operational, as we continue to expand our forest.

*Images of the monitoring and maintenance of Meu Pé de Árvore in 2022

HOW WE DO

Planting trees

Planting will take place in Rondônia, in l12 Km 22 Gleba 08B Lot 16 in the Municipality of Ouro Preto do Oeste, State of Rondônia.

The seedlings will begin to be planted in November with the start of the rains in the Amazon region and will be completed by December 2023.

First, we fenced the area and prepared holes for planting seedlings and seeds. In some situations, we also plant "green manures", such as legumes, which help to recover the soil and suppress grass growth more quickly. Our choice of fertilizers is based on soil analysis, and we incorporate hydrogel to minimize water losses. Planting is a joint collaboration, involving beneficiaries and hiring local helpers to ensure the success of this essential stage of the project. Below, you can view photos of the entire process, from seed collection to planting.

Learn about the history of Sítio Canaã

FOREST RESTORATION OF AN APP

Mareilde's parents arrived in Rondônia in the 1970s with only small suitcases in hand and began their family's saga there.

After many years of fighting against the "imposing forest", the matriarch of the family, seeing the damage to everyone, understood that it was not against it, but rather in harmony that she should live with the forest and passed this vision on to her daughters, showing them the potential of the oil palm trees that still remained on the property.

Mareilde and her sisters understood their mother's message and founded an association of women extractivists who harvest buriti and babassu fruits to extract oils for the production of artisanal cosmetics from the Amazon Bioeconomy.

With all the decades-long conflict, man versus nature, scars have been left on the land as well as on the property's main river, which is drying up and putting the production of cosmetics and the use of the property in general at risk.

The problems caused by degradation bring direct and indirect socio-environmental and economic losses to the local community, directly impacting more than 30 families.

Upon learning of this situation, Meu Pé de Árvore accepted the challenge of starting Mareilde's dream of restoring the entire river that runs through the property and is practically without riparian forest and silted up with only a “trickle of water” and which, in his childhood, served both his family's water supply and in his leisure time, when he competed with his brothers to see who could swim across.

We will start this beautiful forest restoration project at the front of the property, planting mainly Buritis, Chestnut trees, Jequitibás, Açaí, Angico , among others, as desired by the farmer, who already dreams of the future fruits she will harvest, not to mention a good bath in the river.

About the Program

BNDES Garagem is a BNDES initiative whose mission is to develop and foster entrepreneurship in Brazil by supporting entrepreneurs and startups.

The program enters its third year maintaining its focus on boosting impact businesses that want to contribute to solving social or environmental challenges.

The program's acceleration methodology relies on the partnership of three leading organizations in the entrepreneurship ecosystem: Artemisia, Wayra and Liga Ventures.

The program, 100% free, will support entrepreneurs and their impact businesses in two stages: Creation, for those who are developing an impact business and want support to take the first steps; and Traction, for those who already have an impact business and want support to grow.

Those selected will have access to workshops, content, individual support, mentoring, connection events and access to the partner network.