Follow the project

November 12, 2009

Replanting a Rainforest began in earnest three weeks ago on October 20th, after having received a generous donation from WeForest.com. And things started happening in a big way.

Almost immediately a group representing our local partners, Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza (FAF) and the local NGO Grupo Ecológico Olho D’Agua, and neighbors with lands bordering on FAF, went to inspect and study more closely some of the areas which had been defined to be a part of the total project of almost 300 hectares; the so-called different “Reserva Legal” (RL) and “Áreas de Preservação Permanente” (APP). These last, the “APP”, are the areas surrounding natural water springs and waterways; streams, rivers, and lakes. There are more than 47 natural water springs and eight lakes, made mostly of dammed streams, on the FAF property of 850 hectares. It has always been our intention to prioritize the protection and regeneration of the APP’s, like the three natural springs in FAF Lot 1. We now discovered, however, a considerably more degraded area just south of this, what we are calling FAF Lot 2, consisting of 8,12 hectares of land historically used as a chicken farm (going back a few generations) and now overgrown with the so-called “elephant grass” known locally as “capim”, a favourite for grazing cattle. Being great for cattle, it’s disastrous if you want to grow trees, since it grows as tall as an elephant in one rainy season (beginning in October each year), smothering any seedlings you may have planted.

Geotechnical Satellite Picture of FAF Lot 2

Elephant Grass, or "Capim" on FAF Lot 2

What we discovered on FAF Lot 2 was that there are 4 natural springs (previously only 2), and that this is the source of the “Corrego da Agua Limpa” which downstream becomes the “Rio Agua Limpa” or Clear Water River! At least one of the springs is totally dried up, but another, after digging a few inches into the ground became soaked with water!

We are now studying this in more detail but it’s clear (clear water clear!) that we will begin Replanting a Rainforest with trees to protect and regenerate the natural water springs. This is what Felipe Croce wrote:

“This plot has one spring in the middle of the area we are planting which has dried up but when we dug a few inches into the ground we found water. Actually this was all recorded in the filming with Renato! There are two or three more spings further down the hill a little which is not in the area we are planting (because the land was too steep to clear).” Further, he continues: “As far as the area: It was recently purchased by FAF and used to belong to Morro Azul. It used to be called Granja which was because there was a big chicken coop there. Then it became all coffee and overtime the springs dried up. There are people who live on the farms who can tell stories of how the area used to be and can tell stories of the river. When Renato (Kerr, Filmmaker, editors remark) was here we thought about tracing the river down a bit and interviewing people from the different farms and communities whose live are affected by the river. This area is also particularly interesting because it will be an essential link in connecting forest reserves between 7 or more farms! This will create a large habitat for wildlife that is hard to find today in the state of São Paulo. We are excited to have you come down and start planting!”

Clearing "Capim" on FAF Lot 2

The clearing has started, and species are being identified which will help the capillary activity of raising the water table and regenerating the springs. The added bonus of this becoming a “corridor” for wildlife, and joining the efforts of 7 neighboring farms is a great way to get our project started!

More studies will be undertaken, and many decisions need to be made over the next few weeks, in the meantime we will continue to clear about three hectares of land and prepare it for planting, which we plan to begin within two weeks. I am flying to Brazil tomorrow and after a meeting on Monday with “SOS Mata Atlântica” (NGO) Director Mario Mantovani will proceed to the farm, located 330 km. from the São Paulo city, at 950 meters above sea level.

I would also like to get a discussion going if there are questions on “Replanting a Rainforest”, or if anyone would like to contribute with knowledge or other resources.

Exciting weeks ahead, I look forward to posting regular updates, and if anybody should be in the area, come and join us! Contact me for information on lodging and board at Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza in the period between November 17 and December 7.

October 20, 2009

Thanks to a grant provided by the Founder of WeForest.com, "Replanting a Rainforest" takes a giant leap forward.

We are now preparing to take soil samples to determine the species of pioneer trees best suited to plant around the three natural springs and stream in the FAF Lot 1 comprising 22.28 hectares of degraded farmland to be reforested (of almost 300 hectares total). We are fortunate to be in the  middle of the planting season, which also makes it urgent to begin defining the parameters and planting and caring for the seedlings.

We are also looking at options of building a shelter for the seedlings provided by "Grupo Ecológico Olho D'Agua", who will also assist with the identification of the most appropriate native seedlings. To qualify as a rainforest (according to our friends at SOS Mata Atlântica - Brazils largest NGO for the protections and restoration of the Atlantic Rainforest) a minimum of 80 different species are required in the secondary forest, which we look forward to planting during the next five years, when the pioneer trees have grown sufficiently to provide shade for the growth of the secondary forest.

Our biggest challenge is dealing with the fast growing "elephant grass", and ants, capable of reducing a seedling to a bare stick overnight. The elephant grass (an import on the slave ships from Africa) doesn't grow well in the shade.

This grant, in addition to other sponsorships and fundraising activities, among them the ongoing "Wearing is Caring" T-shirt sponsorship campaign and other generous donations, allows us to aim at replanting approximately 2 (two) hectares in this first phase of Lot 1 on Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza (FAF), located in the Southwest corner of the estate.

What this very significant grant and other donations do not provide for  (yet) is  the purchase of a tractor and the final shelter structures for the seedlings. We have decided at this point that our priority is to get as many tree seedlings in the ground as possible to take advantage of this planting (rainy) season. To do this we will be dependent on the generosity of the different estate owners, now in the middle of the coffee bean harvest, and the availability of tractors.

In other words we will depend on our neigbors for favours, all part of building a sustainable community, so we find ourselves in the fortunate situation that we have great people all around us, and can look forward to returning the favours. Perhaps you come and join us this fall?!

Christer, from Open World Café in Stockholm