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What people say:

"There is a celtic saying that heaven and earth are only three feet a part-but in the thin places the distance becomes even smaller. Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza is such a place. A perfect environment and opportunity to immerse yourself in natural beauty, abundance, consciousness and the mystery beyond."  ... Nancy Watts - Photographer and Life Coach, Inspiredviews

 

Where, how, who & when

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Effective February 24, 2009, in an agreement between Open World Foundation and Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza, 284 hectares of land has been set aside as “Reserva Legal - Legal Reserve” and "Areas de Preservação Permanente - Areas of Permanent Protection" in accordance with Brazilian law (Codigo Florestal 1965). The land will be included in the “Replanting a Rainforest” sponsorship project, a project planned to provide for the planting and care of millions of native tree and plant species to be developed in lots of approx. 10 hectares (10.000 m2).

Located 300 km from São Paulo, Fazenda Ambiental Fortaleza (www.fafbrazil.com) lies in the municipality of Mococa, just south of the border to the state of Minas Gerais.


In close cooperation with Brazilian NGO’s “S.O.S. Mata Atlântica”, assisting with establishing guidelines and monitoring, and “Grupo Ecolôgico Olho D’Agua”, providing native tree and plant saplings, “Replanting a Rainforest” will be carried out by the FAF-staff together with supporters from Open World Café Community and the supporters and members of the Board of Directors at Open World Foundation!


The replanting will be carried out in three stages: Pioneer Trees, Secondary Forest and Primary Forest.

Pioneer Trees: These fast-growing trees provide the necessary shade for the secondary forest to prosper without  being suffocated by grass and dried out by the burning sunlight.  The pioneer trees will be harvested within the first 3 years  to make room for the secondary forest.


Secondary Forest: As the pioneer trees provide shade, native saplings are planted, bringing diversity through a minimum of 80 tree species per hectare, including fruit and other leguminous species,  hardwoods, and native plants (orchids, bromeliads, etc.)


Primary Forest: This is the original state of a rain forest; with a rich biodiversity in plant and animal life. 

This is the ultimate goal; creating the conditions for the forest to develop and enrich the local environment, provide groundcover for  aquifers and natural springs, habitat for wildlife, and a sustainable and symbiotic co-existence with humankind.

 



The planting season begins in October, in the rainy season, and will develop in lots of approx. 10 hectares. 

The social impact of “Replanting a Rainforest” can be tremendous since it can serve as a model for future projects focusing on tree stewardship, farm management, fruits and other products which can be symbiotically harvested from planted forest (vanilla,  coffee, ginger, herbs, spices etc.), local handicrafts, seminars and workshops which can be provided to local  community and international visitors.

All forest stewardship and management proceeds from “Replanting a Rainforest” will be re-invested in educational and environmental projects.