Mountain Reforestation

The Atlantic forest was once the largest forest on Earth even surpassing the Amazon in size. It is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, and in some places considered to have the highest diversity of tree vegetation is species. In some areas more than 450 tree species per hectare. It is home to many animals and plant species. It is particularly noted for small primates, its beautiful birdlife and butterflies.

Nearly all the large trees surrounding Wasiwaska were cut down decades ago, for construction and repairement of boats coming from Europe on their way to Argentina or from New York on their huge trip around the southern tip of South America all the way to California. Replaciong the forests were plantations of manioc, coffee and sugar cane. Our intention is to continue replacing parts of a little diversified tertiary forest and plant trees that capture nitrogen as a first step before continue planting fruit trees belonging to the Atlantic Coastal Forest. We have already planted fruit trees in an area of roughly 2,000 sq. meters. Besides several species of trees, we are planting several especially important medicinal plants.

This is a long-term project which requires first of all labor in order to:

Remove three alien species: a number of North American pines The Slash Pine (Pinus elliotti), the Bracken fern (Pteridum aquilinum), which is covering parts of the hill, and the grass Sckeria pterota.

Plant fast growing trees from the Atlantic Coastal Forest, such as garapuvús (Schizolobium parahyba), timbaúva (Enterolobium contortisiliquum), (Cecropia sp). and various species of angico (Anadenanthera sp.) for soil improvement. Once these are growing, fruit trees can be planted nearby, as these species do not block the sun.

During the last three months of this year we intend to remove the fern from an area of around 2,000 square meters and plant around 150 trees.

Total amount for one year: US$ 8,600.