Forests4Water Brazil: Community Climate Action

Good afternoon, dear donors,

It's actually been raining this past week - remember we told you that the old timers were saying the rains were coming early? We don´t think this is actually the real rains yet, just a rehearsal, but we´ll take what we can get, and it´s amazing how just a few days of gentle rain can transform the landscape overnight.

And it's most welcome, as we approach the planting season.Over the past couple of weeks we've carried out another six farm visits, so we're well up to speed. Which is just as well, since once the rains set in with a vengeance we can have days when even the most hardy teams in the toughest of vehicles can scarcely make it up to some of the planting sites! 

But so far, so good, and Deivid is very happy with the nursery situation. His seedlings are looking happy and healthy and his team has been scouring the forest for seeds, since the work of making seedlings depends on when the different tree species set seed. He reckons they've collected around forty kilos of seeds over the past few days, and collecting is only the start. As you know, different seeds require different methods of preparation, and all seeds require the right combination of water, oxygen, temperature and sunlight. Some species require scarification –  not as bad as it sounds! Scarification simply means breaking through the hard outer coat that is designed to keep the seed in a state of dormancy. This can be done by passing through the digestive system of an animal or bird, or by gently sandpapering the hard outer coat to let the seed emerge. It's a lot of work, but we have yet to persuade Deivid to pass the seeds through his own digestive system..... You can also soak the seeds to soften the outer coat. Some seeds even require fire conditions to germinate, can you believe?

Another news item is that we'll be welcoming a new forestry coordinator at the end of the month, and there is much to be done before he arrives. Deivid and Alfredo will be paying a visit to one or our colleagues in Rio state who is an expert in large scale reforestry and will certainly have much to teach them. They are also signed up to become drone pilots which is going to simplify our monitoring considerably. 

Lots going on down here. But we wouldn´t have it any other way.

So thank you once again for your amazing support. You are the best!

With much love and appreciation from the Iracambi Forestry Team  

PS  We forgot to tell you that we have another expert pair of hands helping out in the nursery. Her name is Fran, and we're thrilled that she has joined the team.

Good afternoon, dear donors,

Time is flying by, and we are well into our preparation for the 2021 planting season. Old timers are telling us to expect an early start to the rains, (connected with the deafening chorus of some varieties of thrush,) and, in any case, it´s never too early to be visiting local properties, explaining how the project works and clarifying expectations about exactly what we offer and what we expect from our partners!

Here´s a quick headsup to remind you. We define the priority restoration areas, collect and upload data on the property, take soil samples, discuss the most appropriate mix of species for each property – depending on soils, vegetation, sun, shade, distance from existing forest patches and farmer´s preference – work alongside the farmers to clear the weeds, prepare the ground, dig the holes and apply organic fertilizer, plant, monitor and provide two years’ maintenance, along with replanting in the case of seedling loss (usually in the region of 10 - 12%.) The farmers' commitment is to fence off the reforestry area, to help in every stage of the process, monitor the progress of the young trees and help with the maintenance.

For some time we have been investigating the possibility of Payment for Environmental Services, whereby farmers receive regular cash payments for the ecosystem services they provide through reforesting areas of their farms, and we have recently been encouraged to learn of a large-scale program to reforest 1.5 million hectares in the Mantiqueira mountain range in the states of Rio, São Paulo and Minas Gerais. Its objective is to help Brazil fulfil its commitment to the Paris Accord, as well as implementing an integrated climate mitigation strategy, assuring water to the urban areas of Rio and São Paulo, and providing incentives to landowners to restore forest areas on their property.

In past years the highly strategic Serra do Brigadeiro has been excluded from Atlantic Forest initiatives, and we are delighted to discover that now we are finally part of this program. Stay tuned while we learn more – we'll be sure to update you!

So this good news (amidst a deafening chorus of birdsong,) comes with a big thank you for your unfailing support. We couldn't do what we do without your help!

With love and so many thanks from the Iracambi forestry team

PS. Another quick headline. Remember our on-farm forest nurseries? We're working with local women to help them become the leading proponents of the project, caring for the young seedlings and then selling them as an extra income source. More soon on this!