Forests4Water - Forests Forever

Dear friends and supporters, 

Down here in the forest it's a dark rainy evening, and I'm sitting by the wood stove. (No, it's not really cold, but there's something so cozy and friendly about the fire that we lit it anyway.) And what better time to send you an update on what's been going on in our forestry program over the past couple of weeks. 

We're getting towards the end of the rainy season, but we're still having periodic storms, and after all the planting is done this is the time to monitor and maintain areas that have been previously restored. This is the moment when we do enrichment planting - planting species that will grow quickly under the shade of of the young trees that are already established. Recently we've been focusing on acai jussara - the Atlantic Forest species of açai which we think is even better than the one that grows in the Amazon. But don't quote us on that, otherwise we'll get into trouble with our friends up there! 

Jussara grows really quickly and after six years it will already produce the delicious berries from which we can make açai smoothies. For many years the tree was traditionally been cut to harvest the heart of palm - which is also delicious, but which kills the tree. But in recent times people in the Atlantic Forest have been planting jussara in order to harvest the berries. Here at Iracambi we are planting it  in our reforestry areas as well as in the areas of agroforestry. Restoring forest cover, extending habitat, and allowing the harvesting of the berries, which not only taste great, but are also rich in antioxidants. 

Try the açai pulp for yourself -  we can promise that you'll enjoy it! 

And thank you, thank you, for supporting us as together we are restoring these magnificent forests. Healthy forests, healthy communities, healthy world. 

with love and gratitude, 

Luiz, Binka and the Iracambi foresters