Reforesting the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil

The SINAL team received exciting news in August when we found out we had been chosen as the site for an experimental restoration project as part of an initiative to find innovative and practical forms of reforestation in the Mata Atlântica. The project has various hubs throughout the state of Rio, testing different types of restoration. At SINAL, we will be experimenting with assisted natural regeneration, which is a method for accelerating the growth of young forests and grasslands that were once Mata Atlantica but have been deforested. An advantage to assisted natural regeneration, as compared to traditional reforestation projects, is that it is far more cost-effective and therefore scalable in the long-term. If the Mata Atlântica is to be saved, it cannot rely on just highly technical, resource-heavy projects. Assisted natural regeneration offers that possibility.

At the end of August, a team from Eco-Atlantica visited SINAL with a team of biologists and forest engineers to perform a diagnostic of our property. After measuring the density of tree species on a variety of areas at SINAL, they happily concluded that we would be an excellent fit for the experimental project. The team will return in October for the next day of fieldwork and to begin recuperating soil, planting specific and important tree species, and taking preventive measures against invasive grasses and other potent barriers to recuperation of the forest.

SINAL is thrilled to part of an innovative project such as this one, as it aligns with our goals to both continue our own work of reforesting the valley of Santo Antonio as well as to create new models of practical and scalable restoration.