Who are we? Our group first became involved with reforestation in India in 1995. Since then we have worked with projects in Costa Rica and began our first major project in Colombia in 2006. Our company is called Planeta Verde Reforestación S.A. (Green Planet), and Amazonia Reforestation is our South American division. In 2009 we are planting over 100 hectares (250 acres) with over 127,500 tropical trees in the Orinoco basin, and we are gearing up to plant 500,000 trees in 2010. More information, including pictures, can be found in our Gallery page.
How does the program work? We invite people committed to improving the environment and providing habitat for endangered wildlife to join us as Joint Venture Partners ("JVP") in our financially sustainable afforestation and reforestation efforts. As a partner you provide the money for us to plant trees in your name. That means everything from establishing the tree nursery, raising seedlings, planting trees and maintaining them through to maturity, harvest and sale in 10 years time.
What are the projects main eco-benefits? Our projects increase wildlife habitat, remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, combat global warming, fix nitrogen in poor soils, and support green education at a local and international level. We are committed to teaching both local people and visitors to the plantation about the benefits of conservation and good forest practices. Possibly most important of all, the more plantation hardwood we produce and sell in international markets, the less old growth rainforest trees are in demand.
How does this make money? At the 10 year maturity of the tropical trees you funded, we sell some of the hardwood for you at a significant profit. The international wood market has seen steady growth since the 1940´s, with more people and less available wood fuelling global demand for everything from building materials to furniture and from pulp and paper to cooking fuel.
Why do we cut down our trees? Returning extremely poor soil conditions to rainforest is a very long and difficult task, and it can take up to 50 years of structured management and replanting before it even begins to look like true rainforest. Known as a primary ecology, these areas are sandy and nearly dead soil that lacks nutrients and organic layers. Our biology and agriculture teams use specific hardwood trees which are a mix of nitrogen fixing trees, fruit trees, and native species that help to rebuild the organic layers and draw wildlife back into the area to further the soil recovery. After 10 years certain trees must be culled out to make room for more delicate species to be planted. Many rainforest plants cannot survive in the current soil conditions and must be introduced only after soil and overhead shade cover is re-established in the area.
What is so special about 10 years? The primary tree species that we remove from the managed plantation, mainly Acacia mangium and Eucalyptus pellita, have such a fast growth rate they begin to rot and break down after about 12 years, leaving the wood useless if left in any longer. They are very good at fixing nitrogen in the soil. Also, these species are most effective at sequestering CO2 within the first 10 years of their lives. Within 1.5 years of being planted as a seed Acacia Mangium is often twice the height of an adult human.
How does this protect current rainforest? Plantation grown hardwoods are very important for protecting currently existing rainforest. The more plantation hardwood there is on the market, the less demand there is to cut down currently existing rainforest.
Can I come and see my trees? Our plantation is open for you or your representative to come and physically see the project on the ground. Please let us know your plans and we will help organize a trip to this amazing part of the world. Our subsidiary, Plantación Amazonia El Vita S.A., is located on 2,880 hectares (approx. 7,116 acres) of land about 1 hour and 20 minutes out of Puerto Carreño, in Vichada, Colombia. Access is by air from Bogotá, Colombia's capital, and then by gravel road to the plantation. It is located around 06° 05' 51" North and 67° 43' 48" West. The tree farm lies along the banks of the Rio El Bita river, which flows into the mighty Orinoco.
