The Atlantic Forest, also known as Mata Atlantica, once covered 130 million hectares across Brazil. Now, this tropical rainforest ecosystem is home to more than half of the country’s population. Centuries of deforestation for timber, sugar cane, coffee, cattle ranching, and urban sprawl have reduced the size of the forest by over 90%. Although the water supply for Brazil’s two most populous cities (Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo) comes from this forest, there is a lack of public policies and resources to protect it.
Our partners in Brazil are working to restore 15 million hectares of the Atlantic Forest by 2050. By helping plant trees in this critically important forest you are promoting the conservation of biodiversity, creating jobs and income opportunities for communities, and establishing sustainable land management practices among Brazilian land owners. The 15 million hectares of restored forest also has the potential to sequester 200 million tonnes of CO2 annually, and will help restore water quality and quantity for the millions of people in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and so many of the surrounding communities.
A personalized tree certificate to say thanks for your donation. We’ll also send you updates on our Atlantic Forest projects, so you can track the impact your trees are having on the community and environment.To maximize the impact of your donation, our partner will determine the most appropriate species of tree to plant.