Earlier this year, we were very excited to fulfill a dream of ours-to purchase 7.5 acres of highly threatened Atlantic Forest in Brazil's Serra dos Órgãos mountains. We have donated our small plot to Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA), a NGO in Rio state that some will know we have been part of since 2006.

The plot includes existing rainforest on the side of a small valley, as well as degraded land that we want to reforest with native Atlantic Forest trees. As you can see from the photo, much of the land has been deforested and where there should be lush rainforest there is dry shrub and a tough dense grass that stops any salpings from taking hold. The drone image below shows the plot and the red area to be reforested.

With REGUA's help, we can plant at least 2,000 trees on this site and restore the rainforest that once stood here. We would love it if you could help us achieve this.

Reforestation at REGUA

The REGUA nursery produces up to 70,000 saplings a year for reforestation, of up to 180 native tree species. Seeds for reforestation are sourced directly from the existing forest on the reserve, collected by REGUA rangers and nursery staff. The seeds are germinated and grown in REGUA's nursery where they develop into saplings before being planted out in a previously cleared area of land as shown in the video below.

With the saplings cared for after planting, REGUA has achieved an impressive sapling survival rate of 95 per cent. Growth rates of pioneer tree species can be an incredible 1.5-2 metres a year! These images from REGUA illustrate just how much reforested areas can grow in just a few months.

You can read about REGUA's reforestation programme, and REGUA's head of nursery, Mauricio Noqueira, here.

Your donation

A £10 donation will buy 3 trees at £2.91 per tree plus a small amount towards maintenance and care until the trees are established. All donations are very gratefully received.

Thank you, Rachel and Lee.