Brazil is one of the countries where the pandemic has been more devastating. While the authorities are still trying to control the spread of the virus, bereaved families and civil society organizations, with the support of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve and the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact, which include some of Brazil’s most respected restoration scientists, started an ambitious program to help wildlife conservation and restoration, while honouring the memory of the ones gone with the pandemic, and thanking Health workers.
The effort takes place across 17 states and is supported by the United Nations through The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The goal of the program is to plant 200.000 trees, about the the same amount of Covid victims so far in the South American Nation.
Tim Christophersen, head of UNEP’s Nature for Climate Branch said “This is a great initiative because it shows multiple dimensions of restoration – namely that restoration is about healing our relationship with nature and at the same time it’s a healing experience for ourselves.”
The organizers will ensure that a diversity of native tree species from the Atlantic forest region are planted, including Inga sp., guava (Psidium guajava), Jacaranda (Jacaranda caroba), Ipe (Tebabuia sp.), grumixama (Eugenia brasiliensis), and several species from the botanic families Myrtaceae, Malvaceae, Lauraceae and Fabaceae.
Rafael da Silva de Lima from São Paulo whose father, Reginaldo Alves de Lima, and cousin, Edna Maria de Almeida, were victims of the virus, said: “This action is very meaningful due to the fact that trees are life and a connection with mother nature.”
Source : https://www.unep.org/