It was 1998 when Lélia Deluiz Wanick Salgado and Sebastião Salgado decided to turn an old family cattle farm into an unprecedented ecological restoration project. More than two decades later, Instituto Terra continues to grow and multiply its impact, now with the support of one of the biggest partnerships in its history: the Zurich Forest Project.
The alliance with Zurich officially began in 2020, driven by the shared conviction that it is possible to regenerate not just a forest, but an entire ecosystem. With the creation of the Zurich Forest Project, the goal was set of planting one million seedlings of native species over eight years – a goal that is already close to being achieved, with more than 800,000 trees grown so far, representing more than 80 species of the Atlantic Forest.
The project is not just about planting. It involves the integral restoration of the landscape: soil, water, fauna and communities. It’s a job that starts with collecting seeds, processing and producing seedlings in the nursery, and continues right through to planting and monitoring the development of the new forests. By investing in expanding the Institute’s structure, Zurich made it possible to build a new nursery with the capacity to produce at least 1 million seedlings a year, as well as equipment and transportation for the field team.
Thanks to this reinforcement, Instituto Terra has significantly expanded its area of activity. In 2024, with the support of Zurich, new properties were acquired that tripled the territory under the Institute’s management – from just over 700 to more than 2,400 hectares. In these new areas, which were previously severely degraded, the restoration process has already begun.
The Zurich Forest Project also strengthens the work with the surrounding communities. Forest restoration drives activities such as the collection of native seeds, which today mobilizes rural producers in dozens of municipalities in the Doce River Basin. By encouraging the production of seedlings and the restoration of vegetation, the project strengthens local biodiversity and contributes directly to generating income and enhancing the value of the area.
The impact of this partnership is visible. With the return of wildlife and the reoccupation of the soil by resilient forests, Instituto Terra is advancing as a replicable restoration model. Jaguars, howler monkeys, ocelots, anteaters and hundreds of species of native plants have returned to inhabit the region, proving that, when well cared for, nature responds.
More than an investment in sustainability, Zurich’s actions represent a commitment to the future. The Zurich Forest Project symbolizes the meeting of science, social and environmental responsibility and hope – and has inspired new allies to join forces for a more balanced planet.
Be part of this transformation yourself. Visit our website and see for yourself how forests can be born again.
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