Ecological restoration projects begin well before the first seedling touches the soil. Jansen Fernandes, our director of forest operations, explains that the activity requires a series of complex, integrated steps along with specialized knowledge about the ecosystem being restored.
Planning begins with the search for degraded land eligible for forest restoration projects aimed at the carbon market. The analysis continues with soil studies, defining planting and forest maintenance methods and techniques, establishing the ecological service and inputs, reviewing the monitoring practices, and sizing the resources necessary for the success of the operation. The creation and sale of carbon credits also demand specific planning, integrated and aligned with ecological restoration.
The continued health of the forest is only guaranteed when there is comprehension of the connections and interdependencies between the stages, the technical knowledge, and coordination between different stakeholders. Human intervention should occur during precise moments and be based on monitoring data. In this article you will learn about some of the phases and challenges involved in this process.
Stage 1: Identifying areas with potential for ecological recuperation is the first step for a successful project.
Brazil has more than 100 million hectares of degraded pastures. However, these areas are not always adequate for the development of forest restoration projects centered on the carbon market.
Jansen shares some of the preferred characteristics when selecting environments: First, the capacity to support the planting and development of forests that are eligible for carbon project certifications. Second, legal proof of land ownership documentation.
This evaluation demands support from geoespecial intelligent technology combined with international carbon project metrics and standards, followed by the rigorous judicial analysis process.
Once the potential restoration is identified, aspects like climate conditions, soil use and type, soil fertility, topography, various environmental data, and current degradation factors are analyzed. These pieces of information are the basis of the planning and restoration technique approach.
Stage 2: Ecological planning establishes the processes and resources needed for the ecosystem to recover its natural balance.
Based on this first analysis, the technical team goes into the field to develop a detailed ecological restoration plan. Jansen explains that the process begins with defining productive units in the total divided areas, called “plots.”
For each plot, a detailed soil study is conducted to define the necessary techniques for the restoration of its capacity to support the local ecosystem. This analysis includes soil type, history of use, degree of degradation, and climate and remaining forest land. With Project Muçununga, for example, where we are regenerating more than 1,200 hectares of Atlantic Forest in Southern Bahia, the area was divided into 320 plots that are, roughly, 5 hectares each.
“The planning doesn’t aim to simply revert the soil degradation or recover the vegetation, but to reestablish the functionality of the ecological ecosystem” – Jansen Fernandes
Stage 3: The logistical challenge of seed production and supply chain mobilization to ensure the planting takes place at the right moment
Preparing all of the inputs and services that will make the project viable involves everything from seed collection and seedling production to logistical aspects and training of the field teams. The plan must guarantee that the planting occurs at the right moment, respecting the rainy season cycle and other environmental conditions.
According to Jansen, “in large scale projects, seed and seedling production and the logistics of transportation and distribution in the field require dedicated planning.” He explains that the forest seedlings must be high quality, diversified, and adapted for the regional conditions. More than just inputs, they represent the beginnings of a new forest, the possibility to restore landscapes, generating knowledge, and boosting local economies.
In our projects, seed collection is carried out by local plant nurseries in areas close to the planting site in order to guarantee ecological compatibility and strengthen the resilience of the restored forest. The seeds undergo different processing and storage processes to guarantee their viability until planting.
Stage 4: Soil preparation, especially for the most degraded soils, is essential for the project’s success.
Before planting begins, it is essential to carry out soil interventions that promote its physical recovery (decompaction) and chemical recovery (fertilization), control invasive species, and combat pests like leaf-cutting ants.
“The objective is not to superimpose a forest, but facilitate its return based on what the ecosystem once was and can become again” – Jansen Fernandes
Decompaction can be carried out with the assistance of agricultural equipment like subsoilers and scarifiers. The goal is to restore the aeration and permeability conditions, to improve absorption of water and nutrients. However, there are situations where this mechanization is limited, and semi-mechanical decompaction with specific equipment is needed.
Fertilization can be executed after an analysis of soil fertility, using products and elements selected in a way that does not jeopardize the environment or the health of local animals and people. Another concern is the team training, which is fundamental to reducing risk of waste and pollution.
Stage 5: Time to plant! Thorough planning involves reintroducing native species that attract wildlife and have high carbon accumulation potential
With the soil prepared and the seeds and plantlings available, planting can finally begin, which can be manual or mechanized based on the area’s characteristics.
The careful selection process of native species is one of the main focuses at this stage, which takes into account ecological function, adaptability, and contribution to restoring biodiversity. The species are introduced along three phases, structuring, consolidation, and maturing.
Structuring: Pioneer Species
The first phase involves the so-called “canopy-forming species,” which grow quickly and provide good coverage and shade. These pioneers cover and protect the soil, creating the conditions necessary for the introduction of other species.
These plants form the first canopy, promote the modification of the microclimate, and help suppress the different degradation factors. Janse shares that, in the case of Project Muçununga, this stage anticipates the planting of native species in the Atlantic Forest like pau-pólvora, pau-viola, capixingui, aroeira-pimenteira (Brazilian pepper tree), gurindiba, and cajazinho, all native Brazilian tree species.
Consolidation: Enrichment species
The consolidation phase allows for the formation of the second dossel and the forest understory. In this phase, species with slower growth and greater longevity are introduced, including those attractive to wildlife and with strong capacity for carbon accumulation.
In order to guarantee the biological richness of Project Muçununga, for example, at least 15% of these species are enrichment species. They are introduced when continuous monitoring indicates the need and include angico, a aroeira preta, yellow ipê, e o pau-formiga.
Maturing: The forest finds ecological balance
The success of the previous phases guarantees the forest’s progressions toward a dynamic equilibrium, in which it can restore itself naturally and sustainably.
Only adaptive management is required. Continuous monitoring of the forest allows for identification of risks and problems, such as pests or fire outbreaks, which demand timely intervention.
Stage 6: The importance of monitoring and continuous evaluation to guarantee the reestablishment of ecosystem services
Far from concluding the ecological restoration work, after planting it’s necessary to guarantee care and agricultural practices so the forest can develop successfully.
In Jansen’s words, “restoration is not just covering the soil with green. It means thinking about how each species interacts and contributes to the formation of a complete ecosystem.” For this to occur, after initial planting and the formation of the first dossel, restoration requires permanent monitoring, the introduction of enrichment species whenever necessary, and pest and invasive species control.
This is a long term process that takes into consideration all of the ecosystem's peculiarities and factors that lead to its degradation. “We want the restored area to reach a stage of ecological equilibrium in which the forest has capacity to regenerate itself naturally and perform ecosystem services,” concludes our director of forest operations.
The benefits of restoration increase exponentially over time: as the area recovers, it brings benefits to the people, nature, and the businesses that depend on it.