Afforestation protects the climate and biodiversity in Campo GrandeThe project area of over 1,000 ha is located southeast of Campo Grande in Brazil. Cattle farming, which is widespread in the region, occupies large areas and leads to severe soil degradation and the conversion of valuable savannah areas into cattle pastures. This increases the pressure on the remaining species-rich savannahs as well as on the animal and plant species living there, some of which are endangered.
Our partners on site have already planted 1.7 million trees and protect a large area of the original savannah. The forests provide new habitat and contribute to the regeneration of soils and their water balance. At the same time, the fast-growing trees bind large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thus reducing the greenhouse effect. In addition, the project creates jobs and offers educational programmes for the employees and their families.
How does reforestation/afforestation/revegetation contribute to climate action?Forests are essential in our lives and are among the planet's most important carbon sinks. Besides providing habitats for wildlife, they filter the air, stabilise and protect soils, store water, and contribute to the balance of our climate. However, global forest areas have declined sharply in recent decades due to increasing settlements, agriculture, illegal logging, and raw material extraction. Afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation activities significantly increase a forest’s carbon storage capacity in both the biomass of the forest and in the soil. The storage capacity varies according to the tree species, age, and location. Experts distinguish these activities in the following way:
Afforestation converts non-forested areas into forest ones. Reforestation restores forest areas that have been damaged or deforested in the past. Revegetation increases the vegetation through planting trees, shrubs, or other plants.
