a bird sitting on a tree branch

Zurich Forest Project news

Immerse yourself in the Zurich Forest Project. Follow activities on the ground month by month with our regular updates.

Current project news

World's Indigenous Peoples
August 2024

Meet some of the guardians of nature

August 9 was International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. Despite comprising only 5% of the global population, they manage 28% of the world's surface land, including some of the planet's most biodiverse areas (according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). In Brazil, indigenous communities have significantly contributed to biodiversity conservation, transforming poor soil into fertile land and managing forests sustainably. Their practices have preserved diverse ecosystems like the Atlantic Forest where the Instituto Terra and our Zurich Forest Project are located.

Photo: © Katie Maehler/APIB Comunicação, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

Archive

World's Indigenous Peoples
August 2024

Meet some of the guardians of nature

August 9 was International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. Despite comprising only 5% of the global population, they manage 28% of the world's surface land, including some of the planet's most biodiverse areas (according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). In Brazil, indigenous communities have significantly contributed to biodiversity conservation, transforming poor soil into fertile land and managing forests sustainably. Their practices have preserved diverse ecosystems like the Atlantic Forest where the Instituto Terra and our Zurich Forest Project are located.

Photo: © Katie Maehler/APIB Comunicação, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

Bird
July 2024

Ecosystem Restoration projects like the Zurich Forest Project, in collaboration with Instituto Terra, helps transform degraded areas into thriving habitats rich in biodiversity.
These efforts have led to the return of numerous plant and animal species, showcasing the resilience of nature when given a helping hand.

A bee
May 2024

Let's acknowledge the crucial role of bees in our ecosystem

The stingless bees from the Zurich Forest Project in Brazil's Atlantic Forest are essential for maintaining biodiversity. These unique bees, including Melipona quadrifasciata and Plebeia Schwarz species, face environmental challenges, but their survival is crucial. Unfortunately, bees are under serious threat globally, with over 500 million bees dying in Brazil alone due to harmful pesticides and insecticides. This decline impacts not only plant diversity but also food availability and habitat for other wildlife.
man working on a tree
April 2024

Boosting biodiversity

The seed collection team enhances genetic biodiversity by sourcing seeds from various species across a 200 km radius, countering potential issues like plagues or genetic defects.
Illustration
March 2024

Planting season 2023 reached its end! 110,000 seedlings planted across 70 hectares.

The chosen planting area combines lowland and slopes, presenting a diverse landscape that requires careful planning and collaboration. Trees planted on slopes face unique challenges, including limited water, harsh sunlight, and thin soil layers. However, the team on the ground from Instituto Terra has selected resilient species capable of thriving in these conditions.
fertigation
February 2024

Zurich invests in the future with fertigation!

The chosen planting area combines lowland and slopes, presenting a diverse landscape that requires careful planning and collaboration. Trees planted on slopes face unique challenges, including limited water, harsh sunlight, and thin soil layers. However, the team on the ground from Instituto Terra has selected resilient species capable of thriving in these conditions.
Image

Soil

Within the soil, biodiversity refers to the variety of life, including bacteria, fungi, earthworms, and termites. Typically, a teaspoon of soil contains a wide range of different species and up to 6 billion microorganisms.