The Forest
An ancient proverb teaches “The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.” We thought what better way to celebrate our vision, mission, partnerships and collaborations than to contribute to an agroforestry project that will enable a community and its eco system to regenerate and flourish.The project is situated Ecuador, a country of majestic biodiversity. The province of Manabì overlooks the Pacific and is not far from the city of Guayaquil. Manabì is divided into cantons. The canton of Jipijapa, in the south of the province, is the one in which the project will be implemented. Coffee trees will be planted that will benefit the Focazsum cooperative and the 350 families of small-scale producers that belong to it. Coffee trees grow best when planted in the shade of other species and this method prevents the slash and burn policy that used to define coffee production. Coffee trees can grow up to 20 feet in height and the bean’s flavour depends on the region’s climate, much like a terroir defines a vineyard’s wine. It takes up to five years before a coffee plant will produce its first harvest and the tree will continue producing for up to 25 years under good management. The project includes the construction of an agroforestry nursery and the training of a technician, who will follow the project at the various planting sites and will be responsible for the geolocation of the trees.
Impact
The trees we plant have big ambitions: to bring benefits not only to the environment, but also to the people who live in it. That's why we work with NGOs and local communities to select the right tree for the right place and the right purpose. That’s why we think about the medium and long term, because we’re not content with simply planting trees: we want to see them grow.
The trees in the forest will absorb:
3.25 t* of CO₂
