The restoration project in Amblève is continuing and can be expanded to a total of 100,000 trees. Following last season’s interventions with 10,500 trees in 2023–2024 and 14,280 trees in 2024-2025, the same approach is being applied to strengthen forest resilience and diversity this season. The Amblève forest consists mainly of conifers, in particular spruce. At present, about 75% of the forest stands are spruce. Localized thinning helps prevent attacks on spruces that are weakened by competition for light. The objective is to gradually reduce the share of spruce to 50%. To achieve this, clear-cutting is avoided. Management is carried out through thinning and progressive canopy reduction, which irregularizes the stands and initiates assisted natural regeneration. Spruce requires a lot of light to grow well in its adult stage, which means little light reaches the forest floor. Natural regeneration is therefore limited, making external planting of young trees necessary. In the cleared patches, beech is planted. This species is well adapted to shaded conditions and is introduced at high density, as it tolerates competition well in its early years. This approach also protects the young trees against late frost and drought. In larger clearings, other species are introduced according to the conditions of each parcel. The long-term goal is to establish irregular stands with varied age classes, increasing resilience to unexpected events. The project takes place in a rural and agricultural region known for its extensive forest massifs and numerous trails, where hikers, riders and cyclists come to experience the rich nature around the Amblève river.

The La Joya site hosts our technical partner's largest tree nursery, supplying seedlings to farmers, native communities, researchers, NGOs, government projects, and the local municipality for urban tree planting in Puerto Maldonado. La Joya produces over 100 tree species each year, with capacity for 100,000 seedlings at a time. It is also the main location for farmer-facing workshops on tree nursery management, agroforestry, and Melipona beekeeping, and offers paid internships to Indigenous women in native species propagation and integral nursery management. The demonstration areas at La Joya showcase native species diversity across both agroforestry and reforestation plots. Over 200 tree species have been registered on site, part of the Living Seed Bank program for the conservation and propagation of native species. This diversity is the result of years of restoration work. When our local partner took over the site, it showed the effects of decades of cattle farming: compacted soils, annual burning, and invasive exotic grass that choked out young trees. Rebuilding La Joya took sustained management. Even now, a significant share of the trees planted on site serve to rehabilitate the soil, generating organic matter quickly to support the rest of the planting. Between 2021 and 2026, 78570 trees were planted at La Joya with the help of Go Forest clients, through two approaches, agroforestry and reforestation, covering 167 species in total. Agroforestry species planted include amongst others, Cacao, Caoba, Copoazu, Bobinsana, Guanabana, Camu camu, Achiote, Vainilla, Café, Piña, Mango, Palta, Lucma & Yuca.

On three sites (1.58 ha, 1.48 ha & 0.34 ha), in the Bombetoka Bay located in the North-West of Madagascar, more specifically in the village of Amparemahintsy (Belobaka municipality, Boeny), we're planting new mangrove trees to restore the mangrove forest. In April 2025, 22.104 mangrove trees of two species were planted here: Ceriops tagal and Rhizophora mucronata. The overall objective is to restore degraded lands and promote better management of the mangrove ecosystem to improve the living conditions of the local communities. Moreover, the mangroves provide spawning grounds for shrimps, crabs, and fish, which helps to boost the economy of the community.

Mangroves are an important piece of the ecosystem that offers much more than we can imagine. Besides being a great habitat for wildlife species and being great protection for coasts, it also is one of the greatest sources of carbon sequestration. Moreover, the mangroves provide spawning grounds for shrimps, crabs, and fish, supporting the local economy (45% of the seafood sold in Majunga, a city of 240,000 inhabitants located near the mangrove area, comes from these local communities). The mangrove forests in this area (Bombetoka Bay in the North-West of Madagascar), however, suffered a 34% loss between 1990 and 2000 (source: Report on the state of mangroves in Madagascar - WWF Madagascar) and this loss represents a significant threat to biological biodiversity and the living conditions of local communities. Today, the mangrove can no longer play its economic and social role, which justifies the search for initiatives and alternatives to revitalize this natural ecosystem. This revitalization should respond to the concern for the preservation and ecological balance of this environment that is so vital for the local populations. Mangrove species are planted according to the natural distribution, to ensure great adaptation and survival. We plant 50% Ceriops Tagal (Ceriops), also known as "Yellow mangrove" or "Spurred mangrove.". Ceriops is considered the female mangrove by the locals in Madagascar, due to its smaller propagules and less intricate roots. Depending on the area, this species is more or less spread, yet play a crucial role in the ecosystem. And we plant 50% Rhizophora Mucronata (Rhizo). Rhizophora Mucronata is a species of mangrove, commonly known as the "Red mangrove" or "Loop-root mangrove." One distinctive feature of Rhizo is its prop roots, which extend from the trunk and branches down into the mud or water. It is important to restore the mangrove forest... ...for the soil: Mangroves act as a buffer zone between terrestrial and marine ecosystems, ensuring the stability of both environments, preserving and restoring them is essential to protect coasts against waves and cyclones; prevent erosion; and regenerate soils. ...for biodiversity: Mangrove restoration promotes ecological balance by preserving natural habitats and ensuring the survival of plant and animal species specific to the ecosystem. Moreover, they serve as crucial areas for the reproduction and activity of various species such as crabs, shrimp, and fish, contributing to the sustainability of these populations.

In this 0.8 hectare plot on community owned land, 5669 mangrove seedlings were planted in April 2024. The overall objective of this mangrove restoration project is to restore degraded lands and promote better management of the mangrove ecosystem to improve the living conditions of the local communities. The project consists of restoring 400ha of degraded land by planting 4 million mangroves before the end of 2027.

In the course of 2026, these mangroves will be planted in Majunga, Madagascar. Once the planting has taken place, this section will be updated with the correct species & geolocation. Mangrove species are planted according to the natural distribution, to ensure great adaptation and survival. We plant two different species: - Ceriops Tagal (Ceriops), also known as "Yellow mangrove" or "Spurred mangrove.". Ceriops is considered the female mangrove by the locals in Madagascar, due to its smaller propagules and less intricate roots. Depending on the area, this species is more or less spread, yet play a crucial role in the ecosystem. - Rhizophora Mucronata (Rhizo). Rhizophora Mucronata is a species of mangrove, commonly known as the "Red mangrove" or "Loop-root mangrove." One distinctive feature of Rhizo is its prop roots, which extend from the trunk and branches down into the mud or water.