La Joya is Camino Verde's younger reforestation center, established in 2017, a decade after Camino Verde Baltimori was founded. The 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, 67401 trees were planted at La Joya with the help of Go Forest clients, through two approaches, agroforestry and reforestation, covering 167 species in total. Reforestation species planted include Palo brasil, Caoba, Tahuari amarillo, Huayo blanco, Tahuarí flor negro, Shihuahuaco, Bolaina, Espintana, Yacushapana, Shaena, Palisangre, Cedro, Pashaco, Puma quiro, Palo capitán, Quillabordon, Ajosquiro, Requia, Courbaril, Oreja negra, Capirona, Tornillo, Misa, and Quinilla.

In this project in Okegem, we undertake an afforestation of a former agricultural plot of 3.22 hectares. We will plant at least 5000 trees during the season of 2024-2025. The tree species that will be used in the plantation include Sycamore maple, black alder, European hornbeam, Cornelian cherry, common dogwood, hazel, hawthorn, spindle, European beech, European ash, wild cherry, pedunculate oak, white willow, small-leaved lime, and large-leaved lime. This new forest will enhance the water cycle, soil protection, biodiversity protection and conservation, and carbon sequestration. In the case of afforestation of agricultural land, the reduction in inputs and the absence of heavy tillage can also be noted. In the coming years, the project can be extended.

In the course of 2026, these agroforestry trees will be planted in Akamasoa or Tamatave. Once the planting has taken place, this section will be updated with the correct geolocation. The trees introduced in this project are selected to generate benefits for the soil, biodiversity, and the local economy: - The chosen species act as natural soil conservation agents, helping prevent erosion and improving soil structure. - They support local biodiversity by offering habitat for wildlife and contributing to ecological balance. - Many of the planted species have commercial value, creating new economic opportunities for farmers and surrounding communities. This project combines cash crops, forest species, and fruit trees. The selection of tree species is guided by two key criteria: 1) Regional environment: Each intervention zone has its own characteristics. We choose species that can thrive in the local soil and climate while contributing to the restoration of the forest landscape. 2) Farmer needs: We work closely with partner farmers to identify species that support income-generating activities through the sale of their products.

In Ingung Kapia, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we plant native tree species on degraded soils to restore biodiversity and create meaningful employment for local communities through manual planting work. Since we began in 2022, our reforestation program has taken on the challenge of restoring the natural environment and preventing further desertification of the region. Looking ahead, our long-term vision includes well-considered forest management, designed to relieve pressure on DR Congo's precious old-growth jungle. Our planting target is 1,000 trees per hectare at survival, achieved by initially planting 1,250 trees per hectare to account for natural loss. The species mix is intentionally diverse, combining native forest trees to support soil recovery and ecological resilience. The full list of species planted includes: Millettia laurentii (Wenge) Cassia siamea & Cassia floribunda Pentaclethra macrophylla (Owes) Piptodeniastrum africanum (Osing) Hevea brasiliensis Uapaca mole (Ontang) Canarium schweinfurtii (Mbidi) Prioria balsamifera (Mwana Mpembe) Ricinodendron heudelotii (Ongiel) Erythrophleum gabonensis (Onkok) Guibourtia demeusei (Ladzum) Paramacrolobium coelucum (Obwar Osur) Prioria oxyphylla (Tshitola) Pterocarpus soyauxii (Padouk) Ceiba pentandra (Obel) Milicia excelsa (Mulundu) Leplaea cedrata Pachira aquatica (Nguba Mindele) Staudtia kamerunensis Ongokea gore (Ndeke) Acacia auriculiformis Acacia mangium Maesopsis eminii Gilbertiodendron dewevrei (Labong) Dacryodes normandii Celtis tessmannii Pycnanthus angolensis Nauclea diderrichii Pericopsis elata (Afromosia) Millettia drastica Coffea arabica & Coffea robusta Autranella congolensis Entandrophragma gabonense (Tiama Blanc) Khaya grandifoliola Treculia africana Combretum welwitschii Afzelia bipindensis Millettia versicolor (Ablo) Olong Obol Mbem Dileka Nkokoking The full reforestation plot spans 52.5 hectares. We began planting in 2022, and by the end of 2024 the entire plot was fully funded, a milestone we are incredibly proud of. This work is made possible by a dedicated team of 150 day laborers (136 men and 14 women) from the local community, ensuring that forest restoration directly translates into livelihoods and long-term investment in the land by the people who depend on it most.