The Amblève region is a rural and agricultural landscape known for its extensive forest massifs and its many trails, which welcome walkers, horse riders and cyclists exploring the countryside around the River Amblève. Its forests are dominated by conifers: around 75% of the current stands are spruce, planted decades ago as monoculture. Widespread bark beetle damage has weakened and killed large numbers of these spruce trees. In response, Go Forest supports a large-scale, long-term restoration project in the area. We started in 2023 and have continued the work in the seasons since. Localized thinning removes the weakened and infected spruce, helping to protect the trees that remain. Because adult spruce demands a lot of light, very little reaches the forest floor, which limits natural regeneration. Selective thinning creates more space and light for regeneration to occur, and new trees are also planted to restore the stand and support diversity. In 2026, the planting continued with mainly beech, and also some European silver fir. The exact number of trees and geolocation will be updated soon. The long-term goal is an irregular forest stand with varied age classes and species composition, better equipped to face future environmental challenges. The forest will be maintained according to continuous cover forestry principles, through ongoing thinning and progressive canopy reduction that irregularizes the stands and initiates assisted natural regeneration.

Want to give a gift that grows over time? Consider a physical tree that can be planted anywhere as a daily reminder of a growing, long-term collaboration. The shoots are protected by a gift box with a planting manual and a personalized message. You can gift Evergreen oak, English oak, European beech or Sugi.

In the course of 2026, these agroforestry trees will be planted in Akamasoa, Ambanja orTamatave. 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.