The Baclain project, located in the Parc Naturel des Deux Ourthes (Gouvy, Belgium), focuses on the reforestation of a 2.5-hectare plot of fallow land previously used for coniferous plantations. The plot is surrounded by diverse-aged forests with mixed species and is very close to the Wez de Halleux stream. This rural area, rich in natural and agricultural landscapes, has soils conducive to forest growth, specifically loamy soils with favorable natural drainage. Scheduled for the season of 2024-2025, we introduce 7,650 new trees using a mixed planting approach. The species composition includes 34% Douglas fir, 33% larch, 20% beech, 10% oak, and 3% chestnut, with spacing tailored to each species' needs. Ground preparation will involve band tillage, with residual vegetation mulched and wildlife deterrents applied to protect young saplings. The regeneration of native species such as birch, sorb, and oak is anticipated, complementing the planted trees. This balanced approach will promote a resilient forest structure that aligns with regional biodiversity and climate goals. In general, the project aims to restore the land's ecological and economic value by reestablishing forest cover and enhancing ecosystem services such as water quality, flood mitigation, soil protection, and carbon sequestration. It transforms neglected land into a thriving forest ecosystem, contributing to local environmental, social, and economic benefits. Plantation update: - 7650 trees were planted in March-April 2025: 2601 Douglas firs (34%), 2525 larches (33%), 1530 beeches (20%), 765 oaks (10%) and 229 chestnuts (3%). - Monitoring summary: The plantation took place on 2.5 hectares across several parcels in Gouvy. The terrain was prepared in advance and treated with natural forest latex. Douglas and larches were planted in mixed rows (2x1.7m), while beeches and oaks were placed along the borders (2x1.5m). A field visit in June 2026 showed a good establishment of the trees, along with natural regeneration of birch & rowan. - Maintenance: Clearing will be necessary due to the abundance of ferns.

The Sohan project focuses on restoring forest resilience across three forest areas in Theux, where several stands have been weakened by fungal disease, aging trees and climate‑related stress. Extreme weather events, particularly the heavy rains and floods of 2021 in the Vesdre Valley, further highlighted the vulnerability of local forest ecosystems and the need for proactive restoration. Across 6.84 hectares, 6460 trees will be planted in April 2026 season. The project brings together a balanced mix of oak, hornbeam, chestnut, rowan, hazel, larch and cedar. This diversity helps prevent the formation of single‑species stands, reduces risks linked to pests and diseases, and strengthens overall biodiversity. Before planting, the plots will undergo targeted preparation, including soil work where needed and the sanitary felling of trees affected by fungal decline to prevent further spread. Appropriate protection measures will also be installed to ensure successful establishment of the young trees. With a deep respect for local resources, the estate is managed according to sustainable and responsible forestry principles, including thoughtful thinning practices that support long‑term timber production while avoiding clearcutting. The forest will be managed under an irregular continuous cover system, ensuring permanent tree cover and encouraging natural regeneration. Furthermore, the project contributes to soil stabilization, the reinforcement of the regional ecological network, and the preservation of the scenic character of the Sohan valley, while offering habitat for local wildlife. It represents a concrete, climate‑adapted approach to responsible forestry and long‑term forest stewardship.

This urban hedge project in Humbeek (in a region near Brussels, very sparsely wooded) is a plantation of 500 trees, in combination with assisted natural regeneration. The project is executed during Winter 2023-2024. The species used for the hedge are hawthorn, hornbeam, maple, euonymus, viburnum, dogwood, hazel, and others. The 145m hedge is planted in two lines around an orchard. Before, there was a presence of herbaceous vegetation and shrubs of little value. It is necessary to transform this vegetation into a high-value hedge because it creates habitats, promotes biodiversity, and provides resilience to climate change. In general, this project benefits all of the ecosystem benefits of the forest.

Cepan and Go Forest were able to plant 0,64 hectares in Paraíba state, using the direct seeding technique. The areas chosen for the planting site are located inside the territory of Japungu Agroindustry, a sugarcane plant, where Cepan has worked for more than 10 years. The Japungu is a long-time partner of Cepan for restoration purposes, being one of the most important sugarcane plantations in Brazil. The Japungu plant is in an area that is emblematic for biodiversity conservation, where our project aims to connect two protected areas in the region where threatened species occur – The Pacatuba-Gargaú Corridor. There, among many other species we have the Red Handed Howling Monkey (Alouatta belzebul) and the Blonde Capuchin Monkey (Sapajus Flavius) still in large numbers, in a fragmented landscape. Our goal is to connect those forests to bring more habitats for those and other species of the region. The sites are areas around the Fazenda Pacatuba Protected Area, that contribute to the preservation of the monkey species and enhance the structural connectivity of the landscape. SEED COLLECTION Our local partners spend 2-3 months on native species’ seed collection and processing. Seed collection is crucial for restoration efforts using direct sowing techniques. The team works with 11 seed collectors in Paraíba, maintaining a list of species and quantities for collection. Weekly monitoring is conducted remotely to track progress and adjust requests if targets aren't met. Additionally, the Maracajá Seed Collectors Group from Lagoa dos Gatos Municipality in Pernambuco State (formed and trained by Cepan technical team and one of the most prominent seed collectors of the Northeast of Brazil) has joined this effort. For this plantation, 48kg of seeds were used. We have also used green fertilizer species. Green fertilization has the role of establishing better microclimate conditions and improving soil quality, decreasing the competition with invasive grasses through a fast soil covering, and creating better conditions for native seeds to thrive in the planting. We used the Guandu bean (Cajanus cajan), Crotalária (Crotalaria ochroleuca), and Pork beans (Canavalia ensiformis). SOIL PREPARATION The selected areas are plowed 3 times before the planting operations, in intervals of 20 days. This step firstly eliminates the invasive grasses that may be competitors to the native trees that will be planted and unpacks the upper layer of the soil, making it more suitable for seed growth. Right after the plowing, the area was prepared by making planting grooves, with a distance of 1 meter between the lines. DIRECT SOWING The planting activities may take 2-7 days in each cycle, depending on the amount of trees ordered. The sowing on the planting sites was done manually, with the help of the field workers of Japungu Agroindustrial. The workers were trained in the quantities of muvuca in each meter of the row to be sown, and field security in the activity. The planting activity took place beginning in September 28th and ended on October 7th of 2024. TREE GROWTH Once the planting finishes, our team holds expeditions to monitor the restoration process. IN SUMMARY With this planting, we were able to involve 21 seed collectors, 1 tractor operator, 9 restoration workers, 4 environmental experts, and a team of 8 people providing technical and administrative support. This planting activity contributed to helping to improve the connecting biodiversity corridors for primate conservation. It also involved local labor, which means shared benefits to communities and the preservation of important areas.

We will proceed with the plantation once one hectare of reforestation is secured. The exact location will follow. We use the direct seeding or muvuca method, in cooperation with our field partner CEPAN. The muvuca method is a method in which a lot of seeds are directly sown on a plot. The process consists of multiple stages: an extensive research period to identify the most adequate tree species, seed collection, seed storage, soil preparation, and the actual sowing using tractors to increase efficiency. Short-lived shrubs that quickly cover the soil are sowed with native trees, the competition among saplings leads to fast soil cover and a high density of trees. With this project, a seed orchard with native seeds is created. The indigenous communities can use these seeds themselves or sell them to others for their restoration initiatives.