With the support of DCBB, the local team in Baltimori, Peru, could nurse 1000 extra seedlings in the nursery, which they planted in the rainforest in the spring of 2024! Additionally, DCBB donated t-shirts that can be used by the workers in the nursery and on the field. In Baltimori, Peru, we're often not starting with a bare patch on the map but we're mainly talking about enrichment planting in a secondary forest (a forest where only a few tree species grow as survival technique). With enrichment planting, we are speeding up the introduction of species of trees that are useful for human needs, including endangered species. When trees are planted in a secondary forest, a broader range of biodiversity is introduced back into the landscape sooner. In practical terms, straight trails are created through the secondary forest and trees are planted all along those trails. Because of the shade provided by the pioneer trees' canopy, these enrichment strips only need to be weeded once or twice a year, savings in work compared to planting trees on a bare plot, where weed growth can require monthly maintenance clearing. How do we work? Seeds are first collected in the nearby forests. When the seeds have grown into little plants, the plants are stored safely. Then, they go through a process of hardening, so that they have a higher survival rate. Finally, when the time is right during the rainy season, the seedlings are planted in nature.

In Baltimori, Peru, we're often not starting with a bare patch on the map but we're mainly talking about enrichment planting in a secondary forest (a forest where only a few tree species grow as survival technique). With enrichment planting, we are speeding up the introduction of species of trees that are useful for human needs, including endangered species. When trees are planted in a secondary forest, a broader range of biodiversity is introduced back into the landscape sooner. In practical terms, straight trails are created through the secondary forest and trees are planted all along those trails. Because of the shade provided by the pioneer trees' canopy, these enrichment strips only need to be weeded once or twice a year, savings in work compared to planting trees on a bare plot, where weed growth can require monthly maintenance clearing. How do we work? Seeds are first collected in the nearby forests. When the seeds have grown into little plants, the plants are stored safely. Then, they go through a process of hardening, so that they have a higher survival rate. Finally, when the time is right during the rainy season, the seedlings are planted in nature. La Banda: On the map, the more southern parcel is called La Banda, covering approximately 7 hectares. It was the very first parcel planted with Go Forest’s support, with reforestation efforts beginning in the second half of 2021 and completed by the end of 2024. This site boasts a wide diversity of native species. Notable highlights include rosewood, cacao, and several aromatic relatives of rosewood that hold promising potential for the fragrance industry. A particularly dominant species in this parcel is Flemingia macrophylla, locally known simply as flemingia. Though it’s a relatively small tree, it plays a powerful role in the ecosystem. Flemingia is a prolific producer of organic matter and mulch, and also contributes by fixing nitrogen, attracting pollinators with its flowers, and possibly even improving soil health through its anti-nematode properties. What enables such a large number of flemingia trees to thrive in this parcel is a unique management technique known as radical pruning. Once a year, the trees are pruned back to tall stumps, and the resulting biomass is used as a nitrogen-rich mulch to cover and enrich the soil. While this method prevents the trees from growing large enough to store significant carbon in their trunks, it allows them to make meaningful contributions to soil carbon and overall soil fertility. Their rapid growth also makes them excellent tutor trees, helping to create a humid, shaded microclimate that supports the early development of more sensitive tree seedlings. Ex Maxi: Further north on the map lies a smaller parcel known as Ex Maxi, spanning about 2.14 hectares. The land was previously deforested by its former owner for agricultural use, and was acquired by Camino Verde in 2022. The reforestation efforts were largely executed in 2024 (with some last trees planted in the beginning of 2025) and are focused specifically on the areas that had been cleared. Like La Banda, this parcel features a high planting density and a strong presence of leguminous tree species, prized for their ability to produce nitrogen-rich organic matter. In addition to flemingia, Ex Maxi also hosts a significant number of trees from the Calliandra genus—especially Calliandra angustifolia, known locally as bobinsana or qori sacha. This species is not only used medicinally in the Amazon, but is also beloved by pollinators and serves as a valuable tutor plant for supporting vine crops in agroforestry systems. While the species diversity in Ex Maxi is somewhat lower compared to other parcels—what we refer to as a "simple" agroforestry system—the species that are present are high performers. The system includes high carbon-density timber trees such as Moena naranja, Shihuahuaco, and Tahuarí, as well as fruit-bearing palms like Huasaí and Sinamillo, which also offer substantial carbon sequestration potential.