Forest restoration of a former alluvial gold mine in Amazonia officially validated!

The MORFO team is pleased to share that the forest restoration of a former alluvial gold mine in Amazonia has been officially validated. This project, located in Crique Korossibo, French Guiana, marks MORFO’s first reforestation initiative, launched in February 2022. Spanning 20.74 hectares, it holds a carbon stock potential of 9,412 tons CO₂eq.

Restoring an extremely degraded landscape

The site, heavily impacted by alluvial gold mining, required urgent restoration and was accessible only by air. Initial vegetation cover was just 0.3%, leaving vast expanses of bare, degraded soil. The extreme acidity of the soil (pH 4.35) and erosion risks posed significant challenges to successful reforestation.

Our primary objectives were:

• Reducing erosion to stabilize the landscape,
• Restoring soil fertility to enable plant growth,
• Promoting natural regeneration to preserve biodiversity and limit invasive species.

Promising results in just three years

‍In 2022, we introduced 11 native plant species, of which 9 have successfully established themselves. These species play a crucial role in ecosystem recovery, including the return of rare and endangered species. Our carefully planned reforestation strategy has contributed to rebuilding the site’s biodiversity. Our monitoring system, updated every three months using drone and satellite imagery, provides valuable insights into the project's progress.

‍Key Restoration Achievements

• Bare soil cover: Reduced from 84% in February 2022 to 35% in December 2022, reaching 17% in December 2024.
• Vegetation cover: Increased from 0% in February 2022 to 78% in December 2024.

Note: Approximately 6% of the area will remain unrestored due to water bodies (3%), debris (2%), and sandy zones (<1%).

Advanced soil restoration efforts

‍When the project began, 84% of the site was bare and degraded. Thanks to our collaboration with Cub’Or, we have reduced bare soil areas to just 17%, a critical step in restoring soil health, improving water retention, and enabling sustainable plant growth.

‍Official validation of the project

‍Three years after its launch, the project has been officially validated. This is a significant milestone, as restoring such a highly degraded site was a major challenge. We extend our gratitude to our client, Cub’Or, and especially to Raphael, for their trust and collaboration throughout this process.

‍"Morfo's innovation and pioneering spirit enable the development of techniques specifically tailored to our challenging conditions. This dynamism, combined with close and effective collaboration between our teams and the administrations, is key. The quality of relationships maintained by Morfo, both within its teams and with our partners and governmental bodies, truly makes a difference."
— Raphael de Miceli, Geologist Engineer at Cub’Or

This validation reinforces our commitment to large-scale ecosystem restoration and demonstrates how innovation, combined with strong partnerships, can drive impactful environmental recovery.