Just over a year ago, MORFO embarked on an ambitious mission in southern Bahia: transforming degraded land into a thriving forest ecosystem. The PROTEX-BA project showcases the potential of innovative restoration methods and the vital role of biodiversity in large-scale reforestation. Unlike our 20 client-driven projects, PROTEX-BA is an experimental space where we test, learn, and innovate.
The challenge: restoring 100 million hectares by 2050
The scale of forest restoration needed globally is massive. By 2030, the world needs to scale up high-quality restoration efforts by 40 times to meet global targets. In Brazil, just 2% of the 12 million hectares committed to restoration have been recovered. MORFO’s vision is to develop a methodology capable of restoring 100 million hectares of tropical forests by 2050. PROTEX-BA is a critical step in this mission, especially as we face the growing threats posed by climate change.
Our open-air laboratory: PROTEX-BA as an innovation hub
Launched in April 2023, PROTEX-BA is more than a restoration project—it’s an open-air laboratory for developing new reforestation strategies. Located in Santa Cruz de Cabrália, it pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in large-scale ecological restoration.
Key objectives of PROTEX-BA:
- Demonstrating the feasibility of large-scale restoration with biodiversity.
- Comparing our methods with traditional approaches.
- Gathering data to predict planting outcomes based on various strategies.
- Identifying cost-saving opportunities in soil preparation, plantation management, and execution speed.
One year later: key learnings and results
When we started, the 55-hectare site—formerly a sugarcane plantation—was barren. Today, it’s a very different story. The once degraded land is now covered in vibrant greenery, proving that even challenging landscapes can be restored with the right techniques.
Some standout results:
- Biodiversity: We achieved an 80% success rate in ecological regeneration—far above the typical 50% with conventional methods. Of the 24 species planted, 19 are thriving, creating a resilient, diverse ecosystem.
- Growth: Over 1,000 trees per hectare have taken root, many now standing taller than an adult. The encapsulated seeds, planted in April 2023, have quickly grown into healthy trees.
- Resilience: Despite facing severe drought conditions in southern Bahia in 2023, the forest not only survived but thrived, thanks to our adaptive restoration techniques.
Key insight: resilience is crucial for ecosystem recovery
Each ecosystem is unique, requiring a tailored approach. PROTEX-BA has shown that focusing on species resilience and restoring a comprehensive ecosystem is vital for withstanding extreme weather. Additionally, our encapsulated seeds—enriched with essential nutrients—have been a major factor in this success, while drone seeding allowed us to cover large areas quickly, reducing costs significantly.
The future: scaling biodiversity at lower costs
PROTEX-BA is not just about one site. It’s about setting the stage for future large-scale reforestation projects. The lessons learned here are shaping more effective restoration strategies across various ecosystems. We are committed to testing innovative methods like drone seeding and refining our approaches based on field-based results.
This project addresses the concerns of restoration funders in key ways:
- Reducing risk: by building more resilient forests, we minimize their vulnerability to drought and diseases, easing funders' concerns about project risks.
- Cutting costs: We’re identifying potential cost savings of up to 30% for small areas and 50% for larger areas.
- Boosting return on investment: Though it's too early to conclude on carbon sequestration, our results—especially in cost savings and the performance of older projects—suggest that our approach can provide a higher return on investment compared to traditional methods for carbon projects.
Looking ahead, our mission is clear: to bridge the gap between science and practical application, ensuring that restoration efforts are both scalable and sustainable. The work at PROTEX-BA is just the beginning, and we are eager to see how these innovations will shape the future of global reforestation. We’re making great strides in aligning the urgent needs of nature with the goals of funders.
