Seeds of Renewal: Community Rainforest Revival.

Executive summary

Due to an ongoing shortfall in funding and external support, the Reforestation and Restoration Initiative will be deactivated as an active project. IBIOS will continue local reforestation efforts at a reduced scale, using the resources and partnerships secured to date and maintaining community engagement where feasible. We are deeply grateful to our partners, volunteers, and contributors for the progress achieved and for the trust placed in this work.

Why the project is being deactivated

• Primary reason: Insufficient fundraising and limited external support to sustain project operations at the planned scale.
• Operational impact: Inability to secure the financial and logistical resources required to continue active project expansion and full program staffing.

Achievements to date (highlights)

• Landscape engagement: Approximately 150 hectares were included in partners’ priority restoration lists through new institutional agreements.
• Trees planted: 2,000 native saplings planted in a riparian restoration project in Bananal using local labor.
• Nursery capacity: Expanded to 6,000 saplings.
• Community outreach: Held the 10th sapling distribution event in the town square with environmental education activities in partnership with Bananal Ecological Station / Fundação Florestal.
• Partnerships formed: SOS Mata Atlântica; Sindicato Rural de Cruzeiro e Lavrinhas; local community groups and site contributors.
• Volunteer contribution: Sustained, impactful restoration actions delivered through community volunteer labor and local incentives.

Ongoing and limited activities after deactivation

IBIOS will maintain a focused, resourceconstrained program to preserve the value of work already completed and to support local partners:

• Maintain nursery operations at current capacity to supply saplings for partner projects and local plantings.
• Continue targeted plantings and maintenance where funding and volunteer capacity allow, prioritizing riparian and highvalue restoration sites.
• Monitor survival of planted trees on a limited schedule to inform adaptive care and report basic outcomes to partners.
• Sustain community education events at reduced frequency, leveraging partner networks to deliver activities.
• Document biodiversity and restoration outcomes opportunistically, sharing findings with partners and the community.
• Preserve partnerships and remain ready to scale up if new funding or institutional support becomes available.

Acknowledgements and thanks

We extend our sincere gratitude to:

• SOS Mata Atlântica and Sindicato Rural de Cruzeiro e Lavrinhas for partnership and collaboration.
• Bananal Ecological Station / Fundação Florestal for joint education and planting activities.
• Community volunteers and local laborers whose dedication made ontheground restoration possible.
• Site contributors and local landowners who opened their lands for restoration.

Your time, expertise, and inkind support have been essential to every achievement reported here.

What we will share going forward (in our social media profiles)

• Periodic brief updates to partners summarizing nursery status, survival monitoring results, and any local planting activity.
• Data and documentation of restoration actions and outcomes available on request to partners and funders.
• A readiness statement to resume full project activities if new funding or institutional commitments are secured.

Closing note

Deactivating the project as an active program is a difficult but necessary decision given current resource constraints. The restoration work completed so far – strengthened by partnerships and community commitment – creates a foundation we will protect and build from when circumstances allow. Thank you to everyone who contributed time, expertise, and resources. Your support has made measurable progress toward restoring the Atlantic Forest and inspiring local stewardship.