top of page
Reforestation

Click on images to start slide shows for each item

There are right ways and wrong ways to reforest in the wet tropics.  We are still learning, but after 15+ years of experience with planting trees, we're on the right track! Our best practices include: 

  • reforesting ONLY with species that are native to the region (we do also plant a few 'exotic' fruit species close to our facilities)

  • sourcing seeds and seedlings as locally as possible to avoid moving different genotypes around the Amazon

  • ensuring that tree seedlings are planted in appropriate habitat (including soil type, frequency of flooding, etc.). 

  • using no chemical fertilizers, fungicides or pesticides (we do use 100% organic neem-oil fungicide to control leaf-cutter ants which can defoliate a seedling overnight)

  • growing seedlings in our shade-houses to sizes optimal for transport, planting and survival in the field. 

  • planting seedlings in regenerating agricultural land and pasture where we can jump-start the successional process with seedlings of primary forest trees. 

  • regular weeding and vine removal from saplings until they are 3-4 meters (10-12 feet) in height. After that, they can hold their own.

  • providing seedlings to local land-owners to plant on their own lands. This adds value to their land and will provide future income while providing immediate ecological value.

  • avoiding monocultures. In our planting areas we usually plant 8-12 different species of trees, and also leave naturally occurring seedlings of dozens of secondary forest species. We try to mimic the natural forest structure, which means keep it as diverse as possible!

  • The tree species at right give a good idea of the variety of species that we plant. The list is NOT comprehensive though.

Shade-houses and arboretum at Santa Cruz Forest Reserve

Garcinia macrophylla (Clusiaceae)

'charichuelos'

Apulea leiocarpa (Fabaceae)

'anacaspi'

Manilkara bidentata (Sapotaceae)

''quinilla'

Simarouba amara (Simaroubaceae)

'marupá''

Vitex triflora (Verbenaceae)

'paliperro'

Minquartia guianensis (Olacaceae)

'huacapu'

Calycophyllum spruceanum  

(Rubiaceae) 'capirona del bajo'

Copaifera reticulata (Fabaceae)

'copaiba, diesel tree'

Dipteryx macrocarpa/micrantha

 (Fabaceae) ' shihuahuaco'

Hymenaea courbaril (Fabaceae)

''azucar huayo'

Aniba rosiodora (Lauraceae)

'palo de rosa, rosewood'

Bertholletia excelsa (Lecythidaceae)

'castaña, Brazil nut'

Plant a Tree in Peru!

We always encourage visitors to our Amazon field sites to plant their own "personal" tree, but even if you can't visit in person, you can still plant trees through our reforestation program. Our on-the-ground costs include the purchase of locally-sourced seeds and seedlings, planting bags, organic compost and sand, shade-house materials and maintenance, weeding and some transportation.  

​

Depending on seed availability and rarity, it costs us from US $2 to US $5 to get a sapling firmly established in the ground. We'll say an average of US $2.50 / tree.

Carapa guianensis (Meliaceae)

'andiroba, swamp mahogany'

Guarea guidonia (Meliaceae)

'requia'

Cedrela odorata (Meliaceae)

'cedro, Spanish cedar'

Maclura tinctoria (Moraceae)

'insira'

Virola peruviana (Myristicaceae)

'caupuri, cumala caupuri'

Spondias mombin (Anacardiaceae)

''ubos, motelo huayo'

Ceiba pentandra (Bombacaceae)

'lupuna, kapok tree'

Brosimum rubescens (Moraceae)

'palisangre, bloodwood'

Anchor 1

Grias newberthii (Lecythidaceae)

'sacha mango, jungle mango'

Swietenia macrophylla (Meliaceae)

'caoba, mahogany'

Pouteria caimito (Sapotaceae)

'caimito'

Couma macrocarpa (Sapotaceae)

'leche caspi'

Mauritia flexuosa (Arecaceae)

'aguaje'

Guazuma crinita (Malvaceae)

'bolaina blanca'

Inga edulis (Fabaceae)

'guaba, ice-cream bean'

Schizolobium amazonicum (Fabaceae)

'pino chuncho'

Mangifera indica (Anacardiaceae)

'mango'

Plinia clausa (Myrtaceae)

'anahuayo, anihuayo'

Campomanesia lineatifolia (Myrtaceae)

'palillo'

Couepia subcordata 

(Chrysobalanaceae) 'parinari'

Quararibea cordata (Malvaceae)

'zapote, sapote'

species? (Family)

'common name'

Cedrelinga cateniformis (Fabaceae)

'tornillo'

Euterpe precatoria (Arecaceae)

'huasai'

Poraqueiba sericea (Metteniusaceae)

'umari'

Colubrina glandulosa (Rhamnaceae)

'shaina'

bottom of page