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Currently showing Terra Insitute FAQs
- How much does it cost Instituto Terra to plant a tree?
- What was the 1,505 acre reserve before it became Instituto Terra?
- How many trees are planted per hectare?
- How many species of trees are planted per hectare?
- Besides the reforestation activities, what else happens at the Instituto Terra?
- When was Instituto Terra founded?
- What assurance do I have that the trees will not be cut down?
- Where does my donation go?
- Are there larger reforestation projects in the Atlantic Forest?
Q: How much does it cost Instituto Terra to plant a tree?
A: Instituto Terra works very hard to keep the costs of environmental recovery low. Typically, it costs $2 to grow and plant a seedling. Factors that affect the cost of reforestation include species diversity, density of trees planted per acre, and the method of recovery.[Back to top]
Q: What was the 1,505 acre reserve before it became Instituto Terra?
A: The 1,505 acre reserve that is now known as Instituto Terra was once the Bulcao Farm, operated by the Salgado parents for cattle grazing. Like most of the farm land in this region of Brazil, the land was stripped of its trees and grass was planted in its place. As a result, the loss of Atlantic Forest drove millions of species of animals and plants to extinction, native civilizations were lost, rivers and springs soon dried up, the climate changed to more arid and dessert like, and massive erosion and environmental destruction started.[Back to top]
Q: How many trees are planted per hectare?
A: Instituto Terra plants 2,500 trees per hectare. This amount of tree planting provides the following benefits:- Faster soil covering;
- Decreased maintenance time by planting the trees closer together;
- Increased recycling of nutrients in the soil;
- More effective water infiltration in the soil; and
- Better organic production.
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Q: How many species of trees are planted per hectare?
A: Instituto Terra only plants trees that are original to the Atlantic Forest. Instituto Terra operates under the philosophy that the best solution for environmental recovery is to bring the land back as close to its original composition and density as possible – in essence, rebuilding the Atlantic Forest. To accomplish this task, the Institute plants on average a minimum of 100 native and uniquely different species per hectare. The workers continually monitor each species to determine which ones grow and flourish the best at Instituto Terra.[Back to top]
Q: Besides the reforestation activities, what else happens at the Instituto Terra?
A: Instituto Terra is a busy place. The grounds are open for visitors to come and see this amazing oasis of rainforest in the middle of a completely degraded region. Instituto Terra is full of beautiful gardens, birds and animals, natural springs and ponds, and hundreds of students to environmental experts studying the phenomenona happening on the land because of the reforestation activities such as natural springs reappearing and animals once thought to be extinct returning.Instituto Terra arranges for approximately 375 grade school students to come every day for one week each month to learn about protecting the environment, recycling, waste management, birds and animals, and environmental recovery. Teachers come and stay at the Institute to lead classes from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and facilitate evening activities for the whole family. These children are called the Terrinhas and each are selected by their school to learn at the Institute and come back and teach their new knowledge to their classmates. Thus, every child in each of the 16 local schools learns from the Terrinhas project.
Instituto Terra is also home to the Advanced Center, an environmental educational center where 10 Brazilian students from local agro-high schools are chosen to live and study at the Advanced Center for 2 years at no cost to the student. The students originate often from families in which they would not have the opportunity to attend any school after high school.
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Q: When was Instituto Terra founded?
A: Instituto Terra was founded in 1998 by Sebastião Salgado and Lélia Deluiz Wanick Salgado. The first planting season was in 1999.[Back to top]
Q: What assurance do I have that the trees will not be cut down?
A: Instituto Terra is the first Private Reserve of the Natural Property, created in a degraded area of the Atlantic Forest on October 7th, 1998 by a Governmental Decree IEF/MG # 081. This decree acts as a conservation easement protecting the forest from being logged or cut down.[Back to top]
Q: Where does my donation go?
A: Your donation to Instituto Terra goes towards its reforestation and education (environmental training program) efforts. Voluntarily on an annual basis, Instituto Terra undergoes a rigorous audit of its financials. Click here for the latest audit.[Back to top]
Q: Are there larger reforestation projects in the Atlantic Forest?
A: No. Instituto Terra is the largest reforestation project in the Atlantic Forest. It partners with over 60 other entities around the world to share expertise, research findings, and support. Instituto Terra partners with several other Non-Governmental Organizations in Brazil and schools and universities in Brazil and the U.S. who send students to Instituto Terra to do environmental studies.[Back to top]