The Black Jaguar Foundation took an active role at COP30 in Belém, reinforcing the importance of ecological restoration and community leadership in transforming the landscapes where we work. Our participation included workshops, presentations, and a dedicated stand featuring the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor.

Seeds of tomorrow: ecological restoration and community leadership in the Amazon

One of the highlights was the “Sementes do Amanhã” workshop, held at the Goeldi Museum. The event brought together the BJF Araguaia Seed Network, the Redário — an initiative of the Socio-Environmental Institute that connects seed networks across Brazil — and Sementes Paraíso. The central theme was the role of communities in ecological restoration. Diogo Ferraz e Castro presented the Black Jaguar Foundation’s work in the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor, while Laís, BJF’s Community Engagement Coordinator, shared ongoing initiatives developed with the BJF Araguaia Seed Network groups. Other participants also contributed their experiences, enriching the exchange between different seed networks.

Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor: restoring landscapes and empowering communities

We also led a workshop in the Blue Zone, where we presented the importance of the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor for helping Brazil reach its restoration targets and ensuring more resilient, connected landscapes.

In addition to the workshops, BJF was present for five days at the Pará Pavilion stand, in partnership with the Municipal Secretariat of the Environment (SEMMA) of Santana do Araguaia. The space served as a meeting point for potential partners, institutions, and supporters — including scientist Carlos Nobre — who had the opportunity to learn more about our restoration efforts in the Amazon and Cerrado.

Our participation in COP30 was a valuable opportunity to strengthen networks, showcase our impact, and expand the alliances that drive ecological restoration and sustainable development across the regions where we work.

During the last dry season, when forest fires become frequent in the Araguaia region, the newly donated 20,000-liter water truck from Treelove was extensively used to address water shortages and contain fires spreading across the area.

We would like to thank Treelove, our long-term partner, for this donation and emphasize that this new addition is and will continue to be essential for the successful implementation of the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor.

Have you ever wondered how a seedling ends up in a restoration site? In our new video, we show the step-by-step process of seedling production at the Black Jaguar Foundation’s nursery – from sowing the seeds to planting them in the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor.

You’ll get a close look at each stage: sowing, transplanting, hardening off, and finally, planting in the restoration areas!

Discover the careful and essential work that takes place before ecological restoration begins:

Would you like to join us in realizing one of the longest biodiversity corridors on Earth? Become one of the First 600 to join our mission of hope and action HERE.

One more step toward a greener future: the permit for the Black Jaguar Foundation Nursery in Santana do Araguaia has been renewed for another 20 years! With the capacity to produce up to 500,000 seedlings per planting season, our factory of life plays a vital role in realizing the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor.

Built by BJF in 2022, the nursery covers 3.6 hectares within the municipality’s Environmental Park and has the capacity to produce up to 500,000 seedlings per planting season. 

Since the beginning of operations, over 78 native species have been germinated, and 1.102.466 seedlings have been produced from 2.660 tonnes of seeds. For the 2025 planting season, we expect to grow another 439.110 seedlings. The nursery is powered by a team of approximately 11 people (including 2 women, 1 supervisor, and 8 men) nursery workers, along with BJF’s technical and administrative staff. 

The nursery also houses the seed storage of Ressemear — our network of native seed collectors (70% women), which transforms ecological restoration into income, training, and community empowerment. 

“The Black Jaguar Foundation Nursery is a key part of our mission. Renewing this concession means ensuring the continuity of a project that blends technology, nature, and social impact. It’s truly inspiring to see how long-term partnerships like this one transform both landscapes and lives,” celebrates Ben Valks, founder of BJF. 

This marks another step toward our bold goal: to restore 1 million hectares along the Araguaia River in the next two decades. In 2025, we are already celebrating 560 hectares in the process of restoration across several municipalities — and we continue to grow! 

Would you like to join us in realizing one of the longest biodiversity corridors on Earth? Become one of the First 600 to join our mission of hope and action HERE.

Our initiator, Ben Valks, was invited to speak on the panel “Investing in Agroforestry, Reforestation & Biodiversity: The Real Business Case” at the World Cocoa Foundation 2025 Partnership Meeting, held in São Paulo last month.

As the cocoa industry faces challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss, the event brought together leading experts to discuss how agroforestry systems and forest restoration can help protect biodiversity while generating environmental, economic, and community benefits — as well as strategies to integrate farmers and local communities.

The event was incredible and a great opportunity to promote the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor and all the work we are carrying out alongside rural landowners and local communities in the Araguaia region. We’d like to thank the organizers for the invitation and congratulate everyone involved for putting together such an impactful event!

Would you like to join us in realizing one of the longest biodiversity corridors on Earth? Become one of the First 600 to join our mission of hope and action HERE.

Team members from De Heus Brazil experienced the transformative impact of Black Jaguar Foundation’s ecological restoration project during another visit to the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor. They witnessed every stage of the restoration process up close—from seed collection to seedling planting.

During the visit, participants closely followed the stages of the restoration process, from seed collection to planting seedlings in regenerating areas. They also got a deeper understanding of the work of Ressemear – the Araguaia Seed Network – which connects local communities with the purpose of restoring nature.

“It was an inspiring experience. Stepping on the soil that is being regenerated, planting our own trees, and seeing the concrete impact of the work we support is something that deeply touches you,” said Guilherme Cerqueira, Sustainability Manager at De Heus Brazil.

“I returned with a full heart and an expanded mind. Seeing the regenerated areas up close and hearing the stories from nursery workers and seed collectors fills us with even more pride to be part of De Heus,” added Daniel Souza, Plant Manager at the Guararapes Unit.

Carol Sacramento from the Black Jaguar Foundation emphasized the importance of partnerships for the regeneration of Brazil’s biomes:

“When companies, communities, and organizations work together, we can create a strong restoration chain that generates social, environmental, and economic impact.”

Would you like to join us in realizing one of the longest biodiversity corridors on Earth? Become one of the First 600 to join our mission of hope and action HERE.

The Black Jaguar team took part in a workshop held by ISPN (Institute for Society, Population and Nature), alongside other associations and institutes selected to develop eco-social projects through the 38th Ecos Fund Grant. The initiative is supported by the Socio-Environmental Fund of the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES).

The funding will support the BJF Araguaia Seed Network in achieving more autonomy and expanding the impact of our seed collector groups.

About ISPN

ISPN is a non-profit organization founded in 1990, with the mission of promoting social equity and environmental balance by strengthening sustainable livelihoods and climate adaptation strategies.   

Launched in 1994, the Ecos Fund, managed by ISPN, is a funding mechanism that supports projects led by non-profit associations and grassroots cooperatives. It focuses on the relationship between traditional communities, family farmers, and Indigenous peoples with the environment, emphasizing sustainable livelihoods that contribute to environmental benefits in line with international agreements and national policies. The fund has already launched 44 calls for proposals, supporting 938 projects. 

The 38th call is part of the Youth Leadership and Rural Feminism project, implemented by ISPN with financial support from the BNDES Socio-Environmental Fund and the Social Development division of Suzano. This initiative funds community projects that strengthen sustainable productive activities and rural contextualized education. 

This edition specifically selected community socio-environmental projects led by women or young people, focusing on initiatives that promote mitigation, vulnerability reduction, and adaptation to climate change. 

A lot of impact is on the horizon! And Black Jaguar Foundation already feels victorious seeing Ressemear recognized as a project that contributes to the socio-environmental development of women in the Araguaia region! 

Other selected organizations: 

• AMA – Associação de Mulheres Agroextrativistas da APA Cantão
• ASMUBIP – Associação das Mulheres Trabalhadoras Rurais do Bico do Papagaio.
• AMAE – Associação de Mulheres Artesãs e Empreendedoras de Lajeado
• ICAPIB – Instituto de Caciques e Povos Indígenas na Ilha do Bananal
• APAS – Associação dos Pequenos Apicultores do Projeto SUDAM
• AGROP – Associação dos Agricultores Familiares e Agroindustriais de Palmas
• Escola Família Agrícola de Porto Nacional
• Associação Indígena Apinajé Pyka Mex 

Would you like to join us in realizing one of the longest biodiversity corridors on Earth? Become one of the First 600 to join our mission of hope and action HERE.

The Black Jaguar Foundation now has a new warehouse located on the main road to Santana do Araguaia (Pará, Brazil), which makes it much easier for our suppliers to deliver and pick up materials for our ecological restoration activities. The new space is 330m², and includes an office and three storage rooms – one of which is refrigerated 24/7 to properly store large quantities of native seeds that will be used for seedling production or muvuca (a mix of different native seed species) used for the direct seeding technique.

This new warehouse is a major achievement for us! It allows us to properly store seeds purchased from Ressemear, as well as work tools, personal protective equipment (PPE), and uniforms.

Would you like to join us in realizing one of the longest biodiversity corridors on Earth? Become one of the First 600 to join our mission of hope and action HERE.