With another rainy season coming to an end, it’s time to celebrate the results of the 2025/2026 planting season and start preparing for the next one. Over the past six months, 294.69 hectares have been restored and 590,000 trees have been planted within the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor. This season for the first time ever, we achieved our planting-goal even before the rainy season ended! This achievement is the result of a collective effort that brings together planning, seedling production, seed collection, and the dedication of our field team, rural producers, and local communities. Other than that, the great result and learnings of this past planting season lay the foundation for exceptional growth next year and beyond.

Over the next three years, these areas will receive ongoing maintenance and monitoring to ensure each species can establish, thrive, and play its role in restoring the Amazon and Cerrado landscapes.

Making this season possible required a major collective effort: 290,000 seedlings were produced in our nursery, while 3.14 tons of seeds were sourced through the BJF Araguaia Seed Network.

Each restored hectare represents tangible progress toward our mission and a stronger future for biodiversity in the Araguaia region.

During expeditions across southern Pará and western Tocantins, we worked side by side with Ressemear collectors to identify species with strong potential for restoration in seasonally flooded areas.

Drawing on local ecological knowledge built through hands-on experience observation, and experimentation, collectors suggested species adapted to wet environments – expanding the possibilities for restoration in these landscapes.

Branches were collected for botanical identification, and seeds are now undergoing germination tests in the nursery. We are closely monitoring the development of these species to assess their performance both in seedling production and in the field.

So far, more than 30 species have been identified. Some have already stood out for their ability to thrive under prolonged flooding conditions, helping increase biodiversity in future plantings.

This process highlights the essential role of local communities in restoration and shows how combining technical expertise with local knowledge creates more effective, diverse, and resilient solutions.

Scaling restoration requires scaling seedling production. That is why the Black Jaguar Foundation nursery in Santana do Araguaia is undergoing a new phase of expansion.

Structural and operational improvements have already increased production capacity from 500,000 to 650,000 seedlings per season.

Recent upgrades include raised beds for better seedling development and management, irrigation improvements for greater control and stability, windbreak installations, a newly drilled well, and electrical system enhancements. A new transition area between shade and full sun has also reduced mortality risks and improved seedling quality.

Additional improvements are planned throughout the year to support continued growth. Reaching 1.2 million seedlings per season will be a major milestone — allowing more hectares to be restored and accelerating the development of the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor.

JOIN HIKE 4 NATURE AND HELP TO REALIZE THE ARAGUAIA BIODIVERSITY CORRIDOR

What if a massive hike could help restore nature? Hike4Nature is a joint initiative with the Black Jaguar Foundation where your steps can help generate real impact.

Starting May 31, team Hike4Nature will start the impressive hike from Amsterdam to Lisbon: 2,600km long… to raise awareness and funds for the Black Jaguar Foundation. At the same time, employees from a wide range of companies will collectively walk 2,600 km – the same length as the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor. Will you join us?

Become a sponsor, hiker, ambassador, or partner: www.hike4nature.nl

HIKE4NATURE

Hike4Nature is more than a hike, it is a global movement connecting people through one shared purpose: restoring forests in the Amazon and Cerrado in Brazil.

From May 31 to October 31, participants from different countries will collectively cover 2,600 km between Amsterdam and Lisbon, crossing the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, and Portugal. This symbolic distance represents the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor, one of the largest restoration projects in the world.

You do not need to complete the full route or even be in Europe to participate. Join for a few days, choose selected sections, or create your own walk wherever you are.

Your registration already creates impact, as the participation fee serves as an initial donation to the project. From there, you can invite friends, family, and partners to raise even more support.

That is how you become a Hike4Nature ambassador: someone who not only joins the challenge, but helps inspire others to act.

Companies, teams, and groups of friends can also participate together, combining efforts to generate even greater impact.

Throughout the journey, participants will cross trails, mountains, villages, and forests in an experience that goes far beyond hiking. It is a chance to connect with nature, with others, and with a shared mission.

Now it is your turn. Choose how to participate, rally your network, and be part of this journey.

Because together, we can go further, and restore much more.

JOIN HIKE4NATURE AND HELP TO REALIZE THE ARAGUAIA BIODIVERSITY CORRIDOR

On April 22, we celebrate Earth Day, a reminder that the future depends on the actions we take today.

At BJF, this commitment is built hand in hand with rural producers and local communities, who are essential partners in creating the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor.

Restoration begins on rural properties, where degraded areas are recovered and native vegetation fragments reconnected. Over time, these restored areas form a continuous ecological corridor along the Araguaia River, linking the Amazon and the Cerrado in Brazil. 

Local communities also play a fundamental role. Their deep knowledge of the territory supports seed collection and commercialization, strengthening sustainable local economies while contributing directly to restoration. 

This model allows restoration to happen at scale while respecting the land and empowering those who live there to become active part of the solution.

More than restoring land, this work helps biodiversity return, protects water resources, and creates healthier ecosystems.

This Earth Day, we celebrate restoration as a collective effort — the result of many people working together to generate real impact for the planet.