Today we present a special series of interviews with various collaborators from the Black Jaguar Foundation: 

Starting the Journey: heading to Santana do Araguaia! 

Crossing the Araguaia River, Fala Carlão introduces the destination: the areas where Black Jaguar operates. 

Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor: vision, preparation, and strategic partnership 

Discover the ambition and long-term planning behind one of the world’s largest ecological corridors. 

Santana do Araguaia: a model municipality in environmental compliance 

Since 2014, Santana do Araguaia has maintained the Green Municipality seal, reflecting its commitment to the Forest Code and environmental conservation.

On the front lines: daily care for planted seedlings 

Learn about the essential work of the team that maintains the areas to ensure the healthy growth of trees planted in restoration sites. 

Behind the forest: the essential work of logistics and supply 

Meet the team responsible for organizing, maintaining, and distributing the equipment that ensures the success of reforestation at the Black Jaguar Foundation. 

Seedling nursery: the beating heart of ecological restoration 

Discover the Black Jaguar nursery, where rare seeds come to life and begin transforming the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor. 

From the Netherlands to Santana do Araguaia: governance for a sustainable future 

Camila Lefreve explains how her international experience helps structure the Black Jaguar Foundation’s governance to ensure lasting results.

Restoring APPs and strengthening seedlings for the field 

See how Black Jaguar works on the recovery of permanent preservation areas (APPs) and in preparing seedlings to face the climate and survive in natural conditions, increasing the success of forest restoration. 

Professionalism in restoration 

Carlão and Thiago show how Black Jaguar’s restoration work is as professional as traditional agribusiness management. 

High-level governance at Black Jaguar 

Eduardo Rímoli, financial manager, explains how the organization operates with transparency and rigor, aligning with the best corporate practices worldwide. 

Fazenda Santa Fé: reforestation in action 

In this segment, we follow the visit to Fazenda Santa Fé in Santana do Araguaia, where the reforestation of the Araguaia River banks is already showing impressive results. In just five years, the restored area has become a vital biodiversity corridor for the preservation of water and local life. Carlão speaks with the Black Jaguar team and partners about the impact and importance of this work, connecting science, communities, and sustainability. 

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The Amazon and the Cerrado are two of the most important biomes in Brazil and the world, harboring unique biodiversity and playing a fundamental role in climate regulation. However, degradation caused by deforestation and other threats puts the lives of millions of species — including ours — at risk. 

In honor of Amazon Day (September 5) and Cerrado Day (September 11), we invite you to join a special donation campaign running from September 5 to 11 to strengthen ecological restoration efforts in these territories. Your support will go toward collecting native seeds, planting seedlings, training local communities, and protecting restored areas. 

Every real donated is a seed of hope for the future of our planet. Let’s preserve what is ours together! Donate and spread the word! 

DONATE HERE

For the Black Jaguar Foundation, restoring forests means restoring biodiversity. The more native tree species planted in an area, the greater the chances of rebuilding ecological processes, enriching the soil, attracting wildlife, and creating more resilient, balanced landscapes over time. 

This commitment begins at our forest nursery. From 2022 to 2024, we germinated 45 species, produced over 1.1 million seedlings, and used about 2,660 kg of seeds. 

For 2025, the numbers continue to impress: 

• 78 species in production 

• 439,110 seedlings forecast 

• 507.31 kg of seeds 

Today, our portfolio includes 78 native species—a major achievement that reflects the dedication and care of our team in ensuring that each restored area features a rich and functional mix of plants. 

Take a look at some of the grown species:

This collective effort is what makes it possible to transform seeds into living, connected, and thriving forests. 

Protecting the forest also means ensuring that our team is prepared to face field challenges safely. That’s why, on June 13, we held a Forest Fire Prevention and Response Training with our field staff in Santana do Araguaia (PA). 

By the end of the month, we conducted the same training with members of Ressemear, – the Araguaia Seed Network. These are our direct seed suppliers coming from the local community, growing together our impact. 

During the training, participants received guidance on: 

• Forest fire prevention 

• Proper use of safety equipment 

• Emergency fire response procedures 

This action is part of Black Jaguar Foundation’s ongoing efforts to create a safer, more responsible work environment—one that’s committed to protecting both nature and people. 

In this first interview of the series, Tainan Balestrin, our field forestry supervisor, explains the restoration process in a Permanent Preservation Area, including the planting of native seedlings and careful management to ensure tree survival. He also shares his journey to the Amazon and his commitment to forest recovery. 

Between 2020 and 2024, what was once degraded land is now a growing forest. This transformation occurred in a Permanent Preservation Area (APP), in one of the priority regions of the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor. 

And our loyal partner Sumthing, in addition to supporting the Black Jaguar Foundation in tree planting, has created an incredible video showcasing the positive environmental impact we’re generating in the region!  Satellite images capture more than just a visual change, they reveal the tangible impact of ecological restoration led by the Black Jaguar Foundation and the areas that thrive.

Bare soil gave way to a vibrant young forest, thanks to the direct involvement of local communities, nursery staff, seed collectors, and partners. This is yet another example of how large-scale restoration is not only possible but goes far beyond planting a tree. 

The strength of collective work is restoring nature and transforming the territory, creating real benefits for the environment and for the people who live in it. 

De L’Europe Amsterdam, one of the most iconic and luxurious hotels in the Dutch capital, is renowned for its historic architecture and top-tier service. Situated along the Amstel River, the hotel blends classic luxury with sustainability efforts. 

Since 2022, De L’Europe has partnered with the Black Jaguar Foundation, demonstrating its environmental commitment through concrete action. About six months ago, the hotel began inviting guests to donate to the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor, and they match each donation made! This collaboration not only creates a positive impact on nature but also gives guests a meaningful way to connect with an important environmental cause. 

BJF’s presence can also be seen in the hotel’s lobby, where a black jaguar sculpture invites visitors from around the world to engage with the mission of regenerating Brazil’s native biomes. 

This partnership is yet another example of how major brands can directly contribute to transforming landscapes and building a greener future alongside the Black Jaguar Foundation.

We are pleased to announce that the Black Jaguar Foundation (BJF) and UBS Optimus Foundation are now official partners. UBS Optimus Foundation supports programmes worldwide that address critical social and environmental challenges through strategic funding and collaboration.

In 2024, the Black Jaguar Foundation successfully completed UBS’s due diligence process and was selected as a UBS Bank Climate & Environment Partner, one of the few Brazilian NGOs to receive this recognition.

This partnership goes beyond financial contributions. In addition to the opportunity for a portion of your donation to be matched by the UBS Optimus Foundation, BJF will benefit from access to UBS’s network of experts, technical support, and capacity-building resources. Areas of collaboration include impact measurement, governance enhancement, and scaling restoration efforts in the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor together with other UBS initiatives.

To learn more about the BJF–UBS partnership and how it may relate to your support, please contact Joël Boele at j.boele@black-jaguar.org or acess their page as one of the first 600 to support Black Jaguar Foundation.

Black Jaguar Foundation begins 2025 by reaching a major milestone: the mobilization of the first Indigenous group within Ressemear, the BJF Araguaia Seed Network. A total of 27 members of the Aldeia Kayapó, located in the Barreira do Campo region (Pará, Brazil), took part in a training cycle and are already collecting native seeds for the upcoming planting seasons. 

This is a historic step for the network, reinforcing its commitment to a more diverse restoration effort rooted in the traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples. The involvement of the Kayapó Village expands Ressemear’s social and environmental impact, bringing ecological restoration even further — through the hands of those who have lived in and protected the forest for generations. 

In addition to welcoming the new Indigenous participants, the training round also included Ressemear’s existing groups, with a renewed focus on best practices for seed collection, processing, and storage. Knowledge-sharing and collective engagement remain the cornerstones of the initiative. 

With increasingly diverse roots, the BJF Araguaia Seed Network (Ressemear) continues advancing its mission to restore the Araguaia — uniting communities, cultures, and seeds! 

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.