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:
From April 27th to May 1st, 2025, the Black Jaguar Foundation took part in Agrishow in Ribeirão Preto (SP) — one of the largest agricultural technology fairs in the world. Being present at this event was a valuable chance to share our mission with major representatives of Brazilian agribusiness.
Our founder, Ben Valks, together with our team, presented the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor, emphasizing how ecological restoration can go hand in hand with the country’s productive and sustainable development.
During the fair, Ben also gave an interview to the Fala Carlão channel, where he shared his journey and the origin of the Black Jaguar Foundation. With a global vision and local action, Ben showed how agribusiness can — and should — move forward together with environmental conservation. A conversation that inspires and proves that Brazil is at the heart of the solutions to the planet’s major environmental challenges.
Watch the full interview:
BJF’s presence at the fair reinforces the importance of collaboration between the productive sector and environmental initiatives. We believe that the future of agribusiness depends on more regenerative practices — and this is the conversation we aim to expand.
On April 15th, our founder Ben Valks was in The Hague, Netherlands, representing the Black Jaguar Foundation during the Lunch Lecture organized by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). The event brought together representatives from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Agriculture, as well as experts from the Partners for Water program.
Alongside Professor Marielos Peña Claros, a leading expert in Forest Ecology and Forest Management at Wageningen University, Ben shared BJF’s mission: to restore the world’s longest biodiversity corridor, connecting the Amazon Rainforest to the Brazilian Cerrado along a 2,600 km stretch.
During the event, participants learned how reforestation goes far beyond environmental impact. It transforms lives, creates jobs, and promotes sustainable development that bridges science and local knowledge.
Professor Marielos emphasized the importance of science-based ecological restoration, highlighting the use of native species, the value of Indigenous and community knowledge, and the need to build a supply chain for seeds and seedlings — pillars that also guide BJF’s work in the Araguaia region.
This international dialogue further strengthens our cause: to regenerate ecosystems, inspire people, and generate real impact for the planet and future generations.
Watch the full lecture on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ6NTyTFFvw
The third visit by representatives from Caixa Econômica Federal – Palmas branch – to the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor was marked by moments of listening, connection, and inspiration. Over the course of two days, teams from Caixa and the Black Jaguar Foundation visited restoration sites, seedling nurseries, and communities that are part of Ressemear – the Araguaia Seed Network.
On April 15th, the journey began in Marianópolis (TO) with a visit to PA Piracema, where seed collectors shared their stories and experiences with the project. Later, in Caseara, the team had the opportunity to meet members of the urban seed collection group, in a gathering focused on mutual listening and knowledge exchange.
The next day, April 16th, in Santana do Araguaia (PA), the team started the day with a visit to the Black Jaguar Foundation’s Forest Nursery, where they observed up close the production of native seedlings that will bring the next planting season to life.
Afterwards, they visited a restoration site on a rural property, guided by a BJF field analyst. On site, they were able to compare different stages of vegetation regeneration and witness the tangible results of the restoration efforts.
The journey concluded with an inspiring conversation with the seed collector group from the Barreira do Campo region. Local residents shared their stories, showing how restoration has transformed realities and created a positive impact in the community.
The Black Jaguar Foundation believes in the power of partnerships to transform landscapes and lives. Visits like this reinforce the shared purpose of regenerating the Araguaia and creating a legacy for future generations.
From May 6th to 9th, Black Jaguar Foundation and Ressemear took part in the 4th Redário Gathering, held in Nova Xavantina, Mato Grosso.
Laís D’Isep, seed production analyst, and Célia Guimarães, a seed collector from Ressemear, joined the four days of intense programming. It was a time for learning, sharing experiences, and strengthening connections among those who make ecological restoration happen on the ground.
On the first day, we visited the herbarium and seed lab at UNEMAT, as well as the headquarters of the Xingu Seed Network. We got a close look at technologies developed by collectors, such as seed processing machines built by Wanderley, a specialist in baru seed processing.
On the second day, we followed presentations on Redário’s 2024 activities, heard inspiring testimonials from women seed collectors, and visited areas restored through the “muvuca” method and agroforestry systems.
The third day brought important discussions about network organization, safety during seed collection, and restoration experiences in different territories. We also took part in a small “muvuquinha” and visited the Rio das Mortes, one of the region’s iconic rivers.
On the final day, the focus was on lessons learned and planning the next steps: discussion circles on pricing, the role of technical staff, tools like the Redário app, and suggestions for future gatherings.
Participating in this event was an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to ecological restoration and to those on the front lines: the native seed collectors.
The Black Jaguar Foundation is growing! As our project continues to expand, our team is also gaining new members. Over the past few months, we’ve welcomed new additions in Rio de Janeiro, and the Netherlands.
We now have more hands on deck to support our fundraising team. Get to know them:
FUNDRAISING
We’ve also strengthened our fundraising team with new additions in Rio de Janeiro and Amsterdam!
Giulia Chersoni – Grants Coordinator
Originally from Italy, Giulia has been living in Amsterdam for several years. She holds a degree in Environmental Economics, a PhD in Complexity Economics, and over six years of research experience, with expertise in partnership development, grant writing, and corporate sustainability.
At the Black Jaguar Foundation, Giulia focuses on securing and managing grants, serving as a product specialist, and supporting the Foundation’s lead fundraisers, driven by her passion for community-led approaches and innovative financing solutions for forest restoration.
Diogo Ferraz e Castro – Fundraising & Corporate Partnerships
Diogo holds a Law degree from UCAM and an MBA in Business Management from FGV/RJ. He began his career with the mining team at Veirano Advogados and later joined Raintrust Fund, one of Brazil’s first carbon credit initiatives, where he served as General Manager for nearly six years. In 2013, he co-founded Junior Explorers do Brasil, an educational startup focused on wildlife and ecology. Since then, he has led projects in education, innovation, and branding, with a focus on strategic partnerships and business development. He is also a mentor and board member at Toti Diversidade, an initiative that supports the inclusion of refugees and migrants through tech education. Most recently, he was part of the Alternative Investments team at SS&C Intralinks, a global corporation supporting fundraising and information sharing processes with private equity and venture capital firms.
We’re very excited about the new members of our team and looking forward to their contributions to our project!
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!
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!
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.”
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.
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!
