Eliane is the nursery carer at our seedling nursery in Santa Fé farm, doing an amazing job planting! Watch her short video testimonial where she expresses the importance of the BJF’s work. She explains how retaining water in Brazilian land is crucial for her children and future generations.
It has been all hands on deck along the corridor as thousands more trees are currently being planted as part of our first pilot project. Finally the BJF dream is becoming a reality thanks to the immense work and dedication of our team.
We have used two different methodologies for planting in our Pilot project:
1) Direct Planting
Seedlings are grown in the nurseries and then planted in the field. The process involves removing invasive grasses, soil preparation, soil fertilization and finally the planting itself. We divide tree species in two groups: fast growing and diversity. The first group consists of a few species that grow really fast and provide good shade. The role of these species is to shade out invasive grasses and change the microclimate for diversity species. The second group consists of species of different functions within the ecosystem. These trees live longer, grow taller and feed the fauna.
2) Direct Seeding
This method involved putting seeds directly in the ground. We use tree seeds and legume seeds. Legume plants are nitrogen fixing and fast growing, thus helping in shading out invasive grasses and changing the microclimate for the trees to come.
Our forest engineers will soon be making videos to explain more about our planting process, we will keep you updated!
We are proud to announce that Ibiraú – the mapping and forest restoration engineers- have become a BJF technical partner. They have carried out an extensive mapping study and they have shared it with the BJF. This represents a breakthrough; we can now plan the next steps of restoration in the states of Tocantins and Pará.
The document analyses several aspects of the landscape of the region where we work: land limits, hydrography, state of the vegetation, connectivity potential… We can perceive in detail the localized needs of the regions we are helping to reforest. A great breakthrough for the BJF!
An example of the extensive mapping carried out by Ibiraú.
Mr. Hai Berden (founder of Seacon Logistics) and Mrs. Corrie Berden proudly receive their BJF Jaguar sculpture as a symbolic start of our partnership.
People, planet, profit – Seacon Logistics has always attached great importance to corporate social responsibility and sustainability. Seacon is a global logistical company with a presence in 75 countries worldwide. They are dedicated to running their operations in a way that reduces their environmental impact and limits CO2 emissions. We are very proud of our new partnership with Seacon! Their values beautifully align with our own, striving to create a better world for the next generation.
Back in August, the Black Jaguar Foundation gave a lecture for students partaking in the Environmental Law and Policy course taught by Professor Heidi M. Hurd (Illinois University) at FGV Law School in São Paulo . After the lecture, Francisco Macedo (Partnerships Coordinator) was invited by Prof. Hurd to do a roadshow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The roadshow took place in November 2018. Its main objectives were to raise awareness around deforestation in the Brazilian Cerrado savannah and Amazon rainforest and promote the initiatives led by the Black Jaguar Foundation on its mission to realise the Araguaia Corridor, the largest biodiversity corridor on earth.
In Illinois, Francisco had the honor of (i) delivering an address at a Luncheon Seminar, attended by Environmental Policy students and some college of Law Faculty members, (ii) speaking individually to over fifteen local professors from different faculties in order to discuss potential partnerships between the University of Illinois and the Black Jaguar Foundation and (iii) deliver a keynote at the Land Conservation Foundation annual dinner
Apart from enlarging the BJF Community, Francisco’s trip was very productive and the outcomes range from financial donations to the establishment of scientific partnerships to be announced soon… We will keep you posted!
After the time spent at the University of Illinois, Francisco also flew to New York City to host a series of fundraising meetings. These meetings also turned out to have a great positive financial outcome for the BJF.
BJF’s core team keeps on expanding! We now have a dedicated communications coordinator, Eloise Moench, who takes charge of our internal and external communications. This involves ensuring our sponsor partners are up to date with the latest news, building our social media presence and making sure our whole team is aligned and informed about how our grand project is developing.
Eloise is from the UK but moved to the Netherlands almost two years ago to study a Philosophy Masters. She specialized in climate negotiations- exploring how philosophical ideas of distributive justice can instruct the ways in which we internationally share the costs of climate change. After completing her degree she decided to stay in the Netherlands and begin working for the BJF, promoting and communicating the importance of our mission. We are happy to have her on board!
2019 is already here, and we couldn’t be more grateful to have you with us. Thanks to your support, we’ve accomplished many milestones in 2018. Together we:
There are so many more milestones to share with you! That’s why we created a photo collage to get an impression.
The BJF is full of festive cheer! We have achieved so many milestones this year that would not be possible without the voluntary and financial help of all our sponsor partners and extended team. However, our mission does not stop here. In order to become one of the worlds largest reforestation projects, billions of trees still need to be planted and billions of funds still need to be raised. This holiday season give a gift to the planet, give a gift to the next generation and give a gift to yourself by donating towards our great cause.
You can get involved here.
Iguazu is the up and coming watch company dedicated towards conserving natural beauty. We have recently signed an exciting partnership with them. For each watch you buy from Iguazu, you indirectly donate to the BJF so we can plant three native trees along the corridor. Buying an Iguazu time piece is a great and stylish way of supporting our project!
Iguazu are named after the glorious Iguazu waterfalls bordering Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. These astonishing beauties are one of the Seven Wonders of Nature. The straps on Iguazu watches are also made with upcycled leather (material that would otherwise be discarded by the fashion industry). The company’s sustainable zero waste concept is fully in line with BJF values- making them a great sponsor partner!
Tannis Zimmer is an inspiration and proof that every single action can set off a chain reaction of good. Whilst living in Winnipeg, Canada, Tannis encountered the Black Jaguar Foundation by chance. From the moment she learned about the project of realizing the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor in Brazil, Tannis hasn’t stopped helping. Since 2010 she has continually organized dance sessions to support and raise funds for our mission.
“We have managed to hold between one and three jams annually for the last seven years,” says Tannis. The Jaguar Jams, as she calls the sessions, involve African dance workshops organized by her and her friends. “Each time, the response we get is incredibly positive and people are generous with their donations. We’ve even had people who do not dance but still want to support the project and leave a donation,” Tannis shares.
“I see it as humans supporting humans who are willing to dive headlong into the trenches on behalf of our beloved Mother Earth”- Tannis Zimmer, BJF Friend
Tannis first felt urged to do something for the environment after seeing an injured bird on a Sunday afternoon almost ten years ago and deciding to do an online search about animals and nature. This is when she encountered the BJF website. “I read the website from top to bottom and I was very impressed with the initiative and the details of the Araguaia Corridor project,” she remembers.
She decided to organize a fundraising performance for the BJF involving artists, business people and professionals that were all inspired by her to join the cause. “I think we had about 60 people, who were all enthusiastic about the show and the foundation, to support such an important project. After the show a spontaneous music and dance jam broke out and people that were watching in the audience got up and started dancing,” Tannis explains about how this led her to develop the idea of Jaguar Jams.
Tannis believes humans inherently understand the importance of forests for the planet no matter where they are in the world. She is incredibly grateful to be able to help BJF and the world, even if it’s only in a small way. Tannis encourages other people to do the same. “Anyone can use their skills by gathering groups of people for an event or artistic performance where the audience don’t only benefit by partaking in the fun, but also do something for the future of the planet.”
Would you like to organize a fundraising event to support our mission? If so, then don’t hesitate to get in contact with us at info@black-jaguar.org
