A reforestation project providing education for local communities in Colombia!
<p><em>Je m'appelle Rodolfo, j'ai 65 ans, je suis ingénieur agronome à la retraite et j'ai une forte passion pour la nature et surtout les <strong>projets de reforestation</strong>.</em></p>
<p><em>En raison du COVID-19, je suis actuellement coincé en <strong>Colombie</strong> et j'ai réalisé que c'est le moment idéal pour faire quelque chose de significatif pour notre planète. J'ai commencé un petit projet de reboisement par moi-même, mais je sais qu'avec votre aide et votre soutien, les résultats seront plus efficaces et performants.</em></p>
<p><em>Mon projet est petit: je voudrais planter <strong>3 000 arbres par an</strong> et continuer à le faire pendant au moins 5 ans. Je suis convaincu que l'impact dans la région sera énorme.</em></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br />
<em>Merci d'avance de faire partie du projet <strong>A Tree For Colombia.</strong></em></p>
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<p>My name is Rodolfo, I am a 65 years old, retired <em>agricultural engineer</em> and I have a strong <strong>passion for nature</strong> and especially <strong>reforestation</strong> in general.</p>
<p>Due to COVID-19 I am currently stuck in Colombia and I realized that this is the perfect time <strong>to do something meaningful for our Planet. </strong>I started a small reforestation project on my own, but I know that with your help and support, the results will be more effective and efficient.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/667820/20200603_155212-1591188063.jpg" width="100%" /></p>
<p>My project is small: I want to<strong> plant 3,000 trees</strong> per year and to keep doing it<strong> for at least 5 years</strong>. I am confident that the impact in the region will be huge.</p>
<p>I have described a detailed description of my project below. If you have any questions <em>I look forward to having a chat with you.</em></p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/667781/vivero-1591185471.png" width="100%" /></p>
<h2><strong>The Situation</strong></h2>
<p>La <em>Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta</em> is one of the highest coastal mountain ranges in the world.</p>
<ul>
<li>It covers an area of approximately 17,000 km2 </li>
<li>It is the source of <strong>36 rivers</strong>.</li>
<li>It is a home to<strong> indigenous communities </strong>like the Koguis, the Wiwas, the Arhuacos and the Kankuamos.</li>
</ul>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/667784/Photo_Kogi_village-unsplash-1591186001.png_resized-1591186001.png" width="100%" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Over the years, this<strong> <em>magnificent biodiverse</em></strong> region has been deforested for several reasons:</p>
<ul>
<li>Due to illicit plantations in the past</li>
<li>Because of poor agricultural practices of local farmers, as they have a lack of knowledge on how to farm sustainably.</li>
</ul>
<p>This has <em><strong>endangered many local animal species</strong></em>, it has dried up small rivers and it has killed numerous ancient trees. And above all, despite many promises, it has given no benefit to the local communities.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/667789/IMG-20200310-WA0060-01-1591186512.jpeg" width="100%" /></p>
<p>I am very grateful to have this opportunity during these difficult times. I am eager to give as much as possible to our planet.</p>
<p><strong><em>To achieve this, I need to start somewhere and Colombia looks like the perfect place.</em></strong></p>
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<h2><strong>The Work Plan</strong></h2>
<p>There are mainly two things I want to do:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Educate the local farmer: </strong>By teaching them how to farm, while conserving our trees and to raise awareness, in order to avoid malpractices from the past.</li>
<li><strong>Restore and protect </strong>a forest<strong> </strong>that once existed in these mountains.</li>
</ol>
<p>Both can be achieved <strong>through reforestation:</strong></p>
<p style="margin-left:40px"><strong>The educational part : </strong>This includes collecting seeds from local trees, germinating them and creating the nursery.<em> </em></p>
<p style="margin-left:40px"><strong>The restoration part:</strong> Planting the trees and providing the necessary care during the first months, which is the most crucial time for their growth. </p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/667792/IMG-20200218-WA0032-01-1591186627.jpeg" width="100%" /></p>
<p style="margin-left:40px">I have already started with soil analysis, harvest and seed selection, seedling preparation and seed sowing and seedling transplantation into the nursery.</p>
<p style="margin-left:40px"><strong>The restoration part needs to start in July, due to the rainy season</strong>!</p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/667794/IMG-20200218-WA0034-01-1591186659.jpeg" width="100%" /></p>
<h2><strong>The Support</strong></h2>
<p>I have been collecting <strong>local varieties of trees </strong>locally known as <em>Tambor, Caracoli, Campano, Cuipo, Higueron, Cedro</em> amongst others. Furthermore, I have been creating sustainable farm fields of <em>Cacao Criollo</em>, which is a local variety of Cacao and of other fruit trees, such as <em>Avocado, Guanabana, Coconut, Banana</em> and <em>Guayaba.</em></p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/667797/IMG-20200121-WA0047-01-1591187099.jpeg" width="100%" /></p>
<p>Creating a forest of various types of trees will help the ecosystem to grow faster. This will help to <strong>motivate and educate the farmers</strong> and most of all will help them to sustain themselves through the fruits and vegetables they will be able to produce and sell.</p>
<hr />
<h2><strong>Your Contribution</strong></h2>
<p>With your help I will be able to continue carrying out all the different processes needed <strong>to plant 3,000 trees this year</strong>.</p>
<p>We need to employ at least <strong>2 local farmers</strong> (Salary per person is 300 Euros per month) and we need to buy organic fertilizers, sunshade nets, irrigation equipment, basic gardening tools and fences against rodents.</p>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/667844/IMG-20200104-WA0058-01-1591188527.jpeg" width="100%" /></p>
<p>This month I will start the definitive field site preparation, irrigation water pond, installation of hoses and drippers.</p>
<p>On average it cost 3 Euros per tree and <strong>we need to achieve 3,000 trees this 2020</strong>.</p>
<p>We need to prepare 4,000 baby trees (considering a 20% of mortality in nursery and 10% after planting the trees) in order to reach this year's goal of 3,000 trees. So the more we can support the more trees we will be able to plant.</p>
<h2 style="text-align:center"><strong>Thanks in advance for being part of </strong></h2>
<h2 style="text-align:center"><strong><em>A Tree For Colombia!</em></strong></h2>
<p><img alt="" src="https://d3v4jsc54141g1.cloudfront.net/uploads/project_image/image/667798/hummingbird-unsplash-1591187211.jpg" width="100%" /></p>