Acquiring and Preparing the Property

Invasive pine and eucalyptus trees extract large quantities of water from the soil. In addition, the leaves and roots of eucalyptus trees contain toxins to which the native fauna cannot adapt. For this reason, we remove all invasive trees. Eucalyptus is deliberately uprooted to prevent it from sprouting again.

Ploughing the hardened soil with zebu cattle improves the soil structure, allowing the future plants to thrive and efficiently absorb nutrients through the roots. Another advantage of loosening the soil is that smaller planting holes are sufficient. This saves financial and time resources.

During the rainy season, heavy rainfall can cause erosion and flooding. As a result, the fertile top layer of soil is washed away by the masses of water, making plant growth considerably more difficult. To counteract this, we are widening the natural waterways at key points.

A firebreak several metres wide is created along the boundary of the property. Here, the grass pastures are regularly cut back by hand or the fertile soil layer for the nursery's plant soil is removed. In the event of a fire in the surrounding area, there is no combustible material in this swathe. The risk of the fire spreading to the forest is reduced. Choosing a plot of land that borders on damp rice fields is just as effective.

Like the firebreak, a protective hedge of thorny plants runs along the entire property boundary. This reduces uncontrolled or unauthorised access to the forest. Public paths are an exception. Such a protective hedge is not only significantly more cost-efficient, but also more effective than a brick wall or a metal fence.

We build simple huts for the future rangers at important access points to the forest.

For possible future irrigation of the trees and shrubs, we are constructing wells and waterproof insulated irrigation ponds. A mobile, motorised water pump is used for filling. There is also the option of creating ponds in the forest to promote biodiversity.

We prepare the planting holes with shovels and a motorised planting hole drill.

Compost serves as a food source for the microorganisms in the soil, whose excretions in turn supply the plants with nutrients. To promote this natural symbiosis, we enrich the planting holes with our home-made compost before planting.