WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND.
Our business depends on the health of the Atlantic Forest around us, so we are extra motivated to protect it. It is the second most biodiverse ecosystem on the planet, but it is also very fragile: approximately 300 of the 900 species of native trees around us are threatened at some level.
Initiated in 2018, our legacy project seeks to restore 50 of these threatened species of trees, through a combination of conservation and agroforestry work. Under the scientific guidance of world-renowned forestry specialist Dr. Sílvia Ziller from The Horus Institute, we track mother trees in the jungle, harvest their seeds, foster them into saplings in our nursery at the enchanting EKÔA Park, and plant them in their forever homes on our property and a growing number of partner properties. This project is funded through 1% of our revenue. As it allows us to build a community of like-minded forest guardians in the Brazilian South and grow it towards a big impact, we consider it our legacy project.
FOUNDING PARTNERS
WHY IT MATTERS
Brazil’s Atlantic Forest (“Floresta Atlântica “) is home to a rich array of life. Over the years, 85% of this forest has been cleared, and many species of noble trees have been overexploited. Despite this, it remains a global biodiversity hotspot and plays a critical role in regulating climate and sustaining wildlife.
Novo Fogo’s home in Morretes, state of Paraná, is located in the largest protected patch of the Atlantic Forest. Protecting the forest also protects our farm, our team, and our future. Restoring the forest by planting endangered species helps rebuild tree cover, improve carbon sequestration, and safeguard native species from extinction.
Dr. Sílvia Ziller is the Executive Director of the Horus Institute and a specialist in native species restoration. She leads the technical side of our project, from selecting species to designing the planting strategy. Her team tracks hundreds of “mother trees” in the wild, gathers their seeds, and trains the landowners who plant the saplings.
Led by Tatiana Perim, EKÔA Park is a 6,000-acre ecological oasis, located deep in the Atlantic Forest, near our distillery. EKÔA is our nursery partner and the place where every seed of threatened species on our goal list becomes a plant and gets a second chance. The EKÔA team is also a great educator and host of the annual Un-Endangered Forest planter community gathering.
GUIDED BY SCIENCE AND BUILT ON INTEGRITY
Our program is led by globally-renowned forest expert Dr. Sílvia Ziller, who works alongside botanists, Indigenous communities, and local landowners. Every tree planted follows a clear strategy that supports biodiversity, healthy growth, and the forest’s long-term resilience.
1. Find the “Mother Trees.”
Our botanist partners locate rare trees in the rainforest and log their exact locations.
2. Collect seeds by hand.
Seeds are carefully gathered during the right season, high in the jungle canopy.
3. Grow saplings in the nursery.
The seeds are planted in a nursery at EKÔA park, where they grow into saplings ready to be moved.
4. Plant in forever homes.
Volunteer landowners welcome the saplings onto their land and learn to care for them with guidance from our team.
TRACKING EVERY TREE
Each seedling’s journey from forest to nursery to new home is tracked through a custom-built mobile app. Planters upload photos and progress updates, giving us live data and full transparency.
A FOREST WORTH TOASTING TO
When you drink Novo Fogo, you’re supporting conservation of the Brazilian forest that defines our sugarcane farm, our community, and our spirits. The Un-Endangered Forest project seeks to leave the earth a little better than we found it. Thank you for supporting our mission!