Indigenous Community Plants 100,000 Critically Endangered Pine Trees

The Xokleng Indigenous people in southern Brazil are doing something rather extraordinary: they've planted almost 100,000 seedlings of a critically endangered native tree. This isn't just any tree; it's the majestic Brazilian pine, or araucária, which can tower over 164 feet into the sky.

Once, these magnificent pine forests dominated southern Brazil. Now? Their numbers have plummeted by a staggering 97% in the last century. Carl Gakran, executive director of the Zág Institute, put it starkly: his people, language, and culture face the same precarious future as the araucária. He and his wife, Isabel Gakran, founded the institute to help turn the tide.

A Forest, Reborn

Gakran kicked off this ambitious restoration project in 2016. He'd learned the Brazilian pine was critically endangered via the IUCN Red List—basically, the global 'uh-oh' list for species. His initial plan was modest: just ten trees on his own land. But, as often happens with truly good ideas, the community got wind of it, and the project blossomed the very next year.

These araucária pines aren't just pretty; they produce edible nuts called pinhão. These aren't just a snack; they're a dietary staple in southern Brazil and a crucial food source for at least 22 animal species. The project's workers and volunteers collect the seeds, but with a critical rule: at least 40% are always left for the local wildlife. Gakran noted they honor their elders' wisdom, speaking to the seeds and performing harvest rituals, ensuring they never take more than 60%. Because, apparently, even reforestation has its own sacred etiquette.