Proyecto de reforestación

TMA and To'ak have been working together on cacao genetics and agroforestry dating back to 2018, when together we created a genetic bank of 100% pure Ancient Nacional cacao trees in the Jama-Coaque Reserve. The genetic bank is our collective effort to prevent the extinction of one of the most legendary heirloom cacao varieties on earth, and to nurse it back to health.

We are using cacao trees to help restore forest on degraded agricultural land. It’s one element of a holistic regenerative agroforestry project that combines cacao trees with a diversity of tall native shade trees, fruit trees, and other food crops like bananas and plantains. This approach gives a boost to farmer incomes and local food security, removes CO2 from the atmosphere, and improves the overall health of the ecosystem. It’s an example of how businesses, conservationists, and local farmers can join forces to help regenerate the forest rather than cut it down. We call it Regenerative Cacao. Cacao trees are naturally adapted to survive and thrive in the understory of the tropical forest. In other words, they grow well in the shade of bigger trees. Therein lies the advantage of cacao farming in the realm of tropical forest restoration. Cacao trees can be planted in combination with a diverse array of other food-producing trees and native trees. That’s what agroforestry is—it’s an agricultural method that grows crops in the form of a forest. Regenerative agroforestry uses this principle as a mechanism for forest restoration and conservation by aligning the health and well-being of humans and biodiversity! #regenerativeagriculture #shadegrown #cacao #peopleandplanet #regenerativecacao #community #agroforestry #nacionalcacao #reforestation #ecuador #cacaoagroforestry #pacificforest #chocolate #responsibleconsumption