This project, created and planned by Svend F Körting and Mariana Gómez, and carried out by the summer camp Yanawara 2008 (Kajuyali - Camp) under Laura Noguera's direction and Svend's supervision was born as Yanawara's central activity. This happened in the Palmarí Natural Reserve, Upper Javari - Brazilian Amazon with the support, managed by Svend, of the United Nations Environment Programme: Plant for the Planet - The Billion Tree Campain

The idea was to restore three native endangered species by having the campers and the community people to sow these species in the gaps of the forest that have been opened by human hands; and building seedbeds for the native endangered species seeds.

At that time the two main objectives of the project were, to contribute with a reforestation management plan, aimed to achieve the rehabilitation and conservation of a Javarí Valley forest fragment in the Brazilian Amazon; and to create a multiplying effect on young people´s conscience, regarding the Amazon forest's critical situation, its implications, and worldwide consequences and what we can do about it.

Our goals have been fully accomplished so far. In one month nearly 70 people between campers, staff, natural reserve guides, children and adults of the community, sowed 165 plants of native timber endangered species and fruit trees . The plants were sowed in the gaps that had been deforested by men, trying to create small biological corridors, so the forest can go back to its original state.

On the other hand we built four seedbeds. In two of them we left seedlings of Caoba and Cedro Rosado, Pomarrosa´s in other one and Guama´s in the last one. This seedbeds where placed at the entrance of the natural reserve so when the tourists come to visit, they will have the opportunity and will be encouraged to sow these seedlings in the jungle as part of their Amazon experience and as their personal contribution to preserve the forest.

We can certify that the multiplying effect, which we were looking for upon the young people´s minds, regarding the Amazon forest's critical situation, is happening right now. The youngsters from the communities were so impressed with the experience, that they are now passing over the information to their families, neighbours and schools.

The people of the community where surprised to see that sowing trees in the jungle was a very important activity for the camp but even more astonishing for them, was to watch the solemnity given to the act itself. After seeing this, the children of the community adopted this same respectful attitude and became the most enthusiastic towards the activity.

Sembrando Selva will continue as an activity of futures Yanawara's, now on Laura Noguera's hands, and is becomming a part of the Palmarí Natural Reserve, in such a way that in the coming months every tourist who visits the Reserve will have the opportunity to sow a plant in the jungle.
 
Finally for me Sembrando Selva became the driving force to new restoration – reforestation projects and green ideas of which I hope you will have news soon.

Svend F Körting (Biologist)
Sembrando Selva's -Jun-Jul 2008- Director