Deeply rooted in the heart of the province of Misiones, Argentina, a yerba mate producer has embarked on a journey driven by the commitment to protect the environment. His efforts have been supported by the Hora de Obrar Foundation, through the Crece Selva Misionera project. This transforming initiative has shown positive results across the region, with 190,000 native trees planted over 390 hectares and more than 2,200 people sensitized in three and a half years.

Crece Selva Misionera: restoring the green core of Misiones

The province of Misiones is located in Argentina's northeastern region, near the border with Brazil and Paraguay. In terms of territory, it is one of the smallest provinces, but also one of the most densely populated. In this Triple Frontier, cultures, identities, and languages are blended: natives, Guaraní, Swiss, Portuguese, Polish, German, and Italian.

Some of this mixture can be recognized in Marino Jungblut, a local yerba mate producer from the town of Ruiz de Montoya. The land Marino farms is not simply a means of livelihood; it is a legacy. At 65 years old, on the brink of retirement, the family bond with his farm has spanned generations: "This farm belonged to my father, and I have been running it for many years. I hope my daughter will take over, in a few years”, he says proudly.

This province is renowned not only for the Iguazú Falls. But also for its remaining areas of lush Paranaense rainforest, home to numerous species of animals and plants, which extends across Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Misiones, the national capital of biodiversity, has the largest block of continuous and preserved rainforest, occupying approximately 50% of the province's territory.

However, less than 8% of the Atlantic Forest is now preserved. The uncontrolled expansion of the agricultural frontier, the overexploitation of the forest, the development of dams and other infrastructure projects that leave a fragmented landscape, and the illegal hunting of wildlife, have led to the loss of biodiversity and degradation in this region. As a result of this extractive economic model, poverty affects approximately half of the population of Misiones.

The need to protect and preserve the Parana rainforest, not only as a natural heritage but also as a livelihood for local communities, has become paramount. This is the only path to a sustainable future.
With this objective in mind, the Hora de Obrar Foundation developed the Crece Selva Misionera project. The foundation is an initiative of the Evangelical Church of Río de la Plata, of united, Lutheran, and reformed tradition. Which understands that caring for the environment is a responsibility of all Christians, who must protect it for future generations.

With this commitment of faith, the Crece Selva Misionera project aims to mitigate the effects of climate change, fight deforestation, promote reforestation, and transform production systems, adopting a comprehensive approach, which is proving to be very successful in the region.

Restoration of the forest and transformation of production systems

Reforestation of trees in agricultural crops is crucial to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Trees act as carbon sinks, reducing global warming and the concentration of greenhouse gases, they provide shade and regulate temperature. In addition, they improve the quality of the soil, increasing its capacity to retain water and endure droughts. In this way, crop diversification with native trees increases resilience and protects crops from damage caused by increasingly extreme weather events.

Marino understands the environmental context of his province and his concerns about the environment drove him to find ways to improve his farming practices, especially in relation to his yerba mate production. "The idea is to conserve the land and nature so that our descendants can continue enjoying this gift from God... I intend to continue with this for as long as I have the strength to do so”.

Jungblut embarked on a deliberate transformation of his farm with the support of the Hora de Obrar Foundation. His aim is to reintroduce native trees and fruiting plants into his fields, fostering a thriving ecosystem. Acknowledging the many benefits of combining traditional agriculture with native species, he embraced agroforestry methods as an integral part of his vision.

"One of our main activities is the reforestation of natural environments in the

jungle of Misiones, as well as the reconversion of production systems in local farms, especially those of yerba mate. These species have their roots in the Paranaense rainforest, making their incorporation into yerba mate farms highly beneficial," says Mara Schedler, an agronomist working for the Hora de Obrar Foundation team, as she joins Marino in finding a spot to plant new trees.

Marino's yerba mate plantation is proof of this successful strategy. Native plants and yerba mate coexist in harmony, taking advantage of the shade provided by the native trees. Those of large size are excellent soil explorers, as they capture and absorb nutrients at depth to release them to the surface through the spreading of their leaves. In addition, they improve soil porosity, which favors water infiltration.

"In Misiones, where soils have suffered degradation and compaction due to traditional agricultural practices, the presence of trees becomes a crucial factor to restore the chemical, physical, and biological fertility of the farms”, says Mara. They also lure various species of birds, which play an important role in the food chain and contribute to the biological control of pests.

A collaborative green network for growth and development

The conjoint actions with different areas and institutions of the province -such as natural reserves, municipalities, universities, schools, and other public agencies- are a fundamental aspect of "Crece Selva Misionera".

"A crucial aspect of the project is the collaboration with civil society and governmental networks and organizations. In addition to our participation in the Trinational Atlantic Forest Restoration Network, we work in close partnership with the Instituto Nacional de la Yerba Mate (INYM), allowing us to incorporate native seedlings into the yerba mate agroforestry scheme. Many producers have incorporated these plants as a result of agreements and cooperation programs, diversifying and improving the care of their farms", says Nahuel Gravano, head of environmental projects at Hora de Obrar.

This approach has led to a substantial increase in the demand for seedlings in the province since the beginning of the project in 2020. Consequently, local nurseries increased the production of native and fruit trees, generating a new ecosystem around mass planting.

"Before Crece Selva Misionera, local producers did not demand native species in significant quantities. Hence, the nurseries did not take the risk of producing", Gravano explained. "Today, stable demand for native species is guaranteed by

the project to between four and six nurseries”.

He also stressed another important aspect of the project: awareness raising and training. "Farming families and organizations are progressively testing the model. Good results are visible, and positive word of mouth motivates them to spontaneously adopt agro-ecological practices".

Marino Jungblut's experience is just one of the success stories of the "Crece Selva Misionera" project, which already planted approximately 190,000 native trees over 390 hectares in 39 municipalities, and raised consciousness among more than 2,200 people in the last three years and a half. By mid-2024, Hora de Obrar aims to reach the goal of reforesting at least 250,000 trees.

This far-reaching vision has proven that the combination of agroforestry methods and the reintroduction of native trees, not only benefits yerba mate production but also the ecosystem as a whole.

It is an inspiring example for farming families and a living proof of the power of collaboration between communities and organizations committed to protecting and restoring the environment. Marino's commitment to land conservation for future generations is undeniable. As he stares at the legacy he hopes to leave for his daughter, his voice brims with enthusiasm: "My daughter is currently studying Agronomy and shares the same ideals. She plans to continue with the conservation work and build on what I've already started building. I hope that these efforts will endure in time, that the Foundation will continue to provide us with seedlings, and that our work will produce meaningful results, ensuring that future generations will also be able to enjoy the biodiversity of Misiones".

Meaningful data

• The Atlantic Forest is home to an amazing biodiversity on the eastern coast of Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay.
• More than 148 million people depend on the services provided by the Atlantic Forest, including water, energy, and soil protection.
• The Atlantic Forest is home to 7% of the world's plant species and 5% of the world's vertebrate animal species. Many of these species are endemic and found nowhere else on the planet, which makes their protection even more crucial.
• Misiones has the largest continuous block of Paranaense forest,
• occupying about 50% of the province's surface territory.
• Project "Crece Selva Misionera"
• - More than 190,000 native trees planted on 390 hectares in Misiones.
• - Projected goal: at least 250,000 trees reforested by mid-2024.
• - More than 2200 people sensibilized in just three and a half years.
• Trees act as carbon sinks. They absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and contribute to reducing the concentration of greenhouse
• gases.
• Integration of native trees into agricultural production systems increases crop
• resilience, protecting them from damage caused by storms and adverse weather events.

 

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About the Protestant Foundation Hora de Obrar

Hora de Obrar works for social and environmental development in Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. It is an initiative of the Evangelical Church of Río de la Plata, driven by a commitment of faith for a more fair, equitable, and caring world.

Since 2014 it has been developing and supporting social and environmental projects, to promote and stand up for the rights of the most vulnerable people and to preserve the environment for future generations. Hora de Obrar works around 5 main axes: community development, climate justice, indigenous peoples, gender justice, and diaconal strengthening. More information at www.horadeobrar.org.ar

About the Trinational Atlantic Forest Restoration Network

It is a multi-sectoral movement integrated by civil society organizations, governments, local communities, and the private sector, which covers the Trinational Ecoregion of the Upper Paraná in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, committing different actors to the restoration of the Atlantic Forest and its ecosystem services.

About the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

The United Nations General Assembly has declared the period from 2021 to 2030 as the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The Decade, led by UNEP and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with the support of its partners, aims to prevent, stop, and reverse the loss and degradation of ecosystems worldwide. Its purpose is to recover billions of hectares of terrestrial, coastal, and aquatic ecosystems. The UN Decade is a global call to action that brings together political support, scientific research, and financial resources to promote large-scale restoration of environments.

About the Trinational Atlantic Forest Pact World Restoration Flagship

The Flagship Initiative is a partnership between three countries; Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, and two multi-partner coalitions that bring together institutions to focus on Forest Landscape Restoration on a large scale. This initiative, which congregates more than 370 institutions, is promoted by the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact and the Trinational Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact. Together, they provide a unique solution for large-scale restoration within the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration: restoring at a tri-national level, in a collaborative movement. This transboundary movement fosters integrative approaches to protect and restore the environment, strengthening governance and the articulation of society to change people's behavior and encourage public policies. It promotes empowerment and the capacity of restoration practitioners, fostering broad engagement and knowledge sharing in a decentralized approach while stimulating the implementation of restoration.