And the rest is history.
Healing our planet one tree at a time is no small feat!
It takes a lot of human power to repair the damage and destruction we have caused our Earth over the years.
Because we’re a small team with only so many hours in the day, we knew this would be a big ol’ task.
And when we set the goal of 1 million trees planted, we did the math and knew we’d need some help.
We also know we are a good bunch with good hearts and a true purpose, but we aren’t conservation pros!
If we wanted to make a real impact, we knew we had to do this right [no one wants 1 million wonkily planted trees!].
Cue Copaíba…
Who Are Copaíba?
The Copaíba Environmentalist Association is a non-profit (unless you count the profit of their positive impact on our planet!).
They’re also recognized as a Civil Society Organization of Public Interest (OSCIP for short!).
Basically, they care a whole lot about the Earth, our people and all its living inhabitants!
Copaíba have made it their mission to conserve and restore the most degraded areas of the Atlantic Forest of the Peixe and Camanducaia river basins.
In fact, these regions are so heavily affected that only 12.4% of the original forest remains.
And they aren’t newbies to these conservation efforts, either!
Since 1999 when 4 friends joined forces to tackle the deforestation of the Atlantic Forest, they have worked hard to spread the word.
Their big dreams became an even bigger reality over the years.
And one small goal of reforesting a river bank became an expansive mission.
Now spanning 19 districts from eastern Sao Paulo and southern Minas Gerais, they are at the forefront of:
- Ecological restoration projects and programs
- Production of native seedlings
- Environmental education initiatives
- Participation in public policies
And we proudly get to call them our tree-planting partners!
Copaíba’s Impact
We know planting more trees is good for our planet - but why?
Reforestation isn’t just about dropping new trees in the ground!
Copaíba works to replenish native flora and wild fauna and conserve the land's rich biodiversity, water supply, soil standards and quality of life.
Without the right trees and plant life in the regions, the impact can be catastrophic to the ecosystems.
The soil becomes degraded.
Water quality and quantity reduces.
Oxygen supply drops, and CO2 absorption lowers.
Not only do Copaíba plant new trees in the most affected areas, but they educate the landowners of the two basins.
There’s huge power in knowledge, and the folks at Copaíba understand that real change comes from changed thinking and action!
They provide technical support (tree planting is a technical art!).
They bring seedlings of native trees for planting.
And they are at the forefront of carrying out technical projects.
Why Ecoalition works with Copaíba?
We all stan trees, so it made perfect sense to form a partnership!
Copaíba are the wondrous extension of our team, providing the support to fulfil our 1 million tree mission.
They do the planting, and our team members, including our founder Jesse, are often on-site, planting alongside.
But with every bracelet purchased, Copaíba help keep our collective movements alive.
If we’re really honest, our mission is endless.
And Copaíba shares this same mindset.
(You know we’re all about mindset!).
Alone, we may only make a small difference, which is still a huge contribution and worth every effort.
But those small changes create a massive impact when we come together as a collective.
Our mission, Copaíba’s mission and your mission are to heal our planet, build a brighter future and lead with love in all we do.
By amplifying each other’s efforts, skills and communities, we get closer to reaching our goals.
We can only achieve this if we share the same values and ethos.
Our Shared Values
Whether you’re a die-hard Ecoalite, a supporter of the Ecoalition movement, or you’re just passing by wondering what the goss is all about, we bet you vibe with:
- All life forms are valuable; humans should not jeopardize any life form.
- Biodiversity across the world should be conserved.
- We all need thriving environments to live in, but we are the ones who are responsible for creating them.
- We can use natural resources in a way that doesn’t compromise our future.
- We should be ethical and responsible to ensure no one, and nothing suffers.
These are the shared values of Copaíba, Ecoalition and each of you in our community.
We know we have a long way to go, but with you and Copaíba with us, 1 million trees and beyond doesn’t seem too far!
Will you join us?