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The Zurich Forest Project

Zurich is helping to restore part of the vast Atlantic Forest that once dominated Brazil’s eastern coast. It is working in collaboration with Instituto Terra, a non-profit organization founded by renowned photographer Sebastião Salgado and his wife Lélia. 

Take a tour of Instituto Terra

The beginning 

In 1998, the Salgados established Instituto Terra on a former cattle farm that Sebastião inherited from his father. The 700-hectare ranch, near the small town of Aimorés in the Doce river valley in the state of Minas Gerais, had once been part of the Atlantic Forest but was now just a barren patch of land.  

Over the next 20 years, the Salgados planted 2.5 million trees. Their dream was to bring the forest back to life, restore the biodiversity of plants and animals, protect the soil, and revive and maintain the water sources.   

Zurich’s engagement 

Zurich, inspired by Instituto Terra’s restoration efforts, agreed to become a large sponsor in 2020. With the conviction that we could help make an even greater impact, the Zurich Forest Project was born. Zurich initially established a grant with the aim to enable the planting of 1 million seedlings of native trees over an eight-year period (2020-2027). So far, more than 800,000 seedlings consisting of more than 80 different native species have been planted. They have been scientifically selected to bring back a fully self-sustaining and biodiverse forest.  

But the Zurich Forest Project involves more than just planting trees. It is about restoring an entire ecosystem and empowering the communities and economies that depend on it.

Since Lélia and Sebastião started their work, 2,100 springs have been recovered, and more than 200 animal species and 300 plant varieties have returned. For the first time in decades, apex predators such as jaguars now stalk the forest— proof that regeneration is possible when nature is given the chance to heal.

Expansion 

Based on the success of the initial collaboration, Zurich decided to extend its engagement. In 2022, it provided Instituto Terra with the means to acquire additional land. The purchases, completed in 2024, triple the area owned from just over 700 hectares to more than 2,400 hectares. 

To help Instituto Terra’s team to scale up, we also funded essential infrastructure. This includes the building of a new tree nursery with the capacity to produce at least one million seedlings a year; machinery such as excavators and tractors; and a new bus to transport Instituto Terra’s workers safely around the property.   

The Atlantic Forest 

Around 500 years ago, the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) spanned approximately 120 million hectares (470,000 square miles), about twice the size of France. Today, only 11 to 16 percent of the original forest remains. 

The forest was first destroyed by harvesting Brazilwood trees for red dye. Deforestation increased with coffee and sugar cane plantations, soy crops, and cattle pastures created by burning land. Brazil’s population growth and the expansion of cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo also contributed to the forest's decline. 

Despite its reduced size, the Atlantic Forest still boasts a rich biodiversity, comparable to the Amazon. It contains an estimated 20,000 plant species, more than North America (17,000) or Europe (12,500), making it a global conservation priority. 

Sustainability at Zurich 

The Zurich Forest Project reflects our long-term commitment to sustainability.

11 steps to growing a forest

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Instituto Terra

Discover Instituto Terra, the non-profit organization that Lélia and Sebastião Salgado, founded in 1998.

Go to the Instituto Terra website