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2mn Trees and Counting: Meet the Unsung Heroes of the Amazon | Lelia Salgado and Sebastiao Salgado
In the heart of the Amazon rainforest, a remarkable transformation is underway, thanks to the tireless efforts of Brazilian couple Sebastiao and Lelia Salgado.
Over the course of two decades, they have undertaken the monumental task of planting over two million trees on Sebastiao’s family property, which had once been a thriving subtropical paradise.
The images of their restoration efforts, captured by Sebastiao, tell a powerful story of resilience and hope. In 2001, the land stood barren and desolate, a stark reflection of the environmental degradation that had taken place.
Fast forward to 2019, and the same landscape now boasts a vibrant forest, teeming with 290 different species of trees.
The Genesis of a Green Mission
The Salgados’ journey began when Sebastiao returned from a haunting assignment documenting genocide in Rwanda, only to discover that his family’s land mirrored the devastation he had witnessed. It was Lelia who first envisioned the ambitious task of replanting the trees, viewing it as an invitation for the return of vital wildlife to the rejuvenated ecosystem.
