Nursery
We operate our own nursery where we produce 500,000 saplings per year. We prepare all the substrate and compost, we use as well as microorganisms.
Campeche, Mexico
Planalto SPR de RL
Planalto is a company focused on sustainable and responsible reforestation, with the aim of regeneration. All our projects capture carbon and have a positive impact on the ecosystem and our community. To ensure this, we develop and adapt methods based on permaculture principles, holistic management and agroecology - we do not use chemicals, do not till, and use native species for example, in order to preserve soils and promote biodiversity.
REGENERATIng
FORESTRY
Capturing 1 million tons of CO2 by way of reforestation
Plantation
We have planted over 1 million trees - Logwood and Maculis (Tabebuia rosea). We use a roller and a subsoil to prepare the land.
Protection and Care
Each tree is protected from rodents with a reused PET bottle, we do not use poison. We clear the plantation manually and with small machines, avoiding herbicides.
Forest management
We use methods and practices of sustainable forest management, aiming to achieve continuous forest cover, supported by nature's regeneration processes.
Multifunctional Reforestation Model
Our model is a multi-value undertaking thanks to several product cascades. The multifunctional reforestation with Logwood (Haematoxylin campechianum) allows us to extract hematoxylin, produce biochar, generate electricity and furthermore generate high value conservation. With every yearly cycle we sequester thousands of tons of carbon.
Haematoxylin
From the heart of Logwood, we extract the dye, haematoxylin, which is used in laboratories, mainly in histology to stain tissue. In the 18th century, the discovery of this natural dye revolutionised the textile industry, because it made it possible to cheaply achieve the colour black in dyeing wool. Because of being natural, haematoxylin is an important element in non toxic products such as cosmetics, clothes or toys for children.
We produce haematoxylin from the sustainable harvest from our plantations of Haematoxylum campechianum. We hold all required legal permits for the production and are in the process of registering with the appropriate FSC certification body.
Carbon capture
Once we have extracted the dye from the Logwood woodchips we will use these to produce biochar. In the process which is called pyrolisis, the biomass is carbonised at high temperatures and in absence of oxygen, so that the chemical structure of the carbon atom remains fixed in such a way that it can no longer oxidise, nor digested by microorganisms. Hence, the carbon is sequestered for 500-1000 years.
The resulting biochar is used to improve the soil's content and structure. Due to its high porosity the char absorbs and stores water and nutrients, and slowly releases them over time.
Planalto aims to capture 1 million tons of CO2 in every 10 year cycle. By producing biochar, we would sequester over 8,000 tons of carbon permanently in the soil, enriching it at the same time.
At the moment, we are in the process of certification with CAR (Climate Action Reserve) in order to sell offset credits.
REGENERATINg
Society
We integrate our activities with our community, placing a high value on learning and rural development, for example by sharing our sustainable methods.
Conservation
The land that forms the ranch Santa Lucía (1,180 hectares) has voluntary been designated to form part of the nature reserve Laguna de Términos. Furthermore, 350 hectares of the ranch are exclusively for conservation.
Every year we join forces with Sherbrooke University and Ecosur; master students from the ecology and regeneration courses study the increase of biodiversity in the area where cattle was permanently removed in 2015, and carry out trials to improve its conservation value. We develop restoration models that are economically viable and effective for the lowlands, and the low deciduous jungle ecosystems.
Some of the species that we protect are: jaguar, ocelot, oncilla, jaguarundi, jabiru stork, spider monkey, howling monkey, peccary, and others.
We continue to collaborate with organisations in order to carry out ecosystem restauration. If you are interested in working with us, please contact us!