The green revolution of Caño Negro

The rainforest is returning. Where once only barren pastures dominated the landscape, green leaves are now sprouting, young trees are towering and the calls of rare birds echo through the thicket. “It's amazing how quickly the planted trees grow and completely new forest areas are created,” says a delighted Claudia Altenrath, Head of Sustainability Management at the Vaillant Group. The sustainable reforestation project, which is being implemented in cooperation with BaumInvest, is showing impressive results after just two years.

Since March 2022, semi-natural rainforests have been created in the Caño Negro and Guatuso regions, which not only store CO₂ but also create new habitats for rare animal species. “We are giving many animals a new and future-proof home, as the area will be protected after the project period of forty years,” Altenrath continues.

The reforestation areas in Costa Rica now cover more than 1,000 hectares. This is roughly the size of 1,400 soccer pitches.

Trees grow here under optimal climatic conditions: The tropical climate ensures continuous growth without a winter break. Between September 2023 and January 2024, the young trees developed enormously: the Gallinazo reached a height of 4.7 meters, Ceiba trees grew to 3.1 meters and the Espavel reached almost 1.7 meters.

But it's not just about the growth of new trees, but also about their species diversity. Up to 24 different tree species were planted, including the endangered almendro tree, whose seeds are the main food for the green soldier macaw.

The reforestation project has a positive impact on fauna, flora and the people living there. “We are not only creating new forest, but also secure and environmentally friendly jobs in a structurally weak region,” emphasizes Altenrath.

As the forest returns, so do the animals. Capuchin monkeys are scampering through the treetops, tapirs are sneaking through the undergrowth and even a pair of jaguarundi have been spotted in Llano Allegre - a wild cat that was long thought to have disappeared here.

Antje Virkus, board member of BaumInvest, is regularly on site to see the progress for herself. “The personal visits and the exchange with the team on site are a valuable enrichment for me - nothing can replace the personal experience of seeing the reality in the field,” she says.

Costa Rica is now a pioneer in nature conservation. But this was not always the case: In the 1980s, massive deforestation was well advanced. Today, almost 30 percent of the country's land area is protected, and reforestation projects such as the Vaillant Group's are making a valuable contribution to restoring the rainforest. “By 2030 at the latest, we will cover our CO₂ offsetting requirements entirely from our own projects,” says Altenrath.

The project in Costa Rica will cover around half of the Vaillant Group's offsetting requirements in future.

The change is visible. And with every new tree crown that reaches for the sky, it becomes clear that the green revolution at Caño Negro has only just begun.