My LAVAZZA
PROTECTING THE LUNGS OF THE PLANET
The Amazon Rainforest is the largest and most diverse tropical rainforest on Earth. Producing about 6% of all its oxygen, it has earned itself the title of “The lungs of the planet”. Home to some of the most powerful and precious natural weapons in the world against climate change, it boasts a wealth of mineral resources and natural riches, including wood, as well as more than half the world's species of flora and fauna.
The Amazon’s flora plays a critical role in cleaning the air we breathe. In exchange for their oxygen, the plants absorb carbon dioxide, the most important of Earth's long-lived greenhouse gases. The amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by each plant depends on their size: the bigger they are, the more carbon dioxide they absorb.
Unfortunately, despite all that it offers, the Amazon is currently being exploited more than it is being protected to make space for agriculture, manufacturing, and construction. Consequently, those whose survival depends on its fruition are the most affected.
Although these activities further contribute to the degradation and desertification of the forest and the depletion of greenhouse gases, it is more convenient and profitable to cut down trees and sell logs than live off the land.
CONCRETE ACTIONS TAKEN TO PROTECT THE AMAZON RAINFOREST
To safeguard these precious resources, the Lavazza Foundation, in collaboration with CESVI Foundation, the Peruvian Ministry of the Environment, and local indigenous communities have launched a project to promote the conservation of the forest heritage. This project focuses on the rehabilitation of degraded areas of the forest through the planting of new vegetation, with a particular focus on the Amazonian walnut tree, also known as Bertholletia Excelsa.
The Amazonian walnut tree can grow up to 30 - 50 meters high, live up to 700 years and store about 64,000 kg of carbon dioxide during its lifetime.
Moreover, this project is not only about environmental preservation but also has a significant social dimension.
By promoting the sustainable harvesting, processing, and marketing of the Amazonian walnut, it seeks to empower indigenous communities and create economic opportunities. Through the cultivation of these trees, communities can secure both sustenance and income, thereby fostering resilience and prosperity within the region.
This project has positively impacted over 600 beneficiaries, leading to the restoration of over 700 hectares of primary forest through reforestation efforts. Additionally, it has resulted in the planting of over 5,000 Amazonian walnut trees and more than 15,000 fruit trees. These collective endeavors are a significant step towards the revitalization of natural ecosystems, contributing to enhanced biodiversity and the conservation of valuable forest resources.
