About half the ACRAA nursery is devoted to the production of trees/plants for use in ecological restoration and reforestation. Here strict guidelines are followed in terms of using only native species that are found at, or known to be suited to the site where they will be planted. 

To this end we have developed a seed-lot numbering and seed registration and tracking system. This is now being managed by our Brazilian Professional Forester (Forest Engineer) – Waldeir – who started with us in March of 2022. See Waldeir’s bio here.

According to this system trees/plants are numbered/divided into three categories using the prefixes P, F or I as follows:

P = “Árvores da Praia” (Beach Trees). These are trees/plants native to the “inundation zone” on the banks of the river Tapajós [1].

F = “Árvores da Floresta” (Forest Trees). These are trees/plants native to upland forest areas in the Alter do Chão area.

I = These are trees/plants seen growing in riparian zones of “Igarapés” in the region (Igarapés are small forest streams and natural springs).

A seedlot consists of seeds collected from a single mother tree, or group trees all the same species in a specific area – and collected on a specific date or during a specific period. Photos are taken of the mother tree(s) in each seedlot, and a description is provided along with GPS coordinates. In addition to being required by Brazilian forestry regulations (similar to regulations in Canada), this system will enable us to go back to the mother tree(s) and determine the latin name for each of the species we are propogating – this still pending [2].

Our present stock of restoration plants consists of potted seedlings of five tree species from Alter’s beaches, and seeds from an additional eight species that are currently in the process of being propagated (in germination beds). Phot0s 1 to 4 show four of our “Árvores da Praia.”