Reforestation and nature conservation are inextricably linked, especially in the tropics. Cleared rainforest areas can hardly be returned to their basic state. The reforested rainforest is therefore referred to as a secondary forest. However, these secondary rainforests are essential to protect the remaining areas of primary forests.

The methodology of reforestation is to recreate the diversity and structural strata of the former and adjacent natural rainforests as close to nature as possible. These secondary forests then serve as a buffer zone. Among other things, their climatically similar conditions can largely prevent further degradation of the protected areas and their biodiversity can be preserved and even increased.

In addition, secondary forests contribute to the compensation of carbon dioxide and climate protection and are important for stabilising the region’s water balance. Projections show that one hectare of tropical forest stores about 700 tons of CO2 in the trunks, branches and leaves of the trees.

Reforested land protects against soil erosion and mitigates the negative effects of drought and flooding on all ecosystems in the region, including coral reefs of nearby coastal regions.