After winning the 2025 Earthshot Prize, the leading global sustainability award created by Prince William, re.green announced its first ecological restoration project in the state of Rio de Janeiro. The initiative is a partnership with the historic Fazenda do Tesouro, located in the municipalities of Porciúncula and Natividade, in the northwest of the state.
The farm has belonged to the França family, now França Baião, since 1896. Its land-use history began with timber extraction, moved through coffee production and today is focused on cattle ranching. Together with re.green, the property is now restoring 360 hectares of native vegetation — the equivalent of 25% of Fazenda do Tesouro’s total area.
This project is part of re.green’s broader strategy to expand partnership models with landowners, especially in the Paraíba Valley region, creating new income opportunities in open areas. The Southeast of Brazil has historically concentrated some of the highest levels of Atlantic Forest loss in the country: according to Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica and INPE, more than 80% of the biome’s original cover has been cleared since colonial times.
Financially viable restoration projects in the Southeast are essential for a high-impact strategy for the climate and Brazil’s biomes. At the same time, they remain relatively rare, as land prices in this region are historically higher than in others, such as the Amazon biome. We are proud to take this step of leadership in the Atlantic Forest, helping to pave the way for new large-scale restoration initiatives.
re.green’s debut at Fazenda Tesouro was featured in the Capital blog of O Globo.
Read the full story here
