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A group of women in Colombia’s Montes de María region are transforming their germination beds—trojas—into powerful hubs of conservation and community well-being, growing both native trees for forest restoration and crops that support their families. Through the donation of over 300 fruit trees, they are creating a model of coexistence where people and wildlife, including critically endangered cotton-top tamarins, can thrive together.

What happens when a lesson in literature becomes a lesson in conservation? In one Colombian classroom, students are stepping onto the stage to tell a story that’s helping protect the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin.

It’s the time of year when infants are born to families of cotton-top tamarins and new twins have already been born in Colosó and Los Tities de San Juan Forest Reserve, marking an exciting time for the Proyecto Tití family. These births are perfectly timed with peak food availability in the rainy season, allowing both mothers and infants to thrive with the support of their entire social group.

Árbol del Padre, a massive macondo tree in Colombia, served as a vital gathering place for wildlife and a meaningful landmark for researchers and visitors, even continuing to support life after being struck by lightning. After it finally fell, the tree’s decomposition nourished the forest, symbolizing the ongoing cycle of renewal and the emergence of a new generation of trees.

For months, 12 dedicated women from Colosó lovingly planted and cared for more than 12,000 seedlings in their own homes. And now, as many of these young saplings have grown taller than 30 cm, the most anticipated moment has arrived: returning them to the land where they will grow into forest.