We’ve been sharing updates about the first phase of the large ecological corridor we launched in Colosó, the mega corridor that will connect the forests of San Juan Nepomuceno to Colosó. This ambitious effort begins in the most beautiful and humble of places — the patios and gardens of our TITI GUARDIANES. For months, 12 dedicated women from Colosó lovingly planted and cared for more than 12,000 seedlings in their own homes. Watering, tending, and protecting them as if they were part of their families. 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.

These seedlings have made their journey to farms neighboring the protected area of Coraza, where a new chapter of ecological restoration is beginning. The farmers of Colosó are deeply knowledgeable about the land — planting and working the soil is part of their heritage. But restoring native forest is a science of its own. That’s why Proyecto Tití’s restoration team worked alongside the TITI GUARDIANES who will help lead this effort, sharing knowledge about ecological restoration, landscape ecology, and sustainable land management.

How do we decide what to plant — and where?

It all depends on the land itself and its ecological history. In degraded pastures, for example, we select fast-growing pioneer species that can quickly provide shade and outcompete invasive grasses. In these areas, we often implement applied nucleation — a strategy that involves planting dense clusters of native species to mimic the forest’s natural succession. These clusters create microhabitats, reduce pressure from invasive species, and allow the forest to gradually expand on its own.

We also work with families whose lands include “secondary growth” — areas that may look like forest but still need support to function as fully developed ecosystems. In these cases, we use enrichment planting, an active restoration strategy that involves introducing trees into existing ecosystems that have low diversity.  This strengthens forest structure and increases biodiversity by introducing complementary native species.
This scientific, technical, and practical knowledge is built and shared as a team. Together, farmers and restoration specialists are planting thousands of saplings around Coraza — home to extraordinary local wildlife, including the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin.

From March through May, the rains typically arrive in Colosó — the perfect season for planting, 
and our focus in the months ahead. Thirty-two farmers will plant nearly 12,000 saplings representing more than 40 native species. The goal: more connected landscapes, more functional forests, and more resilient territories. Because restoration is not simply about planting trees. It is about restoring ecological processes, strengthening soils, protecting water sources, stabilizing the land, and building well-being for the communities who call it home.

Behind every sapling is knowledge, planning, collective action… and an extraordinary amount of effort. We’ll continue sharing updates as planting progresses in Colosó during this first phase of our mega corridor restoration program.