Tucked away in the Mata Atlântica, the once great forests on the Atlantic coast of Brazil, is a small but ever growing reserve in the Guapiaçu valley barely two hours’ drive from Rio de Janeiro. Reserva Ecológica De Guapiaçu, or REGUA, is one of the most successful ecological restoration projects Lookfar has encountered, and this week we’re thrilled to have Nicholas Locke, REGUA’s president and founder, join us on The Lookfar Podcast to talk about how he acquires old farmlands and fields teams to find seeds, grow seedlings, and plant trees on degraded landscapes. Nicholas also shares insights on how restored ecosystems provide valuable basic services to surrounding communities, such as cleaner water, cleaner air, and greater resilience in the face of natural disasters and other extreme events. There are few people in conservation who brim with more optimism than Nicholas, and in hearing about REGUA and its work, it’s not hard to understand why.

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