How a Terminally Ill Brazilian and
His Wife Planted Two Million Trees
and Transformed a Barren Land
into a Tropical Forest
Renowned Brazilian photographer Sebastião Salgado and his wife, Lélia, accomplished something extraordinary: they turned their desolate family ranch into a thriving tropical forest.
Once a barren expanse in Brazil's coastal mountain region, the land now flourishes with greenery across 600 hectares. The couple's dedication to planting 2.7 million trees helped restore a section of the Atlantic Forest, which had been devastated by deforestation in the 20th century. But how did they achieve this remarkable feat?
Published Feb. 7, 2025
Salgado, a recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including the Friedenspreis des Deutschen Buchhandels, decided to radically change his life. After years of working abroad, he returned home only to find that his once-lush ranch had turned into a desert. Determined to restore the lost forest, he and his wife embarked on a mission to plant millions of trees and breathe new life into the land.
Their efforts serve as a testament to how personal initiative can transform nature and leave a legacy that will endure for generations.
Today, Sebastião Salgado is not only a world-renowned photographer but also the visionary behind a large-scale forest restoration project. His work is centered on his family ranch in Aimorés, a small town about ten hours from Rio de Janeiro.
Born in 1944, Salgado grew up on this land, where his parents owned a fertile farm. As a child, he helped with daily chores and accompanied his father on cattle drives through the Rio Doce Valley in the state of Minas Gerais. These early experiences fostered a deep connection to the land.
Salgado initially pursued a career in economics, enrolling at a university in São Paulo. He married Lélia and dreamed of building a future in Brazil. However, history had other plans.
In 1969, during Brazil's harsh military dictatorship, Salgado and Lélia were forced to flee to Paris to escape political repression. It was there, in exile, that Sebastião discovered his true passion: photography. His talent quickly gained international recognition, yet his heart remained tied to his homeland.
Years later, Lélia proposed an ambitious idea: restoring the forests on his family's abandoned ranch. Around the same time, Salgado began focusing on nature photography, leading to his Genesis project, which captured the untouched beauty of remote landscapes in striking black-and-white images.
When Brazil's dictatorship finally collapsed, the couple returned after a decade abroad. By then, Salgado was physically and emotionally exhausted from photographing war zones and humanitarian crises. Reconnecting with his homeland became a form of healing. When his father passed down the family farm, Sebastião and Lélia resolved to turn the desolate land into a thriving green sanctuary.
Once fertile, the region had deteriorated drastically. Thousands of cattle once grazed there, sustaining local communities through farming and ranching. Over time, pastures became depleted, native plant species vanished, invasive African grasses took over, groundwater levels plummeted, and rainfall decreased by half. The entire region fell into decline.
In the late 1990s, the couple took action. They founded Instituto Terra, a nonprofit organization dedicated to reforestation. Slowly but steadily, tree by tree, they revived the landscape.
Now, after more than 20 years, the transformation is breathtaking. The restored 600 hectares are home to 293 plant species, many of which are endemic to the region.
Among the most remarkable trees are the rare cherecheira with its gnarled branches, the elegant cascudeira with its dense canopy, and the sapucaia chestnut-like tree. However, the true gem is the endangered peroba, a fast-growing species with striking red-brown wood.
This project was not only an environmental success but also a personal salvation for Sebastião Salgado. When he first returned to Brazil, he was gravely ill. However, the act of restoring the forest became a form of therapy. Doctors later concluded that his illness had psychological roots, and working with nature played a crucial role in his recovery. Salgado himself acknowledges that planting trees revitalized him, giving him the energy for new creative endeavors.
Inspired by this transformation, he went on to complete his Genesis project, celebrating Earth’s untouched wilderness. According to Salgado, it all began with trees—their roots, branches, and leaves symbolizing a new path and purpose.
Initially, residents were skeptical of Sebastião and Lélia's mission. Even his own father, who once built the region’s largest ranch, doubted that barren hills could become a thriving forest again. However, years of hard work proved that even the boldest dreams can come true with persistence and faith.
Their success has since inspired neighbors. One such neighbor, farmer João Mudgea, saw what the couple had accomplished and decided to follow their lead. With the help of Instituto Terra, he began reforesting his land. The movement continues to grow, as more people realize that environmental restoration can become a lifelong mission.
Restoring the forest has required significant financial investment. Over two decades, Sebastião and Lélia have contributed approximately $3 million of their own money to support Instituto Terra.
They never calculated the exact amount, as the results mattered more than the cost. Maintaining the institute requires around $600,000 annually, covering salaries for 50-60 employees, infrastructure upkeep, and student training.
Each year, Instituto Terra welcomes 20 students, providing them with housing and free education. Over a year, they learn the science and practical techniques of reforestation, gaining skills to help continue the work of saving Brazil’s forests. As more people join Salgado’s mission, once-barren lands are transforming into thriving ecosystems.
Email: tolstenv@list.ru
