Brazilian Couple Planted Over 2.5 Million Trees to Restore a Devastated Nature Preserve

In 1998, award-winning photojournalist Sebastiao Salgado and his wife Lelia Deluiz Wanick Salgado founded Instituto Terra in Brazil. They were inspired after Salgado returned from covering the Rwandan genocide to his father's degraded cattle ranch, which was 'as sick as I was.'

Starting with a 100,000-seedling donation from a local mining company, the couple began restoring their plot of land. Over two decades, they planted more than 2.5 million trees. Now, the preserve is so covered in lush forest that it can be seen from space.

“They were inspired after Salgado returned from covering the Rwandan genocide to his father's degraded cattle ranch, which was 'as sick as I was.”

The story of Instituto Terra has become a powerful symbol of environmental restoration and proof that even severely degraded landscapes can be brought back to life with dedication and patience.