As we celebrate life on planet Earth, it is essential to highlight the Atlantic Forest as one of the richest forests in the world when it comes to biodiversity. 

In fact, the numbers related to the biome are impressive: according to ICMBIO, there are in the Atlantic Forest about 20,000 species of plants, 261 species of mammals, 200 of reptiles, 370 of amphibians, 350 of fish and 849 species of birds. According to the SOS Atlantic Forest Foundation, the forest covers about 15% of the national territory, occupying 17 states and marking the home of 72% of Brazilians. Among all these corners of the country, Humanize prioritizes actions that involve the Atlantic Forest in Bahia (especially in the south and extreme south) and in Rio de Janeiro (mainly in the city of Paraty).

We believe that the way to bring about positive changes involving the biome is through collaboration and fostering projects that leverage the socio-biodiversity production chains – which come to life in the forest and provide more life to many who depend on it, directly and indirectly. In this sense, we have articulated different partnerships in order to act in a systemic way and join forces in favor of the sustainable development of the territory, encouraging entrepreneurship and businesses with a socio-environmental impact.

To act in the territory, it is necessary to understand that awareness must start with the people who surround the forest, since many Brazilians live in an area where it is located and, even so, part of the biome is not recognized. It is also important to take as a starting point the idea that essential issues, such as electricity, climate regulation and water supply, depend on the Atlantic Forest. Currently, the sense of belonging (or the lack of it) is not enough to keep the forest standing. Also according to the SOS Atlantic Forest Foundation, today there is only about 12.4% left of the forest that existed one day.

With such alarming numbers, the union of different types of capital, such as philanthropy and the private sector, is strategic to stimulate new opportunities and generate gains in scale.