Our Countries

In the heart of the Amazon Basin, near the city of Manaus, we manage extensive areas of tropical rainforest. This region is of inestimable ecological value, as the Amazon rainforest is often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth" and plays a decisive role in the global CO₂ cycle.

The Amazon rainforest is home to about 10 % of all known species worldwide and stores enormous quantities of CO₂. Each hectare of intact rainforest can store up to 600 tonnes of CO₂, mainly in biomass and soil. This natural accumulation of CO₂ is invaluable to global climate-protection efforts.

Our projects in Brazil combine three key approaches:

1. Protecting existing forests:  By acquiring and safeguarding intact forest areas, we prevent deforestation and preserve valuable CO₂ sinks.

2. Active reforestation:  On already deforested or degraded land, we carry out extensive reforestation measures, using a mix of native species and fast-growing trees with high CO₂-storage capacity.

3. Supporting local communities:  We work closely with indigenous communities, respect their traditional knowledge and land rights, and create sustainable income opportunities through agroforestry and ecological forest products.

On the island of Tasmania in southern Australia we manage forest areas with unique ecosystems. Tasmania is home to some of the oldest and most species-rich temperate rainforests in the world, which play an important role in CO₂ storage.

The Tasmanian forests are renowned for their high biodiversity and their wealth of endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. Particularly valuable are the old-growth eucalyptus forests, which rank among the most carbon-dense ecosystems on the planet. One hectare of old-growth eucalyptus forest can store up to 1,200 tonnes of CO₂—significantly more than many tropical rainforests.

Our measures in Tasmania include:

1. Protecting old-growth forest stands:  We have acquired areas of old-growth forest to protect them from logging and preserve their valuable carbon stock.

2. Planting native species:  On degraded land we plant fast-growing eucalyptus species such as Tasmanian blue gum (Eucalyptus globulus) and mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans), which bind CO₂ with exceptional efficiency.

3. Comprehensive fire protection:  In response to the increasing bushfires in Australia we implement modern fire-prevention measures to secure the forests in the long term.

4. Species conservation:  Through targeted measures, we improve the habitats of endangered species such as the Tasmanian devil and various endemic bird species.

In northern Latvia, a region characterised by extensive boreal forests, we have acquired or leased strategically important woodland areas. These northern forests play an important role in the European ecosystem and offer excellent conditions for sustainable forestry and carbon sequestration.

The boreal forests of Northern Europe, also known as the taiga, form one of the largest contiguous forest belts on Earth. They are characterised by conifers such as pine and spruce, mixed with deciduous species such as birch. These forests store large amounts of carbon, not only in the biomass of the trees but also in the often peat-rich soils that have accumulated carbon over millennia.

Our Latvian projects are distinguished by:

1. Close-to-nature forestry:  We practise gentle, close-to-nature forestry that maximises carbon storage while simultaneously promoting biodiversity.

2. Planting climate-resilient species:  On suitable sites we plant fast-growing tree species such as hybrid poplar (Populus × canadensis) and Siberian larch (Larix sibirica), which show excellent growth rates even in northern climates.

3. Peatland restoration:  Rewetting drained peatlands creates important carbon sinks while also providing valuable habitats for specialised species.

4. Climate adaptation:  To adapt the forests to climate change, we encourage the conversion of monocultures into species-rich mixed forests that are more resilient to storms, pests and drought.

In the Swiss Alps we manage selected forest areas that are both ecologically valuable and strategically well located. Alpine forests fulfil important protective functions and offer unique opportunities for sustainable forestry and climate protection.

Alpine forests play a decisive role in the Alpine ecosystem. They protect against avalanches, landslides and erosion, regulate the water balance and harbour a rich variety of flora and fauna. They also store considerable amounts of carbon, both in the biomass and in the often deep mountain soils.

Our Swiss projects include:

1. Climate-adapted forest management:  We plant tree species that can cope with changing climatic conditions, including warmth-loving species such as Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) as well as robust native species such as silver fir (Abies alba).

2. Altitudinal expansion:  Through targeted afforestation above the previous tree line, we make use of new growth zones at higher elevations created by climate change.

3. Protective forest management:  Maintaining and strengthening protective forests shields settlements and infrastructure from natural hazards while also serving as carbon sinks.

4. Promoting biodiversity:  By creating structurally rich forests with deadwood, glades and multi-layered forest edges, we establish diverse habitats.

In various regions of Germany, we manage forest areas cultivated according to the most advanced principles of sustainable forestry. These areas serve as model projects for climate-friendly forest use and efficient CO₂ sequestration.

Germany’s forests cover about one-third of the country’s land area and are important carbon sinks, habitats for numerous species, and popular recreation areas. However, they are under considerable pressure from climate change, as the drought years of 2018–2020 with massive forest damage have shown.

Our German projects focus on:

1. Transformation of vulnerable forests:  We convert vulnerable monocultures into species-rich, structured mixed forests that are more resilient to climate stress, storms, and pests.

2. Integration of "climate trees":  We deliberately integrate fast-growing tree species such as Paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa), known as a "climate tree," which reaches harvest maturity in just 5–7 years while binding up to ten times more CO₂ than conventional species.

3. Continuous-cover forestry principle:  We apply the continuous-cover principle with single-tree harvesting instead of clear-cutting, ensuring ongoing carbon storage.

4. Modern agroforestry systems:  On suitable sites, we establish innovative agroforestry systems that combine trees with agricultural crops, offering multiple ecological and economic benefits.