Bringing Brazil’s Forest Back to Life
Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel
Renowned Brazilian photojournalist Sebastião Ribeiro Salgado has used his camera and his artistry to document in black & white some of the world’s most dangerous and desolate spots.
After a lifetime of traveling, he was inspired to create something totally different and life-affirming: a living landscape in brilliant color – a forest in the heart of Brazil.
Located in Minas Gerais, some 300 miles Northwest of Rio de Janeiro, on 1,750-acres that belonged to his family, the land was barren from over-farming and ranching.
But, Salgado saw a different image. He remembered the vibrant landscape of trees and foliage teeming with wildlife that had once been there when he was growing up.
And, in 1994 he and his wife Lélia set out on an enormous task –
to reforest the land and bring it back to life.
Since then the couple has planted over 2 million trees…
and established the Instituto Terra foundation to oversee the work.
And now the land is rejuvenated and filled with the sights and sounds of life.
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