Photo by By Sebastião Salgado
Today’s good news story comes from the Good News Network. Here it is in its entirety.
Couple Plants 2 Million Trees in 20 Years to Restore A Destroyed Forest, and Even the Animals Have Returned
By Andy Corby – Nov 30, 2023
In 2001, the legendary photojournalist Sebastião Salgado had a dream of restoring the forest near his home in the state of Minas Gerais. Now, 20 years later, his family property is a biodiverse paradise.
His work over long years saw him, his wife Lélia, and volunteers plant 20 million trees from 290 different species across over 1,500 acres of desiccated hillsides, recreating a natural forest ecosystem into which rare animals have now come to live.
Salgado’s story is a famous one. The photojournalist documented some of the most dramatic events of human misery of the 20th century. He authored half a dozen books, exhibited his photos around the world, and was the subject of a documentary, Salt of the Earth.
When he came home in 1998 after reporting on the exodus of the Rwandans into the Congo, the land around his family home had been completely destroyed.
“The land was as sick as I was—everything was destroyed,” Salgado told the Guardian back in 2015.
“Only about 0.5% of the land was covered in trees. Then, my wife had a fabulous idea to replant this forest. And when we began to do that, then all the insects and birds and fish returned and, thanks to this increase of the trees, I, too, was reborn – this was the most important moment.”
That same year, he and Lélia founded Instituto Terra, which focuses on environmental restoration and sustainable rural development in the Rio Doce Valley. Located in Southeast Brazil, it makes up a part of the other great landscape of the country—the Atlantic Forest biome, which is far more temperate than the Amazon or the Pantanal and far more threatened.
Today, the property is officially titled Private Reserve of Natural Heritage Bulcão Farm, and hundreds of animal species have returned to the Rio Doce, including ocelots, purple-breasted parrot, and the Atlantic titi.
173 bird species alone have been identified; you can listen to some of their squawking here. Interested conservationists can donate to Salgado’s project on his website or even schedule a visit to the reserve.
The good news here is one man and his wife took it upon themselves to right a bib wrong. Today’s JohnKu talks about individual effort. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
One at a time by John W. Howell
We all think it takes,
Big moves to make big changes . . .
Then there’s this story.
Fiction Favorites 
What an amazing transformation. As old Blue Eyes used to say, nice and easy does it.
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Love that song. Thanks, Marc.
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Awesome. Did they explain what happened to the forest to kill it?
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They never did and I wondered the same thing. I was going to try and look it up but ran out of time.
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I’ll have to look that up at some point.
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Me too
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Looks like it was destroyed for cattle ranching then the farm closed.
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I see. That makes sense.
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What an incredible transformation! All credit to them and their helpers. Onwards and upwards.
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Shows what slow and steady can accomplish.
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Holy bat guano, Batman …. that is one heck of an accomplishment …. and your JohnKu is perfect for it.
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Those folks rolled up their sleeves instead of just wringing their hands. I was gobsmacked at what they were able to do. Thanks, Frank.
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I may have stumbled across this one before. It’s a wonderful tale of what one person can accomplish and comes with its own proof.
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Well said, Craig. Thanks.
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This is wonderful. Thanks for sharing, John.
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Thanks, Jill. 😁 I hope your day is terrific.
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I love this so much. What a difference just a few people can make.
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Yes, indeed.
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This is terrific! So nice to see this transformation.
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It gives the eyes a rest for sure. Thanks,Kymber.
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So inspiring and hopeful! This is amazing, John, and your JohnKu is perfect. Thank you for sharing this and brightening the day! 🌞
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I agree it does brighten things somewhat. Thanks, Gwen.
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I am so loving this!
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Me too, Annette.
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Absolutely wonderful story, John! Thank you so much for sharing it, and reminding us that sometimes we humans do the right thing, and for all the right reasons, too. 😊🎉😊
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And taking the resolution into our own hands. Thanks, Marcia.
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Certainly beats sitting round hoping someone ELSE will fix the problem. These folks have my deep admiration and respect! 😊
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Mine too, Marcia. 😊
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Aww, this warms my heart. Sounds like an excellent place to donate to. Thanks for sharing, John.
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My pleasure, Sue. Thanks for reading.
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Fantastic, John! That is quite an accomplishment! Your Johnku says a lot of how things like that get done.
Thirty-some years ago we had some acreage (before GM transferred me) and I planted about 100 seedlings that I got from a conservation organization, but nowhere close to 2 million. 🙂
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I wonder what they look like today?
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The new owner took some of them down, but the ones he didn’t are grown up and scenic.
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Lovely.
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There are times it is good to be a couple of tree huggers on a mission. Great story John.
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I think this is a good reason to be a tree hugger.
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What a spectacular transformation! Hard work and patience paid off 100-fold.
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Can you imagine walking out there among the trees you planted. What a joy.
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Absolutely, especially with the return of all the animal life!
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😁
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This has me smiling 🙂
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I agree, Denise.
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What an amazing story! It can be done.
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Yes it can, but not if we all wait for someone else to do it.
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This is outstanding! I can’t say enough for these people!
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I like their independence.
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Amazing! We can bring renewal to this Earth. It gives us hope.
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Shows it doesn’t take a government.
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Love the Johnku. Good news, and fascinating too. Hugs.
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Thanks, Teagan. Hugs back.
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What wonderful news — thank you for sharing it, John (and have a lovely weekend!)
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You as well, Debbie.
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Excellent JohnKu for this wonderful story.
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Thank you, Steve.. 😁
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Of course, it’s a remarkable transformation, but equally remarkably is what short time it took relatively.
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That impressed me as well. 😁
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How wonderful!
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I agree. 😊
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That is amazing!
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I know right?
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Little steps get you to where you’re going just the same as big steps. One just has be willing to take the first one.
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I agree, Pam. Thank you.
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That is an absolutely stunning transformation! Thank you for sharing, John.
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Always a pleasure to bring good news forward.
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😊
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😁
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Wow!
Filled with a humbling respect, I say “thank you”!
Your JohnKu says it too.
In the 80’s my landlady wore an Ocelot coat. I disliked her immensely.
🌳✘ 🦜✘ 🐆✘ 🌳✘
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Ew. I hate wild animal fur wearers.
🌳✘ 🦜✘ 🐆✘ 🌳✘🥦X
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Goody! What kinda person?
Anyway, I love the way you often get broccoli (King veggie right?I mean broccoli crowns!) into the equation. 💋🥦X💋
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yes king of the veggy world. 🥦X🥦X🥦X🥦X
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YES! 🥦X🥦X🥦X🥦X💋
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🌹X🥦X🥦X🥦X🥦X💋
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🌹X🥦X🥦X🥦X🥦X💋 I’m having broccoli tonigh!
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Salad here. 🥗X 🥗X 🥗X 🥗X
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Love the roughage! OX
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Me too. OX
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Great people, dear John! I hope this story will inspire others!
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What a fantastic legacy he and his wife are leaving behind. The Earth’s lungs and animals must be thankful. It sure looks so much better now!
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It does. I like the phrase Earth’s lungs.
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That’s so wonderful to see! Thanks for sharing, John.
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It is. I was so glad to find this story. Thanks, Barbara.
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