Brazil, which was once a leader in climate action, is now most often mentioned with alarm in discussions about climate change, desertification and deforestation. Between 2001 and 2023, Brazil lost 68.9 million hectares of tree cover. But there are lights in the darkness. Watch the seemingly miraculous results grounded in the simple acts of planting trees and a desire to improve the lives of both the animal and human kingdoms, at the heart of Instituto Terra. The renowned photographer and co-founder of Instituto Terra, Sebastião Salgado, passed away on May 23, 2025. His life and art illustrate the power of transformative action and the idea of environmental restoration as a profound gesture of love for humanity.

4,936 Views

 Your Name: Email:
  • Raghu

    What saddened me is wondering if this land had been desertified to start with by destroying pristine forests and killing off the indigenous people.

  • Diane

    What an inspiration and hope for the future. Beautiful!

  • Cindy J DiSalvio

    This video gave me hope. Thank you!

  • cosima

    no matter how much destruction there is, we can always re-create it in a beautiful way if we come from a loving heart

  • Ruby Grad

    The power of love, creativity, research, and embodied hope for the future of the planet.

  • Diane

    I love this! This gives so much hope for the future.

  • Page 1

  • Learn more about Instituto Terra and see what can be accomplished by dedication to the simple idea of restoring the forest.
  • Become inspired by the founder of Instituto Terra, photographer and photojournalist Sabastiao Salgado.
  • Plant and care for a tree in your backyard, neighborhood or neglected place in your community.

Related Videos