Reforestation of Desert Lands Using Simple Technology
Once a forest is gone, it’s gone forest, especially if what replaces it is dry, arid land the becomes a virtual desert. While for millennia that may have been the case, it’s not necessarily true anymore. A Dutch business called Land Life Company has developed a unique product called the Cocoon that improves the survival of tree seedlings by up to 80 percent.
Environmental degradation, caused by industry and modern agriculture, is at the heart of the deforestation problem. More than two billion hectares of land worldwide, an area larger than the entire continent of South America, has become degraded, usually becoming dry and crusty desert.
What the Cocoon Does
The Cocoon resembles a biodegradable donut. Although the design is simple, a lot of research and development went into this device, which consists of a completely biodegradable water reservoir made of recycled pulp sealed with organic wax to ensure water tightness. All one has to do to plant a tree is fill up the Cocoon with water, plant a tree seedling and place it in the ground covered by a lid to prevent evaporation. No other work or additional water is necessary as the Cocoon does the rest of the work.
Specially-designed wicks inside the reservoir transport water to the young tree. Over time, the reservoir degrades and empties, with the reservoir becoming part of the soil The shallow pit left behind collects rain runoff to further nourish the seedling. This process stimulates a deep root structure, which allows the seedling to tap into sub-surface water and ultimately increase its chances for survival.
Depending on the situation, mycorrhizal fungi are added to the mixture to help the tree grow through better absorption of nutrients. In addition to preventing evaporation, the cylinder-shaped lid also protects the seedling from excessive sun, winds, and animals.
An Inexpensive Way to Give the Environment a Boost
Unlike many methods to help the environment the Cocoon is inexpensive. Each biodegradable reservoir costs only about $10 to $12 plus the cost of water, which is about 10 times less than planting trees via traditional methods.
Land Life works closely with organizations sponsoring plantings by analyzing the soil types and climate of the location to determine which seedlings will thrive. Native species are generally chosen to further boost chances for survival. Additionally, Land Life sometimes includes solar probes with the plantings to transmit information about soil salinity and moisture back to the company’s headquarters.
Successful plantings have already occurred in 24 countries and have included a stand of plant 25,000 mesquite trees in Baja California. The Great Gathering (TGG) is involved in one of the projects on the horizon using the Cocoon technology. TGG will work with the Native American Hopi tribe in Arizona to replant fruit trees on their land. If you are interested in promoting this and other reforestation projects through a charitable donation, contact TGG for additional information.
