Rajo Forest – Agroforestry Project
“For life to thrive on this planet, there must be immense biodiversity”
David Attenborough
This sentence quoted above shows succinctly one or more actions that each human being should undertake in his life so that his presence would be just and generous towards all beings that inhabit our wonderful and beautiful planet Earth, our home in this life.
And it was with this intention that this project was born, that is, regenerating BIODIVERSITY through one of the most fabulous ways: the conception of an Agroforest.
This is defined as the creation of a natural space constituted by all the vegetable strata, imitating the ecological succession that promotes, in space and time, the opportunity of innumerable species to interconnect and support each other in a self-sustainable and regenerating way of the whole system.
Because Agroforestry contributes simultaneously to the increase of soil microbiology and to the increase of photosynthesis (carbon dioxide sequestration), obtaining in return food and so many other benefits. It is a system in which all those involved are winners.
Since the beginning of the project, January 2021, around 75 trees, 21 shrubs, various vegetables and 4 lines of agroforestry have been planted throughout the land (a total of 65 linear metres with an immense diversity of seeds, cuttings and plants).
Hedges, a woodland, a wonderful meadow of about 1000 m2 have been created in the whole of the land, all in a completely organic and natural way, using only what nature offers us, creating an immense vegetable biodiversity. The spontaneous flora has also been preserved to the maximum, which shows us the main edapho-climatic matrix of the area.
Today, the Rajo Forest, the name of the project, has hundreds of different species, from trees to herbaceous plants.
The Floresta do Rajo project is led by an experienced Forestry Engineer who is very happy to share her knowledge and cooperate with all stakeholders in the project, including the WOOF commitment of volunteers.
The plot of land of the Rajo Forest with about 7300 m 2 is in essence an experimental and educational space, which presents technical challenges (soil with very high pH, very clayey, low organic matter content and low extractable phosphorus content) and human challenges (lack of labour) that, with creativity and goodwill of the neighbouring spiritual community, can be overcome.
The Forest is adjacent to the Ram Dass Guru Ashram which follows the traditions of Kundalini Yoga & Sikh Dharma. This well fortunate event provides visitors and students of the Ashram the opportunity to interact and enjoy this agroforestry experience, as well as foster a strong sense of reciprocity with Mother Earth.
If you are interested, stay tuned. Training workshops and site visits will be available soon.
The laws of nature are given, it is not up to us to create or change them.
We must act in a way that is beneficial to all participants,
all those affected, so that we can once again be considered
useful and welcome beings in the system
Ernst Götsch
