The BaumInvest Blog

26. Jan 2023 | News from BaumInvest

New Year, new paths

we are putting down new roots in Colombia

 

Our strategy is paying off and our prospects could not be better: The market for carbon offsetting through reforestation is growing rapidly, and so are our opportunities and potential. Encouraged and full of drive, we are now starting the new year on new paths and using our experience from almost 16 years of tropical mixed forest reforestation to expand our sphere of activity outside the Costa Rican border for the first time.

“With our expansion to South America, we are opening a new chapter in the company’s history,” says BaumInvest Chairwoman Antje Virkus.

BaumInvest CEO Antje Virkus at the land purchase with team and external advisors
BaumInvest CEO Antje Virkus at the land purchase with team and external advisors

New Year, new paths

we are putting down new roots in Colombia

Our strategy is paying off and our prospects could not be better: The market for carbon offsetting through reforestation is growing rapidly, and so are our opportunities and potential. Encouraged and full of drive, we are now starting the new year on new paths and using our experience from almost 16 years of tropical mixed forest reforestation to expand our sphere of activity outside the Costa Rican border for the first time.

“With our expansion to South America, we are opening a new chapter in the company’s history,” says BaumInvest Chairwoman Antje Virkus.

BaumInvest CEO Antje Virkus at the land purchase with team and external advisors
BaumInvest CEO Antje Virkus at the land purchase with team and external advisors
Almost 16 years ago, we started to reforest once degraded pastures in Costa Rica. More than 2,200 hectares of near-natural mixed forest with native tree species have been created so far. Due to the country’s positive climate policy and numerous climate protection projects, the proportion of forests in Costa Rica has fortunately increased significantly in the meantime. The forestation rate today is already 60 %. What is very positive globally, at the same time makes it difficult for us to implement further reforestation projects, as less and less suitable land remains locally – the trigger for a geographical expansion outside the Costa Rican national border.

“After a long and intensive analysis of ecological, legal and political framework conditions, we were able to make a well-considered and safe decision to take this important step for the further development of BaumInvest,” says Antje Virkus. With the expansion to Colombia, we are transferring our forestry concept, which has proven itself in Costa Rica, to another country for the first time, but adapting it to the local and climatic conditions by choosing native tree species there.

 

 

The new, still fallow area in El Veraneo in Colombia
The new, still fallow area in El Veraneo in Colombia
First samples and testing of soil properties
First samples and testing of soil properties

We have already been able to acquire a 1,500 hectare deforested area in the lowlands of the South American country. “The lowlands with their hot and humid climate offer ideal ecological conditions for the implementation of our forestry concept,” says BaumInvest CEO Antje Virkus. The new finca is located in the state of Vichada on the plain of the Orinoco River and enables the formation of an important biodiversity corridor to the Amazon rainforest through reforestation.

The subsidiary “BaumInvest Colombia” has already been founded, the first areas have been acquired – the preparations in Colombia are in full swing. “Reforestation in a near-natural mixed forest concept is particularly important for climate and species protection,” says Antje Virkus. “We look forward to expanding this impact to other countries.” This was made possible by the commitment of over 2,000 BaumInvest shareholders and our particularly successful ” carbon compensation through reforestation” business area.

Our new base in El Veraneo
Our new base in El Veraneo
Bird's eye view of Vichada shortly before the landing approach
Bird’s eye view of Vichada shortly before the landing approach
Transition of our new area to the adjacent natural forest
Transition of our new area to the adjacent natural forest

In 2023, our first climate protection project in Colombia will grow in the mixed forest system. Soon we will be able to proudly present the first results. We look forward to another successful year and to breaking new ground.

These articles might also interest you:

Shareholder visit in Costa Rica

Shareholder visit in Costa Rica

15. Feb 2023

Just recently, our Costa Rican NFCP path was visited by a shareholder family who wanted to get a first-hand impression of our forests.

Reforestation with added value

Reforestation with added value

8. Nov 2022

Biologist Joseph Vargas Alvarez visited the new plots of BaumInvest AG and conducted a biodiversity inventory.

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