Not For Sale’s planet work in Bolivia supports the Amazon Windshields reforestation project through Tree-Nation. Bolivia experienced its worst fire season on record in 2024, with over 10 million hectares burned, roughly 9% of intact forest destroyed in a single season.
Bolivia’s fires are driven by agricultural expansion and cattle ranching in the Amazon and Chaco. Fires displace thousands and destroy farms, pushing people into frontier towns and informal ranching and mining work, settings where forced labor and organized crime flourish. Reforestation addresses the ecocide directly while restoring the landscapes that communities depend on.
In a daring escape from fluorescent lights, university students descended on our planting sites. Trading laptops for boots, they came to study our agroforestry windbreakers—proving real science happens in the dirt.
It’s a win-win: students get the raw field data needed to graduate, while Ketrawe harnesses their bright minds to rigorously validate our natural wind shields.
While the scientific data was robust, unofficial findings show a direct correlation between hours in the sun and immediate cravings for cold drinks. May their data be clean, their windbreakers sturdy, and their sunburns minimal!
Sustainability Alliance with the Bolivian Catholic University
Signed Agreement On May 8, 2026, the Bolivian Catholic University "San Pablo" Sede Santa Cruz and us, signed a cooperation framework agreement. The partnership launches a scientific research program to evaluate how reforestation and windbreaks impact agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and environmental sustainability in Santa Cruz.
Key actions include measuring ecosystem services like carbon sequestration, monitoring biological corridors, and opening opportunities for student internships and degree theses.
On April 23, 2026, one of our project members delivered a lecture on sustainability and sustainable tourism at Universidad Central in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.
The event sparked deep interest among third-year students regarding carbon markets and ESG pillars. The youth asked brilliant questions about how carbon credits are structured, certified, and sold, proving their motivation to invest in future rural sustainable businesses.
Our Commitment: we will proudly continue inspiring the next generation in circular economy, biodiversity, and climate solutions to foster a positive regional impact.
Rule #1 of agroforestry in Santa Cruz: You must be at least 1.60 meters tall to survive the grass. 🏃♂️🌳
We are skipping the "vulnerable little sprout" phase for these native trees planted inside a Bolivian sugarcane field. Dropping them in at a commanding 1.60 meters is a highly strategic move—essentially ensuring the aggressive ground cover doesn’t choke them out before they even get a chance to introduction themselves.
The ultimate goal? A beautiful, mutualistic win-win. We're restoring the native forest and inviting biodiversity back to the land, which in turn naturally optimizes the farmer's crop yields.
Think of it as giving Mother Nature a deliberate head start. In sustainable agriculture, vertical ambition clearly pays off
We just finished onboarding our newest team members in San Julián
These Tabebuia impetiginosa saplings have a big job description: serve as a living windshield and lead the charge in recovering local biodiversity.
No pressure, guys, but the whole ecosystem is counting on you. We’ve given them "corner office" holes with a 24/7 canal view—now we’re just rooting for them to settle in.
Best of luck in your new homes! May your branches be high and your performance reviews be evergreen.
We are preparing the land for a new windbreak installation
As shown in the photo, we prioritize leaving a thick layer of organic mulch (vegetative cover). This isn't just about clearing a path; it’s a deliberate strategy to:
• Conserve Soil Moisture: Protecting the ground from evaporation.
• Climate Buffering: Ensuring our seedlings survive and thrive, even during periods of intense drought.
• Soil Health: Promoting biological activity beneath the surface.
This photo has been taken at Campbell Farms, where this windbreaker will work in the middle of a sugar cane plantation. We believe that preparing for the future starts with how we treat the soil today.
Sustainability Talk: Sustainable Business vs. Carbon in Santa Cruz
On Monday, January 21, in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, Ketrawe Foundation delivered an impactful keynote to the city's youth regarding Sustainable Business vs. Carbon.
The session addressed the current reality of carbon credits in Bolivia, focusing on their proper implementation and the significant social, environmental, and economic impacts they generate. The event was a resounding success, characterized by high engagement and a dynamic Q&A session where young leaders actively participated in the conversation about the country's green future.
Progress in Okinawa, Santa Cruz: Expanding Our Biodiversity Corridors
We continue to advance our planting projects in Okinawa, Santa Cruz. We are currently focused on expanding our biodiversity corridors, which serve as essential windbreaks. These green barriers are key to protecting our crops while fostering local wildlife and promoting ecological balance in the region.
Sustainable Farming Takes Root in San Ramón, Bolivia
SAN RAMÓN, BOLIVIA – A new chapter for sustainable agriculture has begun in the Chiquitania region. A pioneering project is launching its next phase, implementing silvopastoral systems—an innovative practice that integrates forestry with livestock production.
The project creates a circular ecosystem where cattle and trees work together. By planting leguminous trees, the farm provides high-quality natural forage and essential shade for the animals, significantly reducing heat stress. In return, the livestock naturally enriches the soil with organic fertilizer, promoting a healthy, self-sustaining environment.
This initiative in San Ramón proves that productivity and environmental care can go hand in hand. By combining traditional ranching with forest management, this project is setting a new standard for eco-friendly beef production in Santa Cruz, ensuring a greener future for the Bolivian lowlands.
Sowing Hope in the Bolivian Amazon: Ketrawe Foundation's Hands-On Approach to Carbon Sequestration:
While global emissions are projected to fall in some regions, Central and South America face a 33.3% increase by 2050. To combat this, the Ketrawe Foundation is taking a "hands-on" approach in the heart of the Bolivian Amazon, moving beyond data to direct conservation.
Through a vital partnership with the Tree-Nation community, Ketrawe is planting thousands of trees across this essential ecosystem. These trees act as powerful natural allies, sequestering carbon and mitigating the rising emissions in the region.
This initiative proves that when global support meets local action, we can nurture a healthier future. Every seedling planted is a step toward protecting the planet's "vibrant lung" and securing a sustainable tomorrow.
We are excited to announce that we have officially joined forces with Urrutibehety as Green Allies
Our partnership focuses on restoring forests and protecting biodiversity. As a leader in Bolivia’s industrial cleaning sector, Urrutibehety is committed to sustainability and environmental care. We are ready to reach new milestones together with several upcoming projects. Stay tuned for updates on our Tree-Nation profile!
🌧️ We started planting a month early to get a head start on the season. How? We’re using hydrogel to keep the roots hydrated, ensuring these seedlings thrive until the heavy rains arrive.
It takes a village to plant 350,000 trees a year—specifically, a team of over 50 people. Grateful for the hard work that makes this possible! 🌳💧
🌱 We are overjoyed to welcome a truckload of new seedlings to the Bolivian Amazon. These little trees are ready to make a big impact: they will help our farmers adapt to climate change by serving as natural windbreaks. Beyond protecting crops, every tree planted helps us restore the forest canopy and bring back the region's rich biodiversity. Welcome home!"
Strategic Partnership for Reforestation in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Urrutibehety Ltda., a leading sustainable cleaning and industrial services company in Bolivia. Effective this month, they have joined our efforts to support large-scale forest restoration and biodiversity conservation in the Santa Cruz region.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone, as it highlights a growing corporate interest in environmental stewardship. We are excited to work alongside a company of their caliber and are happy to share this news with the Tree-Nation community.
Their involvement will not only amplify our on-the-ground impact but also help inspire other enterprises to become active participants in reforestation and sustainable development. We look forward to sharing more details about our joint projects and their tangible outcomes at the end of the month.
We are undertaking a strategic initiative in Okinawa, Santa Cruz, Bolivia
focused on agroecological restoration. Our core work involves capacity building, a process requiring careful planning and time. As our fieldwork shows, this includes extensive site reconnaissance to identify optimal locations for functional windbreak systems.
Our current project is in a soybean plantation, where we are installing these vegetative windbreaks. The primary objective is to mitigate wind erosion and microclimatic stress while providing a foundation for habitat restoration. This intervention is a deliberate effort to reverse the effects of monoculture, which has contributed to a decline in local biodiversity. By creating these ecological corridors, we anticipate a gradual return of native flora and fauna, fostering a more resilient and biodiverse agricultural landscape.
Our seedlings are now in the final phase of transport to the field, a crucial step led by our Greenhouse Chief, Chela (not pictured)
Her fundamental support has been key to producing high-quality Tabebuia impetiginosa and Prosopis chilensis seedlings, which are now at our planting sites with excellent viability and vigor.
As soon as the rainy season begins, we will start the ecological restoration phase to establish new windbreaks. We'll be guided by a rigorous management protocol and will share regular updates. These updates will document the before, during, and after stages, showing how our step-by-step approach will bring a functional and resilient ecosystem to life, enabling native flora and fauna to interact.
