Centuries of unsustainable logging and grazing destroyed the native ecosystem at Terraformation’s pilot site in North Kohala, Hawaiʻi. Without the native forest cover, the area has become extremely arid, and the unprotected soil has suffered from severe wind erosion, making this one of the most challenging ecosystems to restore.
But just two years after Terraformation’s team began restoration efforts, the site is now home to more than 6,000 native plants and counting. Many plantings are nearly three feet tall and growing rapidly, thanks to hydration from our solar-powered irrigation system. Our forestry team tags each sapling with Esri's geographic information system (GIS) tool that records its location, species, and a photo to monitor plant progress — and this newly restored ecosystem — in real time.
Interested in seeing our restoration site in person? Click here to join us on a tour of Pacific Flight at Kaupalaoa.
Despite the near desert-like conditions at the site, the plants are growing strong.
Software
Solar-Powered Desalination
Nursery
Seed Bank
Koaiʻa (Acacia koaia)
Alaheʻe (Psydrax odorata)
Wiliwili (Erythrina sandwicensis)
ʻIlima (Sida fallax)
Koaiʻa (Acacia koaia)
Reverse osmosis (RO) system
A year after the project began, our forestry team has now planted more than 6,000 plants across 45 acres.
Ready to plant a forest or help one grow? Whether you’re looking to design a native forest or want to make an impact through sponsoring a project, our team can help.