Our amazing partners are leading an initiative to restore 1 million hectares across all of the high Andean forests.

This planting was conducted during Queuña Raymi, which is the festival of the Polylepis tree. Communities gather, play music, perform ceremonial planting dances, walk together up to a planting site, and collectively plant tens of thousands of trees in a single day.

As part of the annual tree-planting festival Queuña Raymi, trees will be planted with the guidance of local leaders using ancient Incan traditions, preserving the landscape and indigenous culture. The tree planting will help restore wetlands, safeguard existing forests, and protect critical Amazon headwaters. 

Polylepis trees are indigenous to the Andes and play a critical role in supporting native biodiversity. They provide shelter and food for wildlife, prevent soil erosion, and improve water retention in areas where glaciers are melting due to climate change.