Climb it, don't cut it

Einstein (in the black jacket on the left) talks to our workers about the value of climbing vs cutting a tree for its fruit.

In order to harvest fruits from jungle trees, locals often cut the entire tree down. To prepare our workers for eco-harvest, we've contracted a tree-climbing expert named Einstein (yep, that’s really his name) from the Parinari area to come teach our team his skills. In the same amount of time it takes to cut the tree down, Einstein's method harvests the fruit and ensures that the cycle of fruit production continues for an estimated 40 years. While we wait for our açaí saplings to mature, we're practicing by harvesting aguaje palms, also known as the moriche palm (Mauritia flexuosa). The fruit is widely harvested and consumed in the region and offers an opportunity for workers to earn a bit of extra income.