Examples of iconic wildlife that benefit from reforestation

Imagine walking through the forest in the springtime. Birds are chirping from all directions, and a group of deer are nearby, looking for something to nibble on. As you look around, it’s clear there is a thriving ecosystem.    

At Land Life Company, we restore degraded land around the world by planting a diverse mix of trees with our technology and by working closely with local communities. Reforestation is an amazing tool to reduce carbon dioxide, but it also has an array of other benefits. The roots of trees reduce erosion and pollution in our waterways, for example. And, at the same time, trees provide food, protection and habitat for many birds and mammals. Many species of wildlife depend on trees for their survival. 

Here are three iconic species that our reforestation projects help by restoring the habitat they rely on. 

Ocelot

Rio Grande Valley in the South of Texas is one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in North America. The area is a refuge for thousands of species. Including several federally listed endangered species. Much of the land was once used to grow crops and raise livestock but, as a consequence, this severely degraded the land over time. 

The Tamaulipan thornscrub that used to be abundantly present here, provides sanctuary for a diverse wildlife population. There are currently 11 threatened and endangered species in the area, including the ocelot, which has been severely affected by the habitat destruction. We are helping to rebuild the ecosystem for this endangered native wild cat. There are only an estimated 40 breeding ocelots left in the U.S., which reside in south Texas, where 95% of the wildcat’s habitat has been destroyed, according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). We are excited to be working alongside the USFWS toward the cultivation of this beautiful animal’s native habitat.

Monarch butterfly

About 125 km outside Mexico City, a colorful visitor arrives every autumn in the forested mountains, turning the treetops a beautiful shade of orange. The Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve becomes a refuge for the iconic species, hosting 70 percent of the monarch population at once. 

Together with Arbor Day and local partners, we are helping to restore the land through reforestation and community engagement there. The monarch arrives from Canada and the U.S. as part of their 8-month migration. It’s a mystery as to how the butterflies find their way back to Mexico each year, but we do know the Reserve is critical to their survival.

Wedge-tailed eagle

In Australia, we are restoring degraded land in Victoria, which is also home to the iconic wedge-tailed eagle. It is the largest bird of prey in the country, and it prefers wooded areas and open forests. In Victoria, the land has been degraded by agriculture and mining, causing widespread erosion and habitat loss. The trees we are currently planting there will help create corridors to support broken ecosystems and species migrations. Fun fact: in Australian Aboriginal mythology, the wedge-tailed eagle is used to depict Bunjil, the divine creator of earth.