Brazilian Olympic skateboarding medallist Rayssa Leal is the godmother of this Brazilian Olympic Committee (BOC) initiative to raise awareness of deforestation on 6.3 hectares in the towns of Tefe and Alvaraes, Amazonas state. The reforestation will include the planting of approximately 4,500 native trees.

At the end of May, the BOC launched the Brazilian Olympic Forest project in the towns of Tefe and Alvaraes, in the state of Amazonas, in an effort to reforest some 6.3 hectares of forest in riverine, indigenous and quilombola communities.

The initiative was supported by Olympic skateboarding medallist Rayssa Leal, the BOC's sustainability ambassador. Leal was in the Amazon for the launch of the project, of which she is the patron. The delegation led by BOC President Paulo Wanderley and the athlete, an icon of world skateboarding, was in the Amazon last week.

The two presided over the launch of the project in the communities of Bom Jesus da Ponta da Castanha and Sao Jorge da Ponta da Castanha. These are the main communities affected by the initiative. 

BOC President Paulo Wanderley and Rayssa planted two jatoba seedlings, a species native to the region, in the presence of local authorities. The seedlings symbolise the start of the project, which will last until at least 2030. They also unveiled a commemorative plaque on the site.

"The issue of preserving and restoring the environment is very important for all of society, and it is no different for sport.
It is true that every business has a social and environmental impact, and the Olympic Movement as a whole must assume this responsibility," said the BOC President.

He continued, "With the Brazilian Olympic Forest, an unprecedented initiative in the country, the BOC will now dive even deeper into the sustainability agenda, a matter that is more than urgent for the entire planet. I am very proud of the legacy that we are building through actions and partnerships such as this one," said Mr Wanderley.

"I am very happy to be part of this with the BOC and other athletes. We need to think more and more about sustainability, even in our everyday lives. I am honoured to be here and plant the first tree of my life," said Rayssa.

The BOC's initiative is part of the "Olympic Forest Network". This network, proposed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), provides for the reforestation of forests by National Olympic Committees around the world.

As a signatory of the Olympic Forest Network since 2023, the BOC has chosen to focus on the communities of Bom Jesus da Ponta da Castanha and São Jorge da Ponta da Castanha, located in the cities of Tefe and Alvaraes (Amazonas). They are located within the boundaries of the Tefe National Forest, in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. This is a federal protected area managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).

The restoration will include the planting of some 4,500 native trees, including some that are part of the local population's traditional extractive activities, such as the Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) and the açaí palm (Euterpe oleracea). BOC's partner in the project is the Mamiraua Institute for Sustainable Development. This is a social organisation linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. The initiative will offset the emission of four thousand tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.