With deforestation in the Amazon accelerating in recent decades, Brazilian skydiver Luigi Cani took a jump, distributing 100 million seeds over degraded land.
In a historic ecological mission, Brazilian skydiving icon Luigi Cani combined his airborne expertise with a bold conservation effort in 2022, aiming to restore part of the Amazon rainforest. With deforestation in the Amazon accelerating over recent decades and reaching record levels, Cani’s initiative serves as a critical countermeasure to preserve one of the world’s most vital ecosystems.
The Amazon rainforest, covering approximately 5.5 million square kilometers, is often called the “lungs of the world.” It produces around 20% of the earth’s oxygen and sequesters billions of tons of carbon, which helps mitigate global warming. However, nearly 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been destroyed in the past 50 years.
As Brazil’s economy has grown, agricultural expansion, logging, and infrastructure projects have dramatically increased, impacting vast tracts of rainforest. In 2022, deforestation in the Amazon hit its highest levels since 2016, with satellite data revealing that the equivalent of a football field of forest is cleared every minute.
Such rapid clearing is largely due to the increased global demand for beef, soy, and other agricultural products that thrive in tropical climates but require extensive land clearing. While Brazilian environmental laws attempt to curb these activities, enforcement is often challenging, especially in remote areas.
After five years of careful planning, Luigi Cani, now 51, embarked on an ambitious reforestation project over a 100-square-kilometer area of degraded land in the Brazilian Amazon, 130 kilometers from Novo Aripuanã. His plan involved aerially dispersing 100 million seeds from 27 native plant species.
The seeds were specifically chosen for their compatibility with the Amazon’s unique ecosystem, which is home to over 60,000 species of plants, each adapted to the region’s soil, climate, and biodiversity. Luigi Cani’s mission highlights the importance of native species in restoration efforts, as these plants are more likely to survive and bolster the ecosystem.
The project demanded extensive logistical planning. The Brazilian government required him to secure 12 legal permits to conduct the project, while engineers and scientists helped design a biodegradable seedbox to release the seeds efficiently during the skydive. Over 3.7 tons of materials and equipment were shipped to the remote site, with certain equipment transported by electric vehicle to limit environmental impact further.
Despite his experience with over 14,000 jumps and 11 world records, including the freefall speed record of 552 km/h, Luigi Cani described this jump as his most intense. As he plunged from an altitude of 6,500 feet, he struggled to stabilize himself while holding the seedbox, ultimately succeeding in dispersing the seeds precisely over the targeted area. “I nearly broke my wrist and fingers holding the box, but at 6,000 feet, everything aligned, and I released the seeds exactly as planned. It was complete ecstasy,” he recalled.
Luigi Cani’s team used satellite monitoring to track the project’s progress in 2023 and expects visible results over the next several years. With a germination rate of approximately 95%, the dispersed seeds have a high chance of survival, offering hope for significant ecological restoration. Cani believes that direct intervention is essential to curtail deforestation’s damaging effects on the Amazon’s ecosystems.
Recognized globally for his aerial achievements, Luigi Cani’s life has been defined by adventure, though he now seeks purpose beyond the adrenaline rush. “After so many years in free fall, I realized that everyone can learn to fly in their own field. Now, I want to help others move out of their comfort zones, even on a global scale,” he said. He remains passionate about the potential for individual and collective action, emphasizing that change often encounters resistance but is necessary for a better future.
The Amazon is not only a carbon sink but also a critical regulator of global weather patterns. Satellite imagery reveals that an area equivalent to a football field is destroyed in the Amazon every minute, a rate that continues to raise alarms among environmentalists worldwide. In 2022, around 20% of the rainforest had been cleared, with an additional 6% classified as “highly degraded.” The preservation and restoration of this forest are critical to staving off severe climate repercussions.
While government policies and environmental laws play an essential role in limiting deforestation in the Amazon, initiatives like Luigi Cani’s provide a unique model of individual contribution to large-scale environmental efforts. His commitment to reforestation demonstrates how personal passion and global awareness can intersect to create tangible, impactful actions. This reforestation mission may serve as a blueprint for similar projects around the world, especially as forests worldwide face increasing threats.