#SAO!edit

[reasonsforhope]

"Helio da Silva, a retired business executive from Brazil, single-handedly planted over 41,000 trees in his hometown of Sao Paulo over the last two decades.

Flying over the Brazilian metropolis of Sao Paulo, it’s tough to miss the 3.2-kilometers-long and 100-meter-wide green strip of trees wedged between two of the city’s busiest roads. It is known as Tiquatira Linear Park, and it is the work of a single man who worked tirelessly for over 20 years in order to transform a previously dilapidated area into an actual jungle within the urban jungle that is Sao Paulo. Originally from the town of Promissao, about 500km from Sao Paulo, Helio da Silva was a successful business executive for many years, but after retiring, he took it upon himself to transform the degraded banks of the Tiquatira River into a green oasis for his community. He started planting trees there in 2003 and hasn’t stopped since.

73-year-old da Silva recently told AFP that he wanted to leave a legacy to the city that adopted him decades ago. Within the first four years of his epic project, he single-handedly planted 5,000 trees in an area that had long been abandoned and known to be frequented by drug dealers and users. His impressive feat prompted the municipality of Sao Paulo to recognize his efforts and acknowledge the area as the first linear park in Sao Paulo. This only emboldened da Silva, who continued planting native trees.

By 2020, Helio had planted more than 25,047 trees over a 3.2-km-long area, achieving a survival rate of 88 percent. For every 12 trees, he planted a fruit-bearing species in the hopes of attracting birds and animals to his green oasis. His bet paid off, as according to the municipality, 45 types of birds have been identified in the park. Today, the Tiquatira Linear Park numbers over 41,000 individual trees, and Helio da Silva doesn’t plan on stopping planting until he reaches at least 50,000 of them.

“My motivation comes from the trees themselves because trees give us flowers and fruits, absorb rainwater, attract birds and provide us with wonderful shade and fresh air,” da Silva told Common Earth.

The retired executive estimates that he spent about $7,000 per year on his tree-planting efforts since 2022, but the way he sees it, it was a worthwhile investment for himself, his family and the whole of Sao Paulo. Plus, he saved a lot of money by planting the trees himself.

Once labeled as crazy for spending most of his time planting trees in an area most people avoided, Helio da Silva is now hailed as a local hero. He sometimes receives help from like-minded nature lovers, but he is still the driving force behind this amazing project. Every Sunday, he comes to Tiquatira Park to plant more trees.

Over the years, the city gym and playground equipment, tables, benches, toilets, and Tiquatira Linear Park eventually became one of Sao Paulo’s most popular areas."

-Article via OddityCentral, October 4, 2024. Video via France24, September 26, 2024.

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Note: ONE SINGLE PERSON CAN MAKE A SUCH A DIFFERENCE

[userarmand]

edward teach, a girl's girl ♡

[mermaidstede]

#susan asking stede the real questions

[subaru-copilot]

Max Verstappen, the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix winner.

[lumiilys]

Inspired by this post

[saltpepperbeard]

💖✨12 Favorite Moments from OFMD S2 ✨💖 Happy New Year to all my friends, followers, and fellow gay pirate crewmates! 2023 wouldn't have been the same without y'all. Each and every one of you is such a light, and I wish you all nothing but the best for this upcoming year. May 2024 bring you peace, prosperity, and hopefully many more pirate moments to come! Love y'all so much; cheers, m'dears! 🎉✨💖

[megaawkwardhuman]

I'm handling the newest episodes soooo well

[wouldvebeensweet]

TAYLOR SWIFT The Eras Tour - Sao Paulo, Brazil - November 24th, 2023. Photographed by Allianz Parque.

[blakbonnet]

Zheng + Manipulating people and being an icon ❤️

bonus: Ed finally figuring it out (and Stede not so much)

[jimmarsden-fuckingblog]

"Brazil, we shall see you soon! We coming!"

James Marsden, Tika Sumpter and Ben Schwartz will go to Brazil for the Sonic 3 panel at CCXP24. From Tika Sumpter's Instagram.

[aestheticlarrie]

Faith in the Future World Tour, São Paulo 05.11.24

[userarmand]

#ed girlie zheng confirmed

[mermaidstede]

What if we, um... teamed up?

[valsmotive]

I don't want what you have, I want to be you.

brocedes & brutus by the buttress

[braverytattoos]

Louis on stage in Sao Paulo

[saltpepperbeard]

You'll never know which way to turn, which way to look, you'll never see us