As a human, most of us surely believe that we should value our life as it’s precious. We eat when we’re hungry, we sleep when we’re sleepy, and we take care of the people we love.

But aside from our lives and the people around us, do we also value nature enough?

All of us should know that without nature, our lives and the people we treasure won’t survive. And this is one of the reasons why we should bother saving nature as much as we value our lives.

Okay, then. Let’s be honest. Taking care of nature can be overwhelming.

The tasks that it requires can be tedious for some. Recycling, conserving water, planting, and the list goes on. All of these can be challenging for many people.

But would it be difficult if we are really willing to do them?

Perhaps, you know the answer. One thing is for sure, though. It’s not impossible to do these activities.

This couple has already proven that humans can do even greater things to save nature.

It all started in 1998 when Brazilian photojournalist Sebastião Salgado and his wife Lélia Deluiz Wanick Salgado decided to establish the non-profit organization, Instituto Terra.

This group aimed to restore a destroyed forest that was in a bad condition since 1990. They wanted to transform RPPN Fazenda Bulcão and they succeeded.

https://www.facebook.com/InstitutoTerraOficial/photos/a.307337556052135/655699391215948

According to their website, students from schools in the area took part in planting.

“The first planting took place in November 1999 and was attended by students from schools in the municipality of Aimorés, in Minas Gerais. Thus was born the greatest proposal of Instituto Terra: to share with the surrounding community all the knowledge acquired in the environmental restoration of the 608.69 hectares of RPPN Fazenda Bulcão.”

Their hard work has paid off and resulted in something big.

https://www.facebook.com/InstitutoTerraOficial/photos/a.307337556052135/798217440297475

After 2 decades, the 600 hectares of destroyed land is now a lush and green place. The wildlife has been restored and currently doing well.

Even some animals have returned and enjoying the beauty of it. Over 170 bird species, 33 mammal species, 15 species of reptiles, and 15 species of amphibians have returned to the place that was once devastated.

The before and after photos have been circulating online and have gone viral.

https://www.facebook.com/InstitutoTerraOficial/photos/a.307337556052135/2031555400297000/

A lot of people saw a big difference and appreciated the couple’s initiative and hard work.

“This is so amazing and wonderful! Thank you very much for what you do for our planet,” one commenter wrote.

And we should really be grateful to them because what they have been doing is really helpful to our planet.

Another Facebook user also commended Instituto Terra.

“Congratulations to this great institute that does not measure efforts to care for the environment.”

Up until now, Instituto Terra is still very active in doing its advocacy.

https://www.facebook.com/InstitutoTerraOficial/photos/1844370325682176

Thankfully, a lot of people and institutions have been supporting this organization through sponsorships and donations. What Sebastião and Leila have started is really powerful that it has reached lots of people. Hopefully, many people would also get inspired by their story.

Feel free to watch the video below!

Please SHARE this with your friends and family.

Source: Facebook/Instituto Terra, YouTube/InstitutoTerra, Instituto Terra