Called the Cocoon, this simple invention protects seedlings from harsh arid climates and reduces the amount of water they need to thrive–and boosts their survival rate by as much as 80%.
A biodegradable cardboard donut, the pound-cake-pan-shaped Cocoon, which is made from recycled paper pulp, developed by the Amsterdam-based Land Life Company and known as the Cocoon, is changing the game in reforestation.
High-tech nature restoration
Technology is the key to large-scale reforestation of our planet. Land Life has developed a suite of technology options to efficiently and sustainably reforest thousands of hectares in arid and harsh conditions. These capabilities are essential to restore ecosystems in the severely degraded regions where nature cannot come back unaided.
Preparation is everything
Before any trees go in the ground, the Land Life Technology and Ecology team assesses the land and the ecological situation extensively. By talking to local land owners, analysing satellite and drone images and compiling climatic and soil sample data we can understand how this area has become degraded and plan the optimum approach to restore the ecosystem.
Reforesting at scale
Co-founded by Jurriaan Ruys (CEO) and Edward Zanen, Land Life’s mission is to reforest the world’s 2 billion hectares of degraded land. Land Life builds forests on degraded land where desertification, drought, wildfires or over-farming have exhausted soils. Using technologies like drone and satellite imagery to analyse the land before planting and the Cocoon and automated planting systems to optimise our reforestation approach, we can plant trees faster, more efficiently and at a larger scale.
The company has developed technologies that allow it to reforest hundreds of hectares in a single planting session, with GPS-led drills and automated planting systems to drive speed and efficiency in the field. Although automation plays an increasingly important role in its large-scale operations, local crews are indispensable to a project’s success. That’s why they train local crews in the high-tech planting process and always have Land Life Project Managers on site to ensure high impact outcomes.
The Cocoon
The Cocoon is designed to support a seedling through its critical first year. By providing water and shelter while stimulating the seedling to produce a healthy and deep root structure, tapping into the sub-surface water supply. The result? Independant, healthy trees not reliant on external irrigation that can survive in harsh conditions.
- 25 liters only at planting
- 100% biodegradable
- high survival (75-95%)
One of the issues that came to the company’s attention was that if Cocoons did not sit properly level in the hole, the lids would come undone, resulting in potential water loss through evaporation. Another issue was planting crews heaping too much soil on top of the lid. Especially in combination with rainfall this can cause the lid to collapse. In addition, when the lid is covered in soil, people are oblivious of what lies beneath their feet and can step on the Cocoon causing damage to both Cocoon and seedling.
For these reasons, Landlife’s R&D team set about designing a robust new lid. The new design can take heavier loads with its structural concentric rim, and as it is not entirely covered in soil, accidental trampling is prevented. Instead of a flat lid surface in the old lid version, the new lid comprises of self draining surfaces, keeping the lid dry after a rain event, with water draining inwards to benefit the tree seedling. The outer rim of the Cocoon has been extended downwards, which allows an easy fit onto the reservoir, even when the Cocoon has not been placed entirely level.
With these adaptations, there will be fewer human trampling incidents in nature reserves and less collapsing of the lid during rain events. This lid will last longer and keep more water inside the Cocoon to the seedling’s benefit. In other words, easier implementation for planting crews, even higher tree survival and vigour, and overall better performance.
Once the trees have gone in the ground, the job doesn’t end there. Using on-the-ground and remote sensing technologies, Landlife can track the impact of reforestation over time and store all collected data in the Land Life Database. Applying machine learning, and Artificial Intelligence to the data collected, makes for faster and more efficient ways to have a greater impact on the environment and communities around the world.
