Reserve Journal | El Papán

March 22, 2026

Alliance for Biodiversity: Towards Papantla's First Protected Natural Area

Institutional backing is the accelerator of great legacies. We had the honor of welcoming Ing. Luz Mariela Zaleta Mendoza, Secretary of Environment of Veracruz (SEDEMA), and Dr. Yureli García de la Cruz, Head of the Department of Conservation and Restoration of Natural Resources, along with their team. They walked the land, visited the Mother Nursery, and witnessed firsthand the viability of our regenerative model.

This visit marks the formal beginning of a historic process: becoming the first Protected Natural Area (ANP) in the municipality of Papantla, and the first specifically dedicated to safeguarding the medium sub-evergreen forest. This milestone will trigger the upcoming official biodiversity surveys, which are essential for our foray into the carbon credit markets.

A New Paradigm:

"Our vision is clear: conservation is not at odds with profitability. By integrating sustainable productive activities, we guarantee that the protection of this rainforest is economically viable in the long term and, above all, a replicable model for the entire region."

March 15, 2026

Rescuing Living Gold: Genetic Expedition and Super Trees

We don't just plant trees; we protect the evolutionary legacy of Mesoamerica. We ventured into three farms belonging to visionary producers in San Rafael and Martínez de la Torre, local heroes who for years have jealously adapted and conserved genetic materials of criollo cacao "super trees" originally from Tabasco.

We are resuming and scaling up this monumental conservation effort. In direct collaboration with experts from the Universidad Veracruzana, we took on the task of rigorously labeling, documenting, and georeferencing each of these exceptional individuals. The goal is clear: to rescue this invaluable DNA and incorporate it into our Public Germplasm Garden at El Papán.

The Vision for the Future:

"The true value of the rainforest lies not only in its extension, but in the genetic code that inhabits it. This effort consolidates us as the living DNA bank that will guarantee the sovereignty and excellence of fine aroma cacao throughout the Totonacapan region."

January 14, 2026

Scanning the Invisible: LiDAR L2 Survey

Today we take precision agriculture to the next level. We deployed the Matrice drone with LiDAR L2 module and RTK3 to perform a complete three-dimensional scan of the plantation. Unlike traditional photogrammetry, LiDAR laser pulses have the unique ability to penetrate gaps in vegetation.

The result? A 3D point cloud revealing the exact soil topography hidden beneath the vegetation layer. This "X-ray vision" is fundamental for evaluating natural drainage, calculating real biomass, and optimizing crop management with centimeter-level precision.

Technical Fact:

"RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) technology allows us to georeference each tree with millimeter accuracy, creating a digital twin of the reserve."

September 15, 2025

The Return of Cacao: Community Planting

Today marks a historic milestone at El Papán. Expert hands from the Paso del Correo and Cerro del Carbón communities joined forces to reintroduce cacao under the canopy of the 'acahual' (secondary forest). This is not just agriculture; it is the recovery of a legacy.

The plants, sourced from our Mother Nursery, were established following contour lines to maximize soil retention. Local energy and knowledge are the true fertilizer of this project.

Quote of the day:

"When the community plants, the rainforest smiles. Today we didn't just plant trees, we planted future."

September 9, 2025

Aerial Perspective: Patterns & Organic Milpa

Technology allows us to see the invisible. Today's drone flight reveals the sacred geometry of our three agroforestry patterns integrating into the landscape. At ground level, the native 'hojero' corn milpa stands vigorous, proving that food production and forest regeneration can coexist in perfect harmony.

July 24, 2025

Temporary Shade: The 'Chufle' Plantain

Before the king (cacao) arrives, we prepare his palace. Today we selected and prepared the shoots ("mamones") of the native 'Chufle' plantain. This species is crucial: it will grow fast to provide the provisional shade that young cacao trees need in their first years, protecting them from direct sun while the forest canopy recovers.

July 21, 2025

Grounding the Forest: Mechanized Digging

Precision is key. We began opening the planting holes using mechanized augers. This not only optimizes our team's time and physical effort but guarantees the perfect depth and width for the root development of future timber and fruit trees. Each hole is a promise of life.

June 11, 2025

Living Architecture: Tracing the Future

On the bare ground, we begin to draw. Our team is squaring and aligning with topographical rigor the lines where the agroforestry pattern will be established. This field design phase is critical: it defines density, light entry, and future management efficiency. Here, order is born within diversity.

April 15, 2025

Technification: Micro-sprinkler Irrigation

The heart of the project begins to beat. Today we completed the installation of the automated micro-sprinkler irrigation system in the Mother Nursery. This technology allows us to control humidity with millimeter precision, ensuring a germination rate superior to 95% for our cacao seedlings and native species.