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Way to grow!
These stunning images show the work of retired Brazilian businessman Helio da Silva, who planted a staggering 40,000 trees across an abandoned tract of land in Sao Paulo over a period of 20 years, transforming it into a green park.
The 3.2 kilometer long and 100 meter wide expanse of land is now a beautiful urban jungle known as Parque Lineal Tiquatira, with the Tiquatira River that runs between two bustling avenues.
The once neglected banks of the river used to be a haven for drug users, but now run alongside thousands of flowering trees comprised of 160 species.
Helio, a former food industry executive, began transforming the land in 2003 after walking through what he says was an “abandoned, degraded and dirty area” with his wife, Leda, and decided a change was necessary.
This aerial image shows the work of retired Brazilian businessman Helio da Silva, who planted a staggering 40,000 trees across an abandoned tract of land in Sao Paulo over a period of 20 years, transforming it into a green park.
The 3.2 kilometer long and 100 meter wide expanse of land is now a beautiful urban jungle known as Parque Lineal Tiquatira, with the Tiquatira River running between two bustling avenues. Helio appears in the photo above, taking care of a tree.
He began planting trees without permission from the authorities and using his own money, spending cash on plant cuttings which he then grew into towering trees.
Helio, 73, estimates he has spent around $7,000 (£5,382) a year on the park.
Officials in Sao Paulo, Brazil’s most populous city, eventually recognized Helio’s work and designated the land as the city’s first official linear park in 2008.
Authorities have since installed a playground, a soccer field, benches, an amphitheater, bicycle lanes, bathrooms and gym equipment.
Around 45 species of birds have been documented fluttering among the treetops, thanks in part to Helio’s decision to convert one in 12 trees to a fruit-bearing variety.
The park also helps prevent river bank erosion, reduces the temperature of Sao Paulo’s concrete urban center and improves air quality.
The self-proclaimed ‘tree planter’ – as Helio’s business cards say – moved to Sao Paulo from Promissao, a city 400 kilometers (248 miles) north of the city.
He claims he was called “crazy” when he started planting the trees, AFP reports, but he continued with his project to leave a “legacy” in his adopted city, which he says “welcomed him.”
Retired Helio now spends his days checking on the trees: pruning them, composting them and even talking to them. It is not surprising to discover that the enthusiastic naturalist’s surname, ‘da Silva’, means ‘of the forest’ in Portuguese.
The unofficial forester intends to plant 50,000 trees before finishing his flourishing downtown oasis.
Helio, seen here, claims he was called “crazy” when he started planting the trees, but continued with his plan to leave a “legacy” in the city.
The park helps prevent river bank erosion, reduces the temperature of Sao Paulo’s concrete urban center and improves air quality