Name of Organization:
S.O.S. Forest

Type of Organization:
Non-Governmental Organization

Category:
Non-profit

Philosophy of the Organization:
To recover the harmony between humankind and nature.

Historical Calendar of Events of the Organization:

1994. The organization founders visit Paraguay for the first time.
The founders visit all of the Departments in Paraguay and become familiar with the diverse ecosystems.

Brief history: Nicoline Saida, founder of S.O.S. Forest, became enamored with Paraguay, a country 5 times bigger than Austria but with only 5.7 million habitants (according to the 1992 census), 453 of whom are Austrians. “Nici” and her husband, Erich Saida, traveled Paraguay 2-3 months since 1995 - 98 to determine what to include in the constitution of the S.O.S. Forest organization.

Information and Conclusions:

• Paraguay is a democracy.
• There is a need to protect the country’s natural resources.
• There is an abundance of flora and fauna that is being exploited indiscriminately by the human population.

1998. Acquisition of the first forested land in Paraguay (13 hectares). It is decided to create a constitution for S.O.S. Forest to protect the Paraguayan natural resources.  The organization’s local is constructed on the grounds of the Rubio Ñú Health Park located in Eusebio Ayala, Cordillera, Paraguay.

2001. The organization’s first project is initiated with 8 staff including technical experts and scientists who create a reforestation and forestation plan.

Project results:

• 17,000 fast-growing trees for fire wood and 1,500 fruit trees are planted throughout the 13 hectares of land.
• Completion of a model organic garden, measuring 250 m2.
• Environmental Education school programs implemented for children of poor Paraguayan families, including training in natural resource management.

2004. Arborization Project completed on 4 kilometers of the road Mariscal Estigarribia, Eusebio Ayala – Isla Pucú, km 73 – km 77.

February 18, 2008. Legalization of Constitution of S.O.S. Forest initiated.

December 3, 2009. Agreement made to work with the Unión de Personas con Capacidades Diferentes del Departamento de la Cordillera (Organization of People with Challenges from the Department of the Cordillera).

Programs and Projects

PURCHASE OF FORESTED PROPERTY

Goal:
Protection of forested areas.

Project rational:
According to an official 2005 Paraguayan government report, in the last few decades 8 million hectares of forested land in Paraguay have been destroyed and the organizations that dedicate to reforesting Paraguay have only reforested 30,000 hectares.

S.O.S. Forest buys and protects land to insure that it remains in or returns to its natural forested state and becomes protected property.

DONATIONS AND TREE SPONSORS

Objective:
To obtain financial support through tree-sponsorship from people who are aware of the importance of protecting Paraguayan natural resources.

Natural World Center (in progress)

Goals:

• Conservation of Paraguayan natural resources and forested areas.
• Three pyramid-shaped green houses with controlled atmospheric conditions (humidity, light, temperature, ventilation).
• Tree and ornamental plant nursery.
• Natural herb data bank, including species classification and botanical characteristics.
• Plant gene bank.
• Environmental education, investigation, and ecotourism.
• Hotel (with restaurant and conference room).
• Camping area.
• Aquatic park.

Reforestation Project in the Department of the Cordillera: “Día de la Bondad” (“Day of Kindness”)

Results:

• 200 volunteer participants, including committed youths, organization leaders, and neighborhood commission participants.
• 12,000 sponsored trees planted in plazas, schools, and urban areas.
• Support from radio and television stations, governmental organizations and non-governmental organizations.

Yvyrá Mata Project: Inter-institutional Project to Prepare Tree Seedlings.

Results:

• Agreement with Cámara Junior Internacional de San Lorenzo (Junior Chamber International) to train volunteers for the project.
• Agreement with U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers working in the Department of the Cordillera to prepare tree seedlings.
• Youths from different educational institutions involved in the Project.
• 20,000 tree seedlings planted into containers for production and transport.
• Agreement with NGO Technical-Agrarian-Service and Commonwealth Organization (SATOC)

Public Recognition:

• Mayor of the City of Eusebio Ayala (Víctor Martínez Molinas) awarded Nicoline and Eric Saida a documentrecognizing that the Health Park "Rubio Ñu" and the NGO S.O.S. Forest make a significant contribution to urban arborization.
• Governor of the Department of the Cordillera (A. Quiñónez) acknowledged the Health Park "Rubio Ñu" and the NGO S.O.S. Forest for outstanding service in the Department of the Cordillera.
• The Paraguayan Environmental Ministry (SEAM) recognized the NGO S.O.S. Forest for taking a leading role in national reforestation efforts.
• The Paraguayan National Tourism Ministry (SENATUR) recognized the NGO S.O.S. Forest for their contribution to Ecotourism through the Natural World Center Project.
• Recognized as an important contributor to the Natural World Center Project in the Department of the Cordillera.
• Recipient of the international award for Best Environmental Development Plan, in alliance with Cámara Junior Internacional de San Lorenzo (Junior Chamber International).
• NGO S.O.S. Forest is recognized as an important contributor of the Project “Pro Abmbiente.

Project to protect the biological reserves of the Paraguayan Itaipú Bi-national Dam.

School for Children with Special Needs.

Project “PRO-Ambiente”:
Environmental Education Program for Schools and a Community Action Program to address Climate Change entitled “Pro-Environment”

S.O.S. Forest Private Ecological Reserve located in Potrero del Carmen, Eusebio Ayala.

• Conservation and reforestation plan for 18.7 hectares
• “Land liberation,” 1 hectare of land purchased for reforestation and preservation
• Reforestation and forestation of 2 hectares.

Permaculture Project of 1 hectares:
Is an approach to designing human settlements and agricultural systems that mimic the relationships found in natural ecologies.