A Milestone in Agroforestry: Planting Day at Castries
On February 28th, Life Terra joined forces with an inspiring group of organisations and local community members to plant trees at the stunning landscape of the Arches Castriotes project, an agroforestry site in Castries run by Racines de France near Montpellier.
Teams from Racines de France, Carbon Emergente, Life Terra, Volterra Ecosystems and ASES came together this day contributing to an innovative initiative that seamlessly integrates agricultural practices with forestry—a sustainable model that benefits both the environment and the local economy.
A standout feature of this event was the involvement of Carbon Emergente, a company specializing in biochar production. Their team participated in the planting and also generously supplied a substantial amount of biochar to enrich the soil around the saplings. Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from vegetal waste, offers numerous benefits for plant growth. It enhances soil fertility by improving nutrient retention, increases water-holding capacity, and promotes healthy microbial activity—all of which give our young trees a stronger start and contribute to long-term carbon sequestration in the soil.
The agroforestry system at Arches Castriotes exemplifies a forward-thinking approach to land management. Environmentally, it fosters biodiversity, reduces soil erosion, and mitigates climate change by sequestering carbon. Economically, it provides diversified income streams while enhancing resilience against market and climate fluctuations. This synergy of ecological and financial advantages underscores the transformative potential of agroforestry for rural communities and beyond.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the organisations that made this planting possible: One Tree Planted and the Arconic Foundation, who provided the critical financial resources to bring this vision to life, and the ASES team, whose invaluable support was essential to the event’s success. Their collective contributions have enabled us to support Racines de France in elevating this ecosystem and empowering communities through sustainable practices.
Looking forward, we hope this project grows into a living testament to what’s possible when people and nature work hand-in-hand, leaving a patch of earth richer for those who’ll walk it next.
