A daring skydiver released 100 million seeds from native plants into the Brazilian Amazon
Luigi Cani, a remarkable stunt performer from Brazil, is known for his incredible athleticism. With nearly 14,000 jumps and 11 world records under his belt over a career spanning two decades, Cani’s achievements are truly impressive. Yet, his impact goes beyond just records; he has used his skills to make a positive difference in the world.
In 2022, Cani embarked on one of his most daring feats yet—skydiving into a deforested area of the Amazon. He carried with him a special box containing 100 million seeds from 27 native plant species. The ambitious goal was to open the box midair and release the seeds, aiming to plant millions of new trees in the Amazon. However, achieving this feat required five years of meticulous planning. Cani had to navigate bureaucratic hurdles, secure permits from the Brazilian government, and design a biodegradable seedbox that could effectively distribute the seeds upon release.
It took two months to grow the seeds from a nearby rainforest. As the big jump approached, there were some challenges. Just days before the jump in January 2022, three test boxes didn’t work as expected, which caused a lot of worry for the team. “We stayed up all night trying to figure out how to fix a leak in the box,” Cani remembered.
Once the box was fixed, Cani still had to make sure he could hold onto it and release all the seeds at the right time. It wasn’t easy. “I struggled to hold the box. I almost hurt my wrist and fingers. I managed to steady myself at about 6,000 feet, and we released the seeds exactly where we planned. It was pure joy,” Cani recalled. He described the jump as “the only one in my life where I held my breath the whole time.”
Fortunately, all the hard work seems to have paid off. With a 95% germination rate, Cani’s jump means a large part of the deforested Amazon now has a chance to recover. Once fully grown, the trees could reach up to 50 meters tall, and Cani’s team is monitoring their progress closely using satellite technology. By early 2024, they expect to fully gauge the mission’s success.
Meanwhile, Cani continues to use his daring nature for a greater cause. He’s planning more environmental projects, including a future jump focused on ocean plastic. “I’ve been skydiving for 25 years, always pushing limits with risky jumps,” he said. “Now, at 51 years old, I’m less interested in danger and more in making a positive impact. Like the seed drop, my next project will have real significance.”
In 2022, legendary stunt performer Luigi Cani skydiver into the Amazon and released 1 million seeds to fight deforestation.
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h/t: [Redbull]
