50,000 trees later: what it means to regenerate when you mean it

Planting trees is easy. Regenerating a territory is not.

The difference between one thing and another is not in the number of trees, nor in the aerial photograph, nor in the press release. It is in time, in intention, and in the ability to accept that real regeneration is not linear, nor rapid, nor controllable.

At Gandum, planting more than 50,000 native trees was just the beginning. And perhaps the simplest part of the whole process.

Regenerating is not decorating the landscape

Most projects that talk about regeneration start with the visible landscape. Lined trees, "reclaimed" green areas, an idea of organized nature that works well in images.

The problem is that regeneration does not happen on the surface. It happens in the soil.

Before talking about trees, it was necessary to talk about compaction, organic matter, water infiltration, and invisible biodiversity. The soil at Gandum, like most intensive agricultural soils, needed time to return to functioning as a living system.

Planting without treating the soil is planting in vain.

Agroforestry is not a concept. It is a demanding system.

Agroforestry at Gandum was not conceived as a setting or a narrative. It was conceived as a long-term production system, flaws included.

Not all trees took root. Not all grew as expected. Some species had to be replaced. Others proved to be more resilient than anticipated.

Regenerating involves making mistakes, observing, correcting, and accepting that control is always partial. Those who seek immediate results often give up early—or simplify the discourse.

50,000 trees don't say much on their own

The number is impressive, but it says little on its own.

What matters is how these trees were planted and for what purpose.

At Gandum, the choice fell on native species, adapted to the climate, soil, and water scarcity. Trees that do not need to be forced to grow, but build resilience over time.

More important than the number is the fabric that is created: different layers, complementary functions, shade, moisture retention, shelter for insects, birds, and microorganisms.

To regenerate is to create relationships, not collections.

The time of the land does not coincide with the time of tourism

One of the biggest conflicts in this type of project is the gap between human expectations and natural rhythms. The land works in long cycles. Tourism works in short seasons.

At Gandum, it was necessary to accept that many of the results of agroforestry would not be visible in the early years. That the real impact would be measured in decades, not in annual reports. This decision has costs. Financial, operational, and narrative. But it avoids the most common mistake: promising regeneration before it exists.

Regenerating while operating a hotel

Perhaps the most complex part of the whole process is this: regenerating a territory while the place is used every day. Gandum is not an isolated experimental farm. It is a functioning hotel, with guests, staff, meals, swimming pools, and constant maintenance. This implies compromises. Paths that must exist before they are "ready." Areas undergoing transformation. Decisions that are not always the most attractive in the short term. Regeneration, here, is not a pause. It is an additional layer of operational complexity.

Agriculture, food, and consistency

Gandum's agroforestry is not disconnected from the rest of the project. It influences the way food is thought about, the pace of cooking, and expectations at the table. Not everything comes from the land. Not everything can come from the land. And this is clearly acknowledged. Regeneration also means knowing what not to produce, what not to force, and what to accept buying from outside, provided it is done judiciously. Consistency lies in the system, not in purity.

Regeneration is not neutrality

There is a comforting idea that regeneration is “compensation.” Doing something today that balances yesterday’s impact. In practice, regeneration is not neutral. It is active. It requires constant presence, ongoing decisions, and prolonged responsibility.

At Gandum, agroforestry is not a closed project. It is an ongoing process, subject to constant review. Some decisions made at the beginning have already been revised. Others will be revised in the future. This is not a failure. It is a condition.

So what changes after 50,000 trees?

It changes the microclimate. It changes the way water infiltrates and remains. It changes visible and invisible biodiversity. It changes the relationship between the project and time.

But above all, it changes the way we understand the word regeneration. It ceases to be a promise and becomes an ongoing responsibility. Regeneration, when taken seriously, is not about reaching an end point. It is about committing to staying in the process.

And that, at Gandum, is perhaps the most structural decision of all.