🌱 "Seed cocoons" help trees grow in the harshest climates

Land Life Company want to make way for trees to grow in harsh climates and has therefore created the "Cocoon"
The so-called cocoon is a tree “incubator” and is made from wax-reinforced recycled carton filled with nutrients and fungi. The cocoon also holds 3 months worth of water and boosts seedlings survival rate from 10 % to at least 90%. Eventually, the container biodegrades completely.

The idea is to help trees and shrubs grow strong by helping the plants to develop deep root systems. A deep root system can help support them through periods of drought. The plants are being protected within the cocoon and provided with an effective microclimate allowing the plants to focus on root development even if there are no rainfalls. The cocoon also makes the plants not to become dependent on irrigation.

Sven Kallen from Volterra Ecosystems, one of the partners in the project LIFE The Green Link, explained to the European Commission how the Cocoon helps young bushes and saplings:

“The Cocoon typically holds water for 2-4 months, then starts to slowly disintegrate. The idea is that the tree survives its first summer, and it will then have become established with a sufficient root system to tap into underground moisture.”

This way of planting shrubs and trees will offer major savings. Especially when it comes to water because it slashes irrigation from 400 gallons to 10 gallons:

“In the first year alone, the trees need at least 5 times less water compared with irrigation”, Kallen said.

Rainwater can also filter through into the cocoon. The bucket-like structure acts as a mini catchment area.

Land Life Company combines tree growing with technology by using satellites, drones and soil analysis in order to select the most suitable species and devise growing plans. The seedlings are planted using GPS drilling and cocoon technology. Once they’ve been planted the progress is tracked using live data.

According to one of Waste-Ed’s videos on Facebook, Land Life Company planted one million seeds last year to recreate Sudan’s tree cover. 85% of the planted seedlings survived. The company is just getting started though. This year they are planning on planting three million more trees.

Picture: Land Life Company via InHabitat