Frequently
AskeD
Questions

MORFO’s soil regeneration solution relies on a science-based approach that combines soil analysis, seedpods, artificial intelligence, and drone technology. This integrated methodology is designed to restore soil fertility, support biodiversity recovery, and enable long-term ecosystem regeneration.

MORFO is a Franco-Brazilian company. It was founded in May 2021 by two brothers, Hugo and Pascal Asselin, who grew up in French Guiana, close to the Amazon rainforest.
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Pascal and Hugo founded MORFO with Adrien Pagès, now CEO of the company. MORFO now has 35 employees, based in our offices in Brazil and Europe.

MORFO has offices and laboratories in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Montpellier, France.
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We focus our forest ecosystem restoration efforts in tropical and subtropical zones, mainly in South America.

> 1 million hectares or 1.2 billion trees planted worldwide. Equivalent to the size of countries like Lebanon, Puerto Rico or Jamaica.

> 20 million tons of CO2 sequestered by our forests.

> Over 1,000 tropical species studied and categorized in our catalog.

> Over 10 biomes studied.

> 10,000 people involved in our projects around the world, with over 300 people working at MORFO.

Yes!

Working at MORFO means taking part in the fight against climate change by restoring forest ecosystems that concentrate unique native biodiversity, while having a significant social impact, based on three very strong areas of innovation: forest engineering, artificial intelligence and drone technology.

Join the MORFO team now by applying here!

Our patented seedpods protect native seeds during early establishment, support germination under field conditions, and help reduce logistical and planting costs in large-scale restoration projects.

We work with public and private landholders, including governments, NGOs, and companies, that need to restore degraded land and meet ecological, regulatory, or sustainability requirements.
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Would you like to contact us to reforest a plot of land?
‍Contact our experts!

No.

MORFO is an ecological forest restoration service that offers 4 solutions (Diagnosis, Planning, Planting, Monitoring).
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We work with carbon project developers, but we are not project developers ourselves.

Reforestation is not just about planting individual trees, but about creating complete plant ecosystems. Promoting plant species diversity in our restoration projects is one of MORFO's priorities.

We plant at least 20 local species per project that we select according to project characteristics from a catalog of over 300 species. This maximizes biodiversity and recreates natural ecosystems, also mimicking the stages of forest ecological succession.

Seeds are deployed using protective seed capsules designed to support early establishment in degraded environments. These capsules contain biological and nutritional elements that help seeds withstand field conditions and support early growth.

Seedpods offer three main advantages:
– Seed protection: capsules shield seeds from external stressors, preserving viability.
– Early-stage nutrition: capsules provide nutrients that support seedlings during initial development.
– Soil regeneration support: the method contributes to improving degraded soil conditions and overall ecosystem recovery.

MORFO conducts continuous R&D through in-house laboratories and research partnerships to select the most suitable species for each project. Our catalog includes over 600 native species studied or under evaluation, selected based on a minimum set of ecological and operational criteria.

Ecological succession describes how a forest ecosystem progressively moves from one stage to another, following a disturbance, whether they be natural or caused by human activity.

Of the 6 stages of forest growth, reforestation is often only used during three stages, aiming to accelerate growth. At MORFO, for example, our interventions focus on the following three stages:

>Perennial herbaceous stage
Thanks to these fast-growing plants, soils begin to recover and insects and animals reappear. Ecosystem reconstitution begins.

>Pioneer species stage
This stage is crucial to launch the forest basis, since it plays a fixation role.

>Fast-growing tree species stage
The planting of these species accelerates vegetation cover growth. It is important to adapt density ratios according to the forest's development stage.

Tree growth rates vary depending on species, site conditions, and ecosystem context. In tropical and subtropical regions, favorable climate conditions generally support faster and more continuous growth throughout the year.

Rather than focusing on individual tree growth, MORFO designs restoration projects to rebuild complete ecosystems. Species diversity, soil conditions, and long-term monitoring are key factors influencing forest development over time.

During laboratory and nursery phases, MORFO observes average survival rates of around 80%, depending on species. Field performance varies according to site conditions, and ongoing monitoring is used to progressively improve restoration outcomes over time.

We pay particular attention forest growth and health by monitoring biomass, biodiversity, and carbon stocks, though in-depth regular analyses. This helps us diagnose any issues or low success rates so that they can be resolved, for example through future planting.

MORFO uses many tools to carry out accurate and regular monitoring: drone and satellite imagery, artificial intelligence, on-the-field analyses, and more.

MORFO reforestation monitoring is regular and long-term. It extends over a period of 5 to 30 years. This period varies according to the complexity and scale of the project, as well as conservation and preservation objectives.

> Drones are more efficient
They plant up to 100 times faster than humans. A single drone can process a maximum of 50 hectares per day, planting 180 seedpods per minute.
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‍> Drones cut costs
They are up to 5 times cheaper to use, thanks to their speed of planting, and because drone seeding avoids the need for structuring a nursery and maintaining it for several months.
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‍> Drones are safer
They access remote regions and enable planting in areas that might be too dangerous for humans, which is very regularly the case in the reforestation projects we run.
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‍> But our drones don't replace humans
From terrain analysis to species selection, planting and monitoring ecosystem evolution, human intervention remains crucial at every stage. Up to 20% of all our projects are carried out by hand in partnership with local communities and NGOs.

Drones are a tool for scaling up forest restoration on two levels:

>Forest analysis and monitoring
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Before planting, we use a variety of analysis methods to study the soils and characteristics of the area to be reforested. Some of these analyses include satellite imagery to obtain an overview of the area, and drone imagery with a more precise resolution for detailed information.

Data is then combined with our species catalog established to produce a planting scheme. Drones are used to geolocate species present before and after planting, enabling us to differentiate between different forest strata and accurately monitor vegetation growth.

>Drone seeding
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We use custom agricultural drones capable of lifting fairly substantial loads and dispersing unique seedpods that we have developed with public laboratories and scientists. These drones are large, around 1.50 meters in diameter.

MORFO uses both manual planting and drone seeding, as these two methods complement each other. At least 20% of projects are carried out by local communities and NGOs through manual planting. Additionally, 1/3 of MORFO's budget is allocated to these local stakeholders.

We used drones to replant 75% of our project in northern Rio de Janeiro state, while local NGO ITPA restored the remaining 25% of the area. ITPA provided us with knowledge of the Mata Atlantica biome, access to a nursery for manual planting and local workers to carry out planting.

Potential benefits include improved land value, enhanced soil productivity, and, where applicable, carbon-related revenues derived from regenerated ecosystems.

Yes. We design transitions to productive agriculture, ILPF and agroforestry systems that increase productivity sustainably, while sequestering carbon in the soil.

The ecological benefits of reforestation vary according to regional context, local biodiversity, and environmental conditions. However, well-designed forest restoration remains a critical lever for ecosystem recovery, climate regulation, and environmental resilience.
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‍MORFO’s restoration projects contribute to:
– Ecosystem regeneration: supporting natural vegetation recovery and restoring habitats for local fauna.

‍– Climate regulation: forests help mitigate climate impacts such as droughts, floods, and extreme weather events.

– Water regulation: restored forests improve water infiltration, reduce runoff, and stabilize hydrological cycles.

‍– Soil stabilization: root systems reduce erosion, particularly in highly degraded areas.

‍– Soil fertility improvement: organic matter accumulation over time enhances soil structure and nutrient availability.

‍– Air quality improvement: vegetation absorbs air pollutants and contributes to healthier local environments.

‍– Reduced vulnerability to disease and invasive species: diversified ecosystems are more resilient than single-species projects.

Over 1,000 people have already worked directly or indirectly with MORFO in Brazil, Gabon, French Guiana and France. What's more, MORFO allocates 1/3 of its budget to local stakeholders.
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We are convinced that close collaboration with local stakeholders is essential for the long-term success of our projects. By working with local stakeholders, we are able to improve the quality of future reforestations by better understanding the characteristics of the area in question.
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Local communities are involved in all stages of MORFO's solution:
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> Consultation and planning
Local inclusion begins with public consultation, gathering feedback and expectations from local communities. This feedback is then used to adapt projects, taking into account aspects such as species to be planted, planting methods, follow-up periods, forest exploitation, and local stakeholders' needs and expectations.
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> Seed collection and plantation preparation
We work closely with local stakeholders to collect seeds, prepare the land and monitor reforestation projects over the long term. We collaborate with local associations to provide valuable assistance in setting up projects, and in some cases, to help with planting in the traditional way.
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> And so much more...
Soil analysis, nursery management, soil preparation, planting of seedlings, forest maintenance and supervision.