Frequently
AskeD
Questions
What is MORFO?
MORFO’s soil regeneration solution is based on a science-driven approach that integrates soil diagnostics, seedpods, artificial intelligence, and drone technology.This integrated methodology restores soil fertility, supports biodiversity recovery, and enables long-term, measurable ecosystem regeneration.
MORFO is a Franco-Brazilian company founded in May 2021 by brothers Hugo and Pascal Asselin (CEO), who grew up in French Guiana near the Amazon rainforest.
Together with Adrien Pagès, they established MORFO with the ambition of scaling ecological restoration. Today, MORFO has a team of 35 employees, operating across offices in Brazil and Europe.
MORFO has offices and laboratories in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Montpellier, France.
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!
Business model
Our patented seedpods protect native seeds during early establishment, support germination under real field conditions, and reduce logistical and planting costs in large-scale restoration projects.
We work with public and private landholders — including governments, NGOs, and companies — seeking to restore degraded land while meeting ecological, regulatory, and sustainability requirements.
Would you like to contact us to reforest a plot of land?
Contact our experts!
No.
MORFO is a specialized ecological forest restoration company, delivering end-to-end restoration services across diagnosis, planning, implementation, and long-term monitoring.
We work alongside carbon project developers as a technical and operational partner, but we do not develop or own carbon projects ourselves.
trees & plants
Reforestation is not about planting isolated trees, but about restoring complete and resilient forest ecosystems. Biodiversity is a core principle of MORFO’s restoration approach.
Each project integrates at least 20 locally adapted native species, selected based on site-specific conditions from a catalog of over 300 studied species. This approach supports biodiversity recovery and follows natural forest ecological succession.
MORFO deploys seeds using protective seedpods designed to support early establishment under real field conditions, including degraded environments. Seedpods help seeds withstand environmental stress during the most critical early growth phase.
Seedpods deliver three key functions:
– Seed protection: shielding seeds from mechanical, climatic, and biological stressors to preserve viability.
– Early-stage support: providing localized biological and nutritional inputs that support germination and early development.
– Soil regeneration support: contributing to improved soil conditions and facilitating ecosystem recovery over time.
Seed selection is guided by continuous R&D conducted in MORFO’s in-house laboratories and research partnerships. Each project relies on species adapted to local conditions, selected from a catalog of over 600 native species assessed using 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 timelines depend on species selection, site conditions, and ecosystem context. In tropical and subtropical regions, favorable climate conditions often enable faster and more continuous biomass accumulation throughout the year.
Rather than optimizing individual tree growth, MORFO designs restoration projects to rebuild functioning forest ecosystems. By prioritizing species diversity, soil recovery, and long-term ecological monitoring, MORFO supports resilient forest development and predictable performance over time.
During laboratory and nursery phases, MORFO achieves average seedling survival rates of around 80%, depending on species.Field performance varies based on site-specific conditions, which is why MORFO integrates continuous monitoring and adaptive management.
Survival, growth, and vegetation dynamics are tracked over time, allowing corrective actions when needed and progressively improving restoration outcomes across projects.
After planting, MORFO closely monitors forest growth and ecosystem health through regular analysis of biomass development, species survival, biodiversity indicators, and carbon stocks.This continuous monitoring allows early detection of underperformance or emerging risks, enabling timely corrective actions such as targeted re-seeding, adaptive management, or site-specific interventions.
Monitoring is supported by a combination of drone and satellite imagery, AI-based analysis, and field assessments, ensuring consistent, verifiable data over time. MORFO’s monitoring approach is long-term, typically spanning 5 to 30 years, depending on project scale, ecological complexity, and conservation or regulatory objectives.
DRONES & SATELLITES
>Drones enable fast, precise, and scalable restoration operations.
They allow MORFO to deploy seeds at a speed that is not achievable with manual methods alone. A single drone can restore up to 50 hectares per day, dispersing up to 180 seedpods per minute, which significantly accelerates large-scale restoration timelines.
> Drones help optimize costs without compromising ecological quality.
By accelerating planting and reducing the need for nursery production and prolonged seedling maintenance, drone seeding can lower operational costs compared to traditional planting approaches, particularly in large or remote areas.
> Drones improve safety and accessibility
They make it possible to restore remote, steep, or hazardous terrains that are difficult or unsafe for human crews to access, a common constraint in large-scale reforestation and post-disturbance landscapes.
> But our drones don't replace humans
Human intervention remains essential at every stage of the project, from terrain analysis and species selection to monitoring and adaptive management. Up to 20% of MORFO’s projects are carried out through manual planting, in partnership with local communities and NGOs, ensuring local engagement and ecological accuracy.
MORFO uses drones as a scaling tool across two complementary functions: forest intelligence and planting operations.
>Forest analysis and monitoring
Before planting, MORFO combines satellite imagery, drone surveys, and field data to analyze soil conditions, vegetation dynamics, and terrain characteristics. Satellite data provides large-scale coverage, while drone imagery delivers higher-resolution insights where precision is required.
These datasets are integrated with MORFO’s species catalog to design site-specific restoration plans, defining planting density, species composition, and spatial distribution. Drones are also used before and after planting to geolocate vegetation, differentiate forest strata, and track growth over time, enabling consistent and traceable monitoring.
>Drone seeding
For implementation, MORFO uses custom agricultural drones designed to carry and disperse proprietary seedpods developed in collaboration with public laboratories and scientific partners. These drones are capable of lifting substantial payloads and operating efficiently across large or difficult-to-access areas.
With a wingspan of approximately 1.5 meters, MORFO’s drones are adapted for large-scale restoration, allowing precise seed deployment while maintaining operational safety and consistency in the field.
MORFO combines manual planting and drone seeding as complementary restoration methods, selecting the most appropriate approach based on site conditions, accessibility, and project objectives.
Manual planting is carried out by local communities and NGOs and represents a deliberate part of MORFO’s implementation model. Across projects, up to 20% of planting activities are performed by hand, particularly in areas where precision, local knowledge, or ecological constraints require it. In parallel, approximately one-third of MORFO’s project budgets is allocated to local stakeholders, supporting employment, seed networks, and long-term engagement.
For example, in a project in our project in northern Rio de Janeiro state, drones were used to restore approximately 75% of the area, while the remaining 25% was planted manually in partnership with local actors. The NGO ITPA contributed biome-specific expertise on the Atlantic Forest, access to a nursery for manual planting, and trained local workers to carry out field operations.
Environmental actions
Potential benefits include increased land value, improved soil productivity, and — where applicable — carbon-related revenues generated from regenerated ecosystems. These outcomes depend on site conditions, project design, and long-term land-use strategy.
Yes. MORFO designs post-restoration transitions to productive systems such as agriculture, ILPF, and agroforestry, ensuring that productivity gains are achieved without compromising soil recovery, ecosystem resilience, or long-term carbon sequestration.
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.
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.