Skydiver Drops 100 Million Seeds to Restore the Amazon Rainforest
In an extraordinary fusion of adventure and environmental action, Brazilian skydiver Luigi Cani completed a daring mission aimed at breathing life back into one of the world’s most threatened ecosystems—the Amazon rainforest. His goal was simple yet ambitious: restore degraded land by releasing 100 million tree seeds from the sky.
The mission took place in 2022, when Cani jumped from a height of 6,500 feet over a severely deforested area of the Amazon. Carrying a specially designed biodegradable container, he released seeds from 27 native Amazonian plant species, ensuring they spread evenly across a 31,000-square-foot patch of cleared forest. The container burst open midair, allowing the seeds to scatter naturally, mimicking how forests regenerate in the wild.
This act was the culmination of five years of planning. Cani partnered closely with environmental scientists who studied seed viability, ecological compatibility, and long-term survival. Their meticulous work paid off—the seeds used in the mission had an impressive 95% germination rate, making the drop far more meaningful than a symbolic stunt. Instead, it represented a real opportunity to restore forest cover and promote biodiversity in a region under constant threat.
Luigi Cani is no stranger to high-risk feats. With 11 world records and more than 14,000 jumps under his belt, he has dedicated much of his career to pushing physical boundaries. But this mission, he says, stands out as one of the most important moments of his life.
“This wasn’t just about skydiving,” Cani shared. “It was about giving something back to the planet.”
As the seeds take root and new growth emerges, Cani’s airborne reforestation effort serves as a powerful reminder that innovation and courage can play a vital role in protecting our natural world.