It's Reforestation Time Palo Santo

Update: July 9, 2026

I'm Fabrizio Vera, founder of EcuadorianHands, and palo santo reforestation has been my hands-on project since 2015.

Palo santo can regenerate naturally, but left alone, that process is slow and uneven across the dry forest. That's why I started a reforestation program in the tropical dry forest of Manabí, Ecuador, to actively speed up and support that natural regrowth.

I've planted more than 12,000 trees so far, using a transplant method that respects how the species naturally grows and spreads.

In this guide, I'll walk you through exactly how I reforest palo santo, from selecting overcrowded "palosantales" to the planting technique my team uses in the field. You'll also see why this matters if you care about where your palo santo comes from.

Let's get into it.

Why I Started Reforesting Palo Santo

Palo santo (Bursera graveolens) is a slow-growing tree native to the dry forests of coastal Ecuador and Peru. Unlike a pine plantation, you can't just scatter seeds and expect a healthy population.

The tree needs the right microclimate, the right neighbors, and, in a lot of cases, human help to reach areas where it has disappeared.

I discovered palo santo's properties on a surf trip through southern Manabí back in 2005. That personal fascination turned into EcuadorianHands, and eventually into what I now call the #PaloSantoDoneRight program, my commitment to restoring the dry forest and giving local communities a real stake in protecting it.

This isn't a side project for me. It's tied directly to my 50-hectare property in Joa, Jipijapa, which is now part of a legally protected forest reserve.

The Transplant Method: How I Reforest Palo Santo

Here's the part that makes my approach different from a standard tree-planting drive.

In Ecuador there are reforestation programs for the palo santo tree. To reforest, the transplant method is used, which consists of determining an area of the forest with an overpopulation of the same species to extract the trees that are very close to each other. They are then transferred to an area of the forest where there are no trees so that they can continue their natural development. In this way, the space that remains when the trees are extracted will be used by other native species of the dry forest

This isn't guesswork on my part. My team and I walk the forest looking for "palosantales," areas where palo santo saplings have sprouted so densely that most of them would never survive to maturity.

By relocating the excess trees instead of leaving them to compete for the same patch of soil, I get two wins at once. The transplanted trees get room to grow, and the space they leave behind opens up for other native species like Colicodendron scabridum, Acacia farnesiana, and Cojoba arborea.

It's a zero-waste approach. I never cut a living tree down, and nothing goes to waste. Every tree I move has a job to do somewhere else in the forest.

Behind My Transplanting Process

Transplanting a palo santo tree isn't as simple as digging it up and moving it. Get it wrong, and the tree won't survive the shock. Here's the process I follow:

1. Root protection. I wrap the roots in newspaper and a natural binder. Both materials break down within a couple of months, holding in moisture and releasing nutrients while the tree adjusts.
2. Site selection. I only replant in the tropical dry forest, the tree's natural habitat, never outside it.
3. The hole. I dig 40 x 40 cm, deep enough for the roots to settle without leaving air pockets that could cause rot.
4. Positioning. I plant the tree straight, right up to the root collar.

In 2020 alone, I planted 1500 trees this way, working alongside agriculture students from the Technical University of Manabí. That partnership also produced peer-reviewed research on the dry forest ecosystem, something few reforestation projects in the region can claim.

From My Reforestation Project to a Protected Reserve

My reforestation work didn't stay a private initiative for long. On March 1, 2023, Ecuador's Ministry of Environment, Water, and Ecological Transition (MAATE) formally declared the "El Artesan-EcuadorianHands" Protected Natural Reserve.

That designation matters to me. It means the land where I've been planting palo santo for years now has legal protection, and it locks in a commitment that outlasts any single harvest season.

I didn't get here alone. Local communities, universities, and government agencies all played a role, and that collaboration is what keeps my program sustainable instead of symbolic.

Why This Should Change How You Buy Palo Santo

Reforestation only works if it's funded. I channel a portion of the profit from every palo santo product I sell back into planting, land protection, and community programs.

That's the difference between palo santo that's genuinely ethically sourced and palo santo that just uses the label. When you buy from a source tied to an active reforestation program, your purchase does more than provide a fragrant piece of wood. It funds my reserve, supports the artisans who process it, and keeps my transplant program running season after season.

If you're sourcing palo santo for a retail line, spa, or wellness brand and need consistent volume, Palo Santo Wholesale program works directly with this same reforestation pipeline, so every bulk order still supports the trees behind it.

FAQs: Palo Santo Reforestation

What does it mean that palo santo is ethically sourced?

It means I never cut down a living tree. I only harvest wood once a tree has died naturally, and I reinvest profits from sales in reforestation and community programs instead of just maximizing extraction.

What is the #PaloSantoDoneRight program?

It's my personal commitment to restoring the Manabí tropical dry forest. I reforest palo santo and other native species using the transplant method, in partnership with universities and local communities.

How does buying palo santo actually help conservation?

Each purchase funds my reforestation activities, the upkeep of the Protected Natural Reserve, and support for the communities who work the land alongside me. It's a direct line from your order to a tree in the ground.

How can I tell if the palo santo I'm buying is authentic?

Authentic palo santo comes from Bursera graveolens trees in the tropical dry forest. Look for a traceable origin and certification, mine is backed by AGROCALIDAD and tied to a MAATE-recognized reserve.

Why do you use the transplant method instead of just planting seeds?

Seeds alone don't reliably survive in overcrowded or degraded areas. Transplanting takes trees that are already established but competing for space and gives them room to mature, which produces far better survival rates in my experience.

Is palo santo actually endangered?

Palo santo isn't classified as endangered, but unsustainable harvesting has put pressure on wild populations in some regions. That's exactly why I focus on active reforestation rather than just harvesting, it matters for the species' long-term future.