Skydiver Luigi Cani takes a badass leap to scatter tree seeds in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest

In the current fast-paced world, we hardly get time to contribute to saving our environment. But several heroes pull off the most unbelievable stunts to protect and safeguard our Earth. The professional skydiver, Luigi Cani (@luigicani), is one such prime example. In 2022, he made history by releasing 100 million seeds from 27 plants at 6,500 feet over the Brazilian Amazon. The groundbreaking initiative addressed the rapid deforestation of the Amazon rainforest, which according to Bored Panda, skyrocketed, reaching an all-time high in the first half of that year. The video, shared by Canal OFF (@canaloff), captured the unbelievable project, which garnered widespread attention worldwide. 

The video began with a short glimpse of Cani releasing seeds across the deforested area. Later, an emotional Cani was heard saying, "Only I know what I did to get here. It's a lot that I really did. I'm very anxious for it to work. The project was successful in the last few seconds." (This is loosely translated from Portuguese.) The video showed scenes of the paratroopers celebrating after accomplishing their dream project.

It took five years for the world-record-holding skydiver and his team to turn his restoration dream into reality. They faced several obstacles along the way, including the rigorous process of obtaining permits from the Brazilian government to perform the task. However, Cani's strong determination and resilience were more than enough to overcome all hurdles. The team selected seeds from a nearby rainforest after analyzing their germination rates since they would be dispersed from such a great height. Additionally, Cani and his team constructed suitable biodegradable boxes that would efficiently scatter the seeds across the area. What's more, the team even conducted multiple box tests and transported a total of 3.7 tonnes of equipment into the Amazon forest before the big leap.

Talking to the outlet, the skydiver shared his experience and said, "It was the only jump in my life that I held my breath the entire time. My heart was beating really fast. I felt like I was going to have a heart attack. I struggled to hold the box. I nearly broke my wrist and fingers. I managed to stabilize myself at about 6,000 ft, and the seeds were released precisely where we wanted them to be. It was complete ecstasy."

Moreover, Cani spoke about his future project to clear harmful plastics from polluted oceans. He said, "I have been jumping for 25 years, and I have always pushed the limits with risky jumps. Now, I am 51 years old, and I don't have that drive for danger anymore. I want to do something to help. Like the seed drop, this next project will have real meaning behind it."

According to the satellite data, the dispersed seeds would achieve up to a 95% germination rate and are expected to grow to an impressive height of 50 meters (165 ft), as per Thursd. Additionally, progress is being constantly monitored by the satellites. Cani's commitment resonates with passionate environmentalists who constantly struggle to spread awareness. His initiative to protect our planet reminds us of the necessary holistic approach in which every individual contributes meaningful efforts to safeguard our delicate ecosystem.

Cani's video, which reached millions of views, also witnessed overwhelming responses from the people in the comments. For instance, @krl.hoz wrote, "How wonderful, it's a fantastic idea. I hope I can see images with the time of how the area is found thanks to this project." @jennymora commented, "God bless you every day and thank you for existing, there is hope in the world with people like you and all who have reached it are possible." Similarly, @camilareis wrote, "Oh! Man, that's cool. Thanks for that!"

You can follow Luigi Cani (@luigicani) and Canal OFF (@canaloff) for more adventurous content.