A retiree plants 40,000 trees in 21 years and creates one of the largest linear parks in the world: “It’s not just digging holes”

In a megacity of more than 22 million people, one man’s quiet revolution is reshaping São Paulo - tree by tree.

Hélio da Silva, a 73-year-old retiree affectionately known by locals as “the tree planter,” has spent the past two decades transforming a once-forgotten stretch of land into one of the largest linear parks on the planet. His mission? To bring nature back to a city overwhelmed by concrete and chaos.

Back in the early 2000s, da Silva was still working as an executive in the sugar industry. Every day, on his commute through São Paulo’s Tiquatira district, he passed a filthy, trash-strewn no-man’s-land dividing two major roadways. A desolate reminder of the lush Atlantic Forest that once blanketed the region. One day, he’d had enough. “I came home and told my wife, ‘I’m going to plant trees and turn Tiquatira into a giant green park,’” he recalls.

Persistence pays off after trees destroyed

He started with a single seed from a “jequitibá,” one of the tallest native trees of the Atlantic Forest. Then came 200 more. When a nearby businessman tore them out, worried about losing parking space for customers, da Silva simply returned with 400. They were ripped out again. Undeterred, he set a new goal: 5,000 trees.

That persistence paid off. His effort eventually caught the attention of São Paulo’s then-environmental secretary, Eduardo Jorge, who visited the site in person. Moved by what he saw, Jorge pushed for public investment, and soon local agronomists and landscapers joined the cause.

Park home to 41,300 trees and 162 species

“Over the past 21 years, I’ve planted about 2,000 trees each year - 41,300 in total,” Hélio says proudly. The park now stretches nearly two miles (three kilometers) through eastern São Paulo, covering nearly 80 acres (320,000 square meters) and featuring 162 different species of trees and plants.

But da Silva’s impact goes far beyond the landscape. “Birds and wildlife that hadn’t been seen here since the early 20th century are coming back,” he says. “And people are rediscovering a sense of pride, health, and community.”

Residents now use the park for jogging, biking, picnicking, and gathering - activities once unthinkable in this part of the city. “This green lung has completely changed the life of this neighborhood,” da Silva says. “People have more self-esteem, better health, more joy, more life.”

Next goal: 50,000 trees and outdoor libraries

And he’s not done yet. His next goal: 50,000 trees.

Da Silva also dreams of turning the park into a space for environmental education, with outdoor libraries where families can read under the shade of the trees he’s planted. “We need to get kids connected to nature,” he says. “It’s crucial to bring environmental awareness into school curricula. Because planting trees isn’t just about digging holes - it’s about planting ideas.”

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.