We believe the best way to protect a forest is to make it productive. By sourcing and selling Guaiacwood essential oil, doTERRA is making Paraguay's El Chaco Forest profitable, protecting the trees from being cut down to make space for other money-generating businesses such as cattle grazing. The unusual soil and climate combination in El Chaco has created unique biodiversity, meaning it’s the only place in the world where Guaiacwood trees can grow. Because Guaiacwood is an endangered species, our sourcing partner has been working diligently since 2018 to develop a sustainable forest management plan for it. By 2022, they had purchased more than 12,000 acres in El Chaco and divided each into 20 subplots. Only one plot per acre is harvested for essential oil each year, allowing it to then rest for 20 years before being revisited. This careful coppicing is helping El Chaco remain vibrant, productive, and protected from deforestation.