An Araucaria tree is planted in homage to Costa Rica during Festuris, highlighting a symbol of resilience and environmental commitment

A new araucaria tree, an emblematic tree of southern Brazil and a symbol of strength, was planted in honor of Costa Rica during Festuris – Gramado International Tourism Festival. The action, part of the event's sustainability initiatives for the past decade, took place in the Green & Experience area due to the day's unstable weather.

The ceremony brought together the mayor of Gramado, Nestor Tissot; the Secretary of Agriculture, Eliezer Lima; the Deputy Secretary of the Environment, Rodrigo Ludwig; and the CEOs of Festuris, Marta Rossi and Eduardo Zorzanello. The choice of the araucaria tree reflects its importance to native biodiversity: the species contributes to the development of the Atlantic Forest, provides shelter for various animal species, and produces the traditional piñón nut, highly valued in southern Brazil. Highly resilient, it can live for over 200 years and reach up to 50 meters in height.

In this 14th edition of the Tree of Integration, Costa Rica was honored for its international leadership in environmental policies and sustainable actions. The country stands out for its biodiversity protection, promotion of clean energy, and its comprehensive approach to ESG practices. The event was held in conjunction with the Gramado Environmental Secretariat.

Heylin James, coordinator for the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) in Latin America, represented the country at the ceremony, where she received an araucaria seedling and a mate gourd, a symbol of gaucho culture. She emphasized the importance of the recognition, stating that sustainability “is not just a practice, it’s a way of life.”

Mayor Nestor Tissot emphasized the historical and cultural importance of the araucaria tree to the region, recalling that previous generations knew it as "pine." He maintained that it is a symbol of Gramado and the ideal species to be the focus of this tribute. Marta Rossi highlighted how small actions can generate great transformations, while Eduardo Zorzanello praised the project's resilience and its contribution to a sustainable legacy that grows stronger year after year.

A series of tributes
were held during the ceremony, including one to honor journalist Wilson Sierra, one of the project's founders, who passed away this year at the age of 96. He was a member of the Ibero-American Forum of Journalists, promoting integration among destinations and advocating for sustainable actions focused on environmental preservation. His daughter, Marisa Borges, along with her granddaughter and great-grandson, participated in the unveiling of a commemorative plaque that will be placed at the entrance to the Serra Park pavilions, the Festuris venue.

In addition, the Ibero-American Federation of Tourism Journalists (Fipetur) presented a special plaque to Marta Rossi and Eduardo Zorzanello, in recognition of their contribution to strengthening sustainable initiatives and the legacy built through the festival.