- A retired man, Helio da Silva, transformed an abandoned, neglected strip of land in São Paulo into a thriving urban forest starting in 2003, using his own determination, personal savings, and simple planting methods.
- After five years of effort, the area was officially recognized as São Paulo's first linear park, Tiquatira Park, now stretching 3.2 km with about 160 tree species and wildlife.
- Da Silva continues to care for the forest after retiring in 2022, aiming to plant 50,000 trees, and his project demonstrates the value of grassroots urban restoration in a densely populated city.