What happens after fragmented forests are reconnected? Ecological corridors restore connectivity, but long-term conservation requires more than planting trees. It depends on continued stewardship, invasive species management, scientific knowledge and community engagement. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest, Instituto Caminhos da Conservação will share lessons from the Santa Maria Ecological Corridor and how this work evolved into environmental education in public schools and communities. Central question: How can we reconnect landscapes while also strengthening the knowledge and shared responsibility needed to protect them for generations?