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“It was right after I graduated high school and started farming. One day, I noticed moss growing on the roof of our house. Even under the blazing sun, it was quietly and firmly thriving. For me, that small sight left a surprisingly deep impression.”
- Jaehong Park, CEO of Code of Nature
Fire moss (Ceratodon purpureus) growing on rooftops
I had always thought moss only grew in damp and shaded places. But there it was, enduring the heat of the midday sun, holding its ground in silence.
“Maybe what I thought I knew about nature was only half the story.”
From that day on, COFN began to see moss in a new light. A plant we had passed by without notice suddenly felt like something more. What if recovery doesn’t begin with the loud and the large, but with something small, persistent and resilient? That is how moss became the starting point of Code of Nature’s journey toward ecological restoration.
Structural Comparison of Bryophytes and Vascular Plants
As we began to see moss with new eyes, we soon encountered a remarkable truth: moss is among the first plants to ever appear on land. When thinking of Earth’s early history, most people imagine the Jurassic or Cretaceous periods. But there is a much earlier time called the Precambrian era, when even the concept of nature barely existed. There were no forests, no grasses, and not even soil as we know it.
During this barren time, the first lifeforms made their way onto land. They were part of a group of plants known as bryophytes, the ancestors of modern mosses. These plants had no roots or vascular systems, but they were the first to adapt to life on land. They made the beginning of ecosystems possible. Moss is not just an ancient plant. It was the key that opened the door to life on land.
Moss is typically only 1 to 10 centimeters tall, but within its small form lies a survival strategy that has endured for hundreds of millions of years. Moss can live without putting down roots. It survives using only the moisture it absorbs, which powers its photosynthesis and metabolism. This is why it can thrive even in places without soil. While moss usually prefers cool and shaded environments, it can also survive in much harsher conditions. At the heart of this resilience is a physiological trait called Desiccation tolerance*. Thanks to this ability, moss has been found surviving under Antarctic ice, between rocks in deserts, and even in outer space during scientific experiments.
* Desiccation tolerance: When water is scarce, moss enters a dormant state by stopping its metabolic activity. Once moisture returns, it quickly resumes photosynthesis and growth.
Moss is often the first plant to settle in extreme environments such as bare land, cracks in pavement, or rocky crevices where there is no soil.
But this early colonization is more than just survival. It marks the beginning of ecological restoration. Moss releases organic acids* that gradually weather the surface of rocks or concrete. As moss dies and breaks down, it creates leaf litter-rich soil, known as humus*. This organic layer provides a foundation where microorganisms and fungi can grow, eventually making it possible for larger plants to take root.
Moss can also store water up to five times its own weight. This moisture helps regulate humidity, prevent soil erosion, and stabilize the surrounding environment. Beyond its role in soil and water, moss has even impacted Earth’s atmosphere. According to Professor Tim Lenton’s team at the University of Exeter, the widespread growth of moss hundreds of millions of years ago may have increased the planet’s oxygen levels by nearly 30 percent. Early mosses weathered rocks and released nutrients such as phosphates*, which flowed into the ocean. These nutrients boosted the productivity of marine plankton, increasing carbon storage and eventually raising atmospheric oxygen to modern levels.
Though small and often overlooked, moss plays a crucial role in forming soil, conserving water, and shaping the atmosphere. It has long provided a foundation for ecological recovery.
* Organic acid : Compounds that contain carbon and have acidic properties, secreted by moss to break down rock surfaces
* Leaf litter-rich soil / Humus : Soil rich in decomposed plant matter, essential for microbial and plant life
* Phosphates: Key nutrients for plankton growth in marine ecosystems
Protonema of Moss under the Microscope
Now the answer is clear. Moss quietly builds foundations where no one sees, creating the conditions for other life to grow. Inspired by this, COFN designs the groundwork for ecological restoration.
That is why we chose moss.
We create the foundation that allows nature to heal itself. Restoration is not just about bringing back something green. It requires clear standards and measurable progress. That is why our most important mission is to make restoration something that can be quantified and understood. At COFN, recovery is not a vague slogan. It is a change proven through data.
Every day, we design nature-based solutions grounded in this philosophy. COFN prepares environments where new life can take root in places that have been left barren.
The beginning of recovery is always small and quiet. But in the end, it always leads to new hope.
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