Sustainability Report 2004

Environmental aspects

Forest operations | Biodiversity

Aracruz has carried out studies to identify and protect the fauna existing in the ecosystems found on its properties. Five new bird species were spotted in 2004, totaling 455 species, 10 of which are under threat of extinction. The surveys carried out in the municipality of Sooretama, in Espírito Santo, revealed the presence of four individuals of the threatened Red-billed Curassow (Crax blumenbachii).

2,645 bird species are cataloged in South America, 1,677 or 55.3% of which are found in Brazil (source: Helmut Sick, Ornitologia brasileira, 1997). Of these, 620 species are cataloged in the Atlantic Forest; 835 in the arid, central plains; 950 in Amazon forest; and 650 in the Pantanal marshlands (source: IBAMA, Ecossistemas brasileiros). The 455 bird species cataloged in the areas owned by Aracruz represent 73.3% of the total listed in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Discover more about the use of birds as bioindicators of environmental quality at: www.aracruz.com.br/web/en/ambiente/.

Using the database and knowledge accumulated during more than 20 years of monitoring biodiversity, Aracruz has helped compile a new list of endangered species found in Espírito Santo state. This list is being finalized under the coordination of the NGO Atlantic Rainforest Research Institute (IPEMA).

Biodiversity studies are also being conducted in mountainous regions containing eucalyptus plantations owned by Aracruz’s forestry partners. Some 257 species have already been identified in these studies, 43 of which are new species spotted in 2004, including the rare Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus).

In the Guaíba Unit, the monitoring of biodiversity over the two-year period 2003-2004 was completed in December. Field samples were taken to compare two watersheds with different proportions of land occupied by forest plantations (one with 5% occupation, the other with around 30%). The result showed that the degree of conservation of the riparian zones is an important factor in maintaining stocks of biodiversity and interconnecting different parts of the hydrographic basin. The Quitéria forestlands owned by Aracruz were found to possess one of the most significant forest remnants found in the watersheds under study, both in terms of area occupied and its state of conservation.

No significant differences were found between fish populations in terms of the proportion of land occupied by forest plantations. Amphibians occurred with less frequency in zones of eucalyptus plantation due to their greater dependency on environments such as marshes. Bird diversity was discovered to be fairly high in zones influenced by eucalyptus planting; this includes open-field species in surrounding areas or flying over the plantations, revealing that the eucalyptus stands do not pose a barrier. Mammals make fairly frequent use of eucalyptus trees with clear evidence that some species use the stands for refuge and feeding.