Sustainability Report 2004

Environmental aspects

Forest operations | Soil management

A soil survey of lands purchased during recent expansion projects at the Barra do Riacho and Guaíba Units was completed through a cooperative agreement between Aracruz, the Lavras Federal University and Viçosa Federal University, along with the support of other institutions. The survey included areas in the states of Bahia, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul, totaling 112,000 ha.

Obtaining detailed information on the environment where the Company operates is an essential step in the sustained management of the plantations. Soil mapping has been used to identify environments suitable for planting eucalyptus and the demarcation of preservation areas, as well as environmental certification processes.

Currently, 100% of the Company’s plantations have been mapped and the knowledge accrued has enabled improvements to the recommendations for forest cultivation and harvesting practices, allowing greater precision at all stages of the wood production process.