Sustainability Report 2004

Environmental aspects

Forest operations | Forestry partners

Our Forestry Partners Program involved approximately 3,000 farmers, for a total area of 71,000 hectares.

Our Forestry Partners Program ended the year with 3,028 contracts covering a total area of 71,000 hectares. Participating farmers receive support from Aracruz through its supply of seedlings, provision of technical assistance and commitment to purchase the wood they produce at harvest. It may also finance planting (depending on the type of contract agreed).

In 2004, we opened our eighth program branch office in Espírito Santo, located in Cachoeiro do Itapemirim. The Company also has program offices in Governador Valadares, Conselheiro Pena (MG), Posto da Mata and Teixeira de Freitas (BA).

We signed an accord with the Espírito Santo Agriculture and Livestock Farming Federation (FAES) and the National Rural Apprenticeship Service (SENAR). This accord extends for a one year period and involves 28 municipalities and funds of around US$128,000 made available by Aracruz and SENAR. In addition to further disseminating the program, the accord also offers professional training for farmers and workers in various areas. Seventy training courses will be held involving more than 1,000 people and covering topics such as artificial insemination, beekeeping, fish farming, agribusiness, use of pesticides and herbicides, fruit cultivation, coffee growing and rural management.

In Rio Grande do Sul, the Forestry Partners Program was launched in July through a partnership between Aracruz and Caixa-RS Bank. In all, 15 contracts were signed with farmers from nine municipalities, involving the planting of 378 hectares of eucalyptus, to be acquired by Aracruz for pulp production at the Guaíba Unit.