UPM Raflatac partners on reforestation project of Jaguari River in Brazil

Part of the city of Jaguariúna's ‘Programa Bacias Jaguariúna,’ which creates partnerships with companies located there, the Brazil Reforestation Project will create a riparian buffer zone along the Jaguari River, which supplies 95 percent of the water supply to the nearby city. Riparian buffers help improve water quality by preventing pollutants from reaching a river or stream, and by planting 1,666 native Mata Atlantic species trees, construction of fences along the recovered area, and continued maintenance; the river will flow cleaner than ever before. It is expected the project will last for two years, due to wildfire prevention, soil treatment, irrigation and growth of the planted trees.

According to the Nature Conservancy, the Atlantic Forest is one of the most important forests on Earth, home to one in every 20 vertebrate species on the planet and some 20,000 different species of plants. Once occupying an area nearly twice the size of the US state of Texas, today only 12 percent of the original Atlantic Forest remains as a result of urbanization, agriculture, cattle ranching and illegal logging. Despite this dramatic diminishment over the years, it is still one of Earth's largest tropical forests.

As part of UPM, the Biofore Company, UPM Raflatac's global biodiversity program has included the protection of water, natural forests, and native species as key focus areas for more than two decades. The UPM biodiversity program maintains and increases biodiversity in forests as well as promotes best practices in sustainable forestry and wood sourcing. In addition, the Brazil Reforestation Project supports the United Nations' request for all countries to help with reforestation to help reduce the threat of global climate change.

‘This project is an excellent opportunity for UPM Raflatac's employees to engage and contribute to the sustainability of our local community here in Brazil,’ said Maurício Médici, general manager, UPM Raflatac Brazil. ‘The watershed of the Jaguari River is the lifeblood of the region, and it is our duty to protect it for the long term. Our thanks to our local partners for their cooperation on this important reforestation project.’