Sustainability and Aracruz Forests

The eucalyptus plantations supplying the lumber mill are owned and managed by Aracruz, Weyerhaeuser’s joint venture partner in the Aracruz Produtos de Madeira (APM) S.A. mill. The plantations are a mosaic of eucalyptus and native tropical forest which were previously agricultural and grazing lands. Over 25% of these plantations are managed as permanent native forest where sensitive slopes and areas near water are maintained in natural habitat. Original species native to the area over 100 years ago have been reintroduced into this ecosystem. The Aracruz plantations are certified to Brazil’s national sustainable forestry standard, Cerflor. This standard has been endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), a European based international organization that endorses credible sustainable forestry programs.

Eucalyptus trees grow quickly and may be harvested within 14 –16 years of planting. Lyptus® forests are 11 times more productive on a per hectare per year basis when compared to a temperate forest, which may take 80 to 100 years or more to mature. Lyptus forests also produce 30 times the volume of lumber per hectare per year when compared to an unmanaged temperate forest. Like Weyerhaeuser mills in the United States, the APM mill uses virtually every portion of the log, converting it to lumber and other usable by-products; residuals are used as bio-energy for the kiln drying operations.

Aracruz Forests — Plentiful, fast growing:

• Aracruz maintains its own seed bank and nurseries.
• Since 1967 Aracruz has planted more than 7 million seedlings of native species (that are indigenous to the region).
• Aracruz was honored in 1984 with the Marcus Wallenberg Prize from the international scientific community for advancements in the field of forestry.
• · For the third year in a row, Aracruz has been included in the select rank of companies on the New York Stock Exchange’s Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World) 2007/2008 that highlights the best corporate sustainability practices in the world.