Protecting forests and biodiversity is intrinsic to our business. In our forestry operations, we implement targeted strategies to protect native vegetation and biodiversity within the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest biomes hosting our operations (read more under GRI 304-1 Operational sites owned, leased or managed in or adjacent to protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value outside protected areas).

Our pulp is produced from certified eucalyptus plantations, responsibly cultivated in areas that alternate with native vegetation designated for conservation. This mosaic approach promotes ecological balance and helps protect local biodiversity.

As part of our Bracell 2030 commitments, we strive to amplify our positive impact about biodiversity and natural landscapes. Our goal is to help conserve 230,000 hectares of native forests on public land by 2025, in collaboration with the state governments where we operate. At yearend 2024, we reached 186,000 hectares across conservation sites in the states of São Paulo, Bahia, and Mato Grosso do Sul— meeting the year’s target in full.

We also invest in research on biodiversity conservation. In 2024, we supported eight research projects on environmental preservation, meeting our annual target.

Another key commitment is to double the number of areas certified by environmental agencies for wildlife reintroduction into native forests under our management, aiming for six or more such areas by 2030. We ended 2024 with four certified release sites in the Northeast of Brazil, including in the Atlantic Forest and, most recently, in the Caatinga biome. These include:

• Atlantic Forest (2022 baseline):
  • Fazenda Cachoeira (Entre Rios, Bahia)
  • Fazenda Sergipe (Jandaíra, Bahia)
  • RPPN Lontra (Entre Rios, Bahia)
• Caatinga (certified in 2024):
  • Fazenda Raiz (Água Fria, Bahia)

Fazenda Raiz, in Água Fria (BA), is the first certified release site in the Caatinga biome. In 2024 alone, a total of 476 wild animals were released in the four certified sites managed by Bracell, as part of our commitment to protecting native species and restoring ecosystems in the regions where we operate.

2030 Biodiversity Monitoring Plan

We also implemented the first year of our action plan to protect endemic and endangered species, with initiatives carried out in our priority conservation areas. In 2024:

1. In 2024, we hosted a workshop with experts to establish project assumptions, metrics and methodology
2. We identified Bracell’s priority conservation areas in the municipalities of Oriente (SP), Santa Rita do Pardo (MS) and Esplanada (BA)
3. We established benchmark areas for comparing habitat conditions and species composition, located in Gália (SP), Três Lagoas (MS), and Itanagra (BA).

Key biodiversity conservation practices

Biodiversity and ecosystems are material topics for Bracell and strategic from the perspective of our stakeholders. Our environmental conservation commitment is translated into a structured management approach based on operational policies, programs, and operational practices to protect and restore natural resources in the regions where we operate.

Bracell’s approach to managing material topics includes actions focused on:

• Preserving and restoring forests
• Protecting animal and plant species
• Preventing forest fires
• Zero deforestation

These management practices are embedded in Bracell’s Sustainability Policy and in the internal procedures of our Integrated Management System. Internal procedures provide guidelines to ensure our biodiversity efforts are effective, through sustainable forest management aligned with international forest certification standards, ensuring ecosystem conservation and regulatory compliance.

To ensure our biodiversity efforts are effective, we implement sustainable forest management practices aligned with international forestry certification standards, supporting ecosystem conservation and compliance with the highest environmental standards.

In our operations, we implement biome-specific strategies for the protection of native vegetation and biodiversity in the Caatinga, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest biomes—ecosystems that host a wealth of biological diversity.

These practices are formalized in our Sustainability Policy, which guides our decisions and reinforces Bracell’s commitment to nature protection as an essential part of our business model.

Key practices to protect biodiversity and ecosystems:

• We do not convert areas of native forest into eucalyptus plantations. Our forestry operations are established exclusively in previously disturbed land—typically degraded or low-yield pastures, or land formerly used for other agricultural activities. Bracell has no operations in protected areas or Legal Reserves or on peatlands.
• We cultivate eucalyptus in forest mosaics, interspersing plantation areas with native vegetation designated for conservation (including Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga formations). This approach creates wildlife corridors that benefit biodiversity, ecosystem services, and natural landscapes.
• Our soil management practices designed to preserve physical, chemical, and biological soil properties through minimum tillage techniques.
• We retain post-harvest residue, such as bark, branches, and leaves. This reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, protects the soil from leaching, and increases organic matter content.
• We maintain natural pest control through Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPDM). This leverages genetic resistance and natural predators to maintain ecological balance. Pesticides are used on a need-only basis
• Conserving protected areas and biodiversity. Bracell has no operations in protected areas or legal reserves or on peatlands.
• We use official data from the Rural Environmental Register (CAR) to georeference all the farms we manage. In our geographic information system, we intersect this data with other data sets, such as those compiled in our protected areas and buffer zones. This process informs our operational procedures on each property, depending on the constraints and conditions set in management plans.
• Over 30% of land owned by our forestry operations is used for preservation and conservation of native vegetation. Land use planning on our farms follows criteria established by Brazil’s Forest Code (Law No. 12.651/2012).
• We have a Degraded Land Restoration Program that uses planting techniques, soil quality improvements, and erosion control to restore degraded land.

We manage four Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs) in the state of Bahia, totaling over 3,000 hectares of fully protected areas. One of them, the Lontra RPPN, is the largest private conservation site on the northern coast of Bahia. With 1,400 hectares, it is recognized by UNESCO as an outer barrier of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve.

Targets and commitments

In managing the material topic Biodiversity and Ecosystems, our Bracell 2030 roadmap establishes a set of targets within the Sustainable Landscapes and Biodiversity pillar. These include:

– Preserve 230,000 hectares native vegetation in public protected areas in the states of São Paulo, Bahia and Mato Grosso do Sul

– Protect natural habitats and endemic threatened species monitored in priority areas for biodiversity conservation

– Support the reintroduction of animals into the wild, with a goal of having at least six certified release sites

– Support at least ten research projects on biodiversity conservation per year

Details on each of these targets and our 2024 performance are available under Bracell 2030.

Impacts and risks

We have conducted a comprehensive assessments of potential and actual, positive and negative impacts related to the material topic Biodiversity and ecosystems, to inform strategies to mitigate them.

Impacts	Description	Details
Potential negative impacts	Loss of native fauna and flora species and populations.	No impacts have been observed so far during biodiversity monitoring, thanks to good forestry practices.
Actual positive impacts	Enhanced ecosystem services in forests managed as mosaics interspersed with native vegetation, enabling natural pest and disease control, supporting species and populations, and delivering societal benefits.	We recorded improvements in ecosystem services. The impact has broad reach and low intensity.
Actual negative impacts	Disturbance to fauna and flora due to noise and light pollution (vehicle traffic, machinery use, etc.).	The impact has broad reach and high intensity. We have external control mechanisms in place to prevent and minimize these risks.
Actual negative impacts	Changes in native vegetation, biodiversity, microclimate, landscape, and soil characteristics caused by our activities.	The impact has broad reach and high intensity. We have effective internal controls in place to mitigate these effects.
Actual negative impacts	Soil quality degradation caused by poor forest management practices.	The impact has broad reach and high intensity. We have effective internal controls in place to mitigate these effects.

One-to-One Commitment

An industry first in Brazil, our One-to-One Commitment establishes that for every 1 hectare of eucalyptus planted, Bracell will support the conservation of 1 hectare of protected area. This commitment includes the conservation of both areas managed by Bracell and public areas through collaborations with state governments in the areas where we operate.

In 2024, we reached 97% of our target, preserving 0.97 hectares of protected areas for every hectare of eucalyptus planted. This data was independently verified by a qualified third-party organization.

As this is a permanent commitment, once the 100% goal is reached, the total area designated for environmental conservation will continue to grow in tandem with the expansion of our eucalyptus plantations, ensuring a consistent balance between production and environmental protection beyond 2025.

This initiative also directly supports our broader goal of conserving 230,000 hectares of native forests on public land by 2025 under the Sustainable Landscapes and Biodiversity pillar of Bracell 2030. In 2024, we committed to the protection and conservation of 186,000 hectares of public lands across the states of São Paulo, Bahia, and Mato Grosso do Sul.

0.97 ha of native forests for every 1 ha of planted eucalyptus forest in 2024.

186,000 hectares of public land designated for conservation as part of Bracell 2030’s Biodiversity and Landscapes targets.

2024 Highlights

As part of our One-to-One Commitment, we established new partnerships in 2024, expanding the reach of the initiative and strengthening structural conservation initiatives in different regions of the country.

A key milestone was a ten-year agreement signed with the Government of Mato Grosso do Sul, covering preservation and conservation activities in four major state conservation sites: Nascentes do Rio Taquari, Pantanal do Rio Negro, Prosa, and Matas dos Segredos State Parks—totaling 115,825 hectares of protected areas.

We also made progress in negotiations with the Government of Bahia to help preserve forest areas in the Pituaçu Park, in the Salvador Metropolitan Region.

In the state of São Paulo, our One-for-One Commitment already covers more than 69,000 hectares, including 11 conservation sites, such as state parks, ecological stations, and wildlife refuges. These agreements are implemented in partnership with the São Paulo Forest Foundation under a long-term conservation plan.

Initiatives as part of our One-for-One Commitment are implemented in collaboration with local partners, based on a structured impact strategy focused on five main areas:

• Territorial protection and forest fire prevention
  
• Biodiversity restoration, monitoring, and management
  
• Environmental education and training
  
• Stewardship programs, including investment in park infrastructure
  
• Technological innovation applied to conservation.
  

Ten-year agreements with the governments of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul to implement structural initiatives as part of our One-to-One Commitment.

One-to-One Commitment Initiatives in 2024

Biodiversity restoration, monitoring, and management

Primate crossing construction	Installed a wildlife crossing at the Barreiro Rico Ecological Station in Anhembi (SP).	The crossing reconnects areas traversed by a municipal road, enabling safe crossing for primates and reducing the risk of roadkill. Five endangered primate species benefit from the structure, including the southern muriqui—the largest primate in the Americas and a critically endangered species.
Acoustic wildlife monitoring	Deployment of acoustic monitoring systems in Carlos Botelho State Park and Nascentes do Paranapanema (SP)—currently in progress.	These systems gather vital data on environmental factors influencing wildlife patterns, including hydrological cycles. Using acoustic data to inform conservation in state parks is a first in wildlife management and protection practices in Brazil.

Land stewardship and forest fire prevention and response

Fire prevention	Built firebreaks and service roads to support the management of state parks and ecological reserves.	Created natural firebreaks to contain wildfires and minimize spread Improved access to conservation sites through road building, facilitating both area management and rapid response to fire outbreaks
Fire prevention	Donated firefighting tools such as motor pumps to trained fire response teams in parks and ecological stations.	Equipment includes tools like portable water pumps to control fire outbreaks.

Environmental education and training

Firefighting	Trained fire responders in wildfire prevention and response	Provided capacity-building for staff at conservation sites in the states of São Paulo and Mato Grosso do Sul
Seed collection	Provided specialized training in native seed collection	Trained the team at Bauru Botanical Garden (SP) to support seed collection and seedling propagation in a flora conservation and restoration project.

Technological innovation

Fire monitoring systems	Three conservation sites in São Paulo were added to Bracell’s regional wildfire monitoring system.	These areas are monitored via 360° cameras at Bracell’s forestry base and a 24/7 hotline that enables local communities to report fire outbreaks.
Controlling invasive species	Geospatial analysis using deep learning tools to support invasive tree species (Pinus spp.) control efforts at the Itapeva Ecological Station (SP).	Managing invasive species is crucial for protecting biodiversity, preserving local ecosystems, and preventing exotic species from harming native plant development.

Protected Areas under our One-to-One Commitment

State	Protected Area	Municipality	Year area included in the Commitment
São Paulo	Sebastião Aleixo Ecological Station	Bauru	2022
	Caetetus Ecological Station	Gália	2022
	Santa Bárbara Ecological Station	Águas de Santa Bárbara	2022
	Barreiro Rico Ecological Station	Anhembi	2022
	Aimorés Wildlife Refuge, Botanical Garden	Bauru	2022
	Carlos Botelho State Park	São Miguel Arcanjo	2022
	Nascentes do Paranapanema State Park	Capão Bonito	2022
	Avaré Ecological Station	Avaré	2023
	Paranapanema Ecological Station	Paranapanema	2023
	Angatuba Ecological Station	Angatuba	2023
	Itapeva Ecological Station	Itapeva	2023
Mato Grosso do Sul	Nascentes do Rio Taquari State Park	Alcinópolis	2023
	Prosa State Park	Campo Grande	2023
	Matas do Segredo State Park	Campo Grande	2023
	Pombo Natural Municipal Park	Três Lagoas	2023
	Pantanal do Rio Negro State Park	Aquidauana	2024
Bahia	Pituaçu Metropolitan Park	Salvador	2023

Expressão de Ecologia Award

Bracell was honored with the Green Wave Trophy after winning the Natural Resources Conservation category at the Expressão de Ecologia Awards, in recognition of our One-to-One Commitment. This award, organized by Editora Expressão, is the longest-standing environmental accolade in Brazil and is officially recognized by the Ministry of the Environment.

In 2024, for the first time, the award included initiatives from outside the Southern Region of Brazil. A total of 100 projects were submitted.

In 2024, Bracell participated in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity’s Conference of the Parties (COP-16) in Cali, Colombia, where we showcased our One-to-One Commitment.

Track record of initiatives

Beyond the initiatives carried out in 2024, the One-to-One Commitment has already achieved several key milestones in reaching its goal. Since its launch in 2022:

• In 2023, Bracell signed a ten-year commitment with the São Paulo Forest Foundation to sponsor environmental protection initiatives in significant Atlantic Forest and Cerrado formations.
• In 2022, we signed a mutual cooperation agreement with the Bahia State Environmental Department (SEMA) and the ata including host municipality, representative organization, to support conservation and protected area management and to safeguard natural heritage by conserving fauna and flora species, protecting water resources, and enhancing carbon sequestration in forest formations.
• In 2024, we signed another long-term, ten-year agreement with IMASUL, which included the Pantanal do Rio Negro State Park, spanning 76,852 hectares.

Integrated landscape management

In 2023 we rolled out a project developed jointly with nongovernmental organization Conservation International Brazil (CI-Brazil), called “Integrated Landscape Management: geo-information for decision support in Bracell’s area of influence.”

This initiative directly supports our Bracell 2030 commitment to develop an integrated territorial intelligence system to manage natural capital and maintain sustainable landscapes throughout our area of influence. We use an innovative methodology that intersects 19 indicators in an integrated and holistic approach spanning three dimensions: conservation, restoration of native vegetation, and land use.

Wildlife corridor in Bauru (SP)

In 2024, Bracell partnered with the Bauru Botanical Garden (SP) to create a wildlife corridor connecting fragments of native vegetation. This initiative was rolled out after constructive discussion with key stakeholders from the Rio Batalha Protected Area (specifically in the municipality of Bauru), to discuss results from the “Integrated Landscape Management” project.

Established by planting 8,000 native trees, the wildlife corridor connects two fragments of native forest on a Bracell-managed farm, as part of our commitment to regenerative practices and biodiversity conservation. The goal is to enable species to move between previously islanded areas.

Biodiversity initiatives and commitments

Bracell actively participates in voluntary initiatives that reflect our commitment to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable landscape management across the areas where we operate. Key commitments include:

• Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD): Since 2022, we have adopted the TNFD recommendations through the “Action for Nature” Platform led by the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS). This initiative promotes greater transparency, accountability, and improved governance of natural resources in corporate operations.
• Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS): As members of CEBDS, we have committed to integrating biodiversity as a strategic pillar supporting corporate sustainability. See our CEBDS-aligned targets here .
• Bahia State Environmental and Water Resources Institute (INEMA): partnership to develop biodiversity protection initiatives in the Atlantic Forest, aligned with the state’s conservation efforts.
• São Paulo Forest Foundation: we have signed a ten-year technical cooperation agreement with Fundação Florestal, a foundation linked to the São Paulo State Environmental Department, to support conservation and environmental protection initiatives in areas containing significant Atlantic Forest and Cerrado formations.
• Mato Grosso do Sul State Environmental Authority (IMASUL): we signed a ten-year technical cooperation agreement with IMASUL for the conservation of native vegetation and the strengthening of environmental initiatives in the state.
• Empresa Amiga da Mata Atlântica: We joined an initiative led by the National Council of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve (RBMA) and were recognized as a contributor to the conservation and sustainable use of the biome.
• Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact: a voluntary initiative aimed at restoring 15 million hectares by 2050. We are a member of its Steering Board and actively participate through reforestation projects.
• SOS Mata Atlântica: In collaboration with this NGO, we carried out restoration initiatives on 30 hectares of protected areas and legal reserves, supporting the development of wildlife corridors, biodiversity protection, and improved water quality.

iForest+

Launched in April 2024, the iForest+ program comprises a series of initiatives to address challenges in the forest sector, from resource conservation and biodiversity protection to the responsible economic use of planted areas. The program’s flagship initiative was an update of our Forest Management System (SGF) to unify forest processes across our three operations.

The program includes:

– Forest planning: setting land use and forest resource goals, taking account of environmental, social, and economic factors

– Monitoring and control: tracking forest activities to ensure compliance with legal requirements, including land use and environmental regulations

– Certification: securing forest certification from independent entities such as PEFC, ensuring our forest products are traceable

– Sustainable management: implementing best practices in planting, harvesting, and transportation to preserve natural resources. 

We identify and monitor High Conservation Value (HCV) areas through assessments on biological, ecological, social or cultural attributes. As forestry activities expand, we are reviewing potential HCVAs using criteria and assumptions developed by Proforest, a nonprofit that helps companies, governments and other organizations uphold their commitments to the responsible production and sourcing of agricultural commodities and forest products.

HCVAs in the state of São Paulo

• Fazenda Nova América, in Cabrália Paulista (117.74 hectares – HCVA 1): an area with a high concentration of biodiversity, including endemic, rare, and endangered species such as the Brazilian sassafras tree (Ocotea odorifera) and the hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus).
• Fazenda Rio Verde, in Bauru (190.40 hectares – HCVA 2): home to the largest fragment of Cerradão forest within a 2 km radius, this ecosystem plays a vital role in maintaining regional biological diversity.

HCVAs in the state of Bahia

• Fazenda Santo André, in Aramari (229.83 hectares – HCVAs 1 and 3): located in a Cerrado enclave between the Caatinga and Atlantic Forest biomes, this site is used to extract non-timber forest products and has high biodiversity value despite being outside any official conservation site. It harbors species like angelim-rasteiro (Andira humilis), black-throated saltator (Saltatricula atricollis), and wild cats such as the eastern tigrina (Leopardus emiliae), jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi), and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis). Despite its ecological importance, this area is not included in any official environmental protection list.
• Fazenda Jaboticaba,  in Jandaíra (197.05 hectares – HCVAs 1 and 3): Atlantic Forest reserve containing ecosystems such as dense rainforests, restinga and muçununga. Species documented include Turk’s cap cactus (Melocactus violaceus), white-winged cotinga (Xipholena atropurpurea), and Coimbra-Filho’s titi monkey (Callicebus coimbrai).
• Fazenda Raiz, in Água Fria (675.77 hectares – HCVAs 1 and 3): located in the agreste region of Bahia, this site protects key Caatinga species, including the only known population of the endemic eastern tigrina (Leopardus emiliae).
• RPPN Lontra, in Itanagra and Entre Rios (1,378.16 hectares – HCVAs 1, 2, and 3): this is the largest private reserve in the northern coast of Bahia, with high biodiversity value and significant herpetological and ornithological diversity. Monitored species include the bearded capuchin (Sapajus libidinosus), Rio rocket frog (Allobates olfersioides), and Fringe-backed fire-eye (Pyriglena atra). Although outside official protection zones, this extractive-use area is covered by Brazil’s National Action Plans (PANs) for Endangered Species (the maned sloth PAN and the Bristle-spined rat PAN), underscoring its conservation importance.

Bracell conducts operations adjacent to these Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs) in Bahia. RPPN Pedra do São José II, for example, is located near a eucalyptus plantation.

Bracell follows strict environmental protocols to minimize impact and preserve the ecological attributes of these high-value regions. Our management practices include continuous monitoring of fauna and flora, safeguarding ecosystem integrity, and maintaining essential environmental services.

RPPN Lontra

RPPN Lontra is the largest private environmental reserve on Bahia’s northern coast, spanning 1,378.16 hectares. It is an ombrophilous forest remnant hosting rich biodiversity, and the most diverse herpetological and ornithological area monitored by Bracell in Bahia. This area is included in Brazil’s National Plan for Endangered Species, underscoring its critical role in biodiversity conservation.

In 2024, Bracell built an accessible ecological trail within the reserve for scheduled community visits.

We recognize that our operations and related infrastructure have both direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity. These impacts are temporary and reversible. We actively identify biodiversity risks, including those with uncertain effects, such as biodiversity loss and atmospheric changes.

We manage these impacts as part of our Integrated Management System. All impacts are documented in our Environmental Aspects and Impacts Matrix (AIA). 

Whenever an impact is identified, we act immediately to remediate or mitigate it in cooperation with stakeholders, as part of our commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable operations. In addition to preventive and mitigation measures, we also run training and stakeholder engagement programs focused on prevention.

We have committed to zero deforestation in our operations since inception (see our Sustainability Policy). Our forestry operations are established exclusively in previously disturbed land—typically degraded or low-yield pastures, or land formerly used for other agricultural activities. Bracell has no operations in protected areas, legal reserves or peatlands.

The construction and operation of infrastructure—such as industrial, transportation, and forestry operations—can lead to environmental impacts of varying degrees of significance.

Impacts	Direct/Indirect	Details
Habitat loss	Direct	Caused by operations and mechanized activities, worker commuting, road construction and maintenance, reopening of roads over water bodies, harvesting, transport of machinery and timber, soil preparation, and forestry operations. Noise from these activities can drive away wildlife (significance level: medium).
Erosion and silting in nearby water bodies	Direct	Resulting from soil shear caused by mechanized operations and supporting activities, which may contribute to soil erosion (significance level: low).
Wildlife roadkill	Direct	Caused by the movement of vehicles and machinery on service roads, potentially leading to biodiversity loss (significance level: low).
Climate change	Direct	Due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from operations such as pulpwood haulage, harvesting, refueling, and aerial pesticide application (significance level: medium to high).

 

Pollution is one of the main environmental challenges of operations, affecting water, air, soil, and wildlife.

Impacts	Direct/Indirect	Details
Water pollution	Direct	Caused by the use of pesticides and fertilizers in nurseries, which may generate effluents and affect water quality (significance level: low).
Air pollution	Direct	Generated by dust from pulpwood haulage and mechanized operations, affecting air quality (significance level: medium).
Soil pollution	Direct	Caused by waste from maintenance work, washing of field machinery containing chemical residues, and improper waste disposal (significance level: low).
Plastic pollution	Direct	Arising from the generation and improper disposal of waste from operational and administrative activities (significance level: low).
Noise pollution	Direct	Noise generated by operations and transport can drive away wildlife (significance level: medium).
Chemical pollution	Direct	Use of pesticides and insecticides can cause ground and airborne drift, affecting plants, fauna, and soil biology (significance level: medium).

 

Species reduction

Impacts	Direct/Indirect	Details
Loss of biodiversity	Direct	All activities mapped in our Environmental Impact Assessment Matrix (AIA) can affect biodiversity, with the extent ranging from localized to site-specific. The likelihood level ranges from low to high, and the significance level from low to medium. All impacts are addressed with mitigation and awareness measures.

Bracell has been running a forest restoration program in São Paulo since 2021, which was updated in 2023 to accelerate and expand ecological recovery. In partnership with third parties, we protect and restore habitats based on environmental analyses and recommended restoration methods.

All activities follow regulations such as IBAMA’s Normative Instruction No. 04 and the São Paulo State environmental regulator’s (CETESB) SMA Resolution. The methods include inducing natural regeneration, clearing, ring weeding, herbicide application, and enrichment planting with native seedlings.

Since 2015, Bracell also runs a Disturbed Land Restoration Program in Bahia, approved by state environmental regulator, INEMA, using planting, soil improvement, and erosion control techniques. The Bahia program includes site assessments, implementation, and monitoring over three years.

In 2024, 1.821 hectares in Bahia underwent active restoration, and 450 hectares were treated for invasive exotic species. In São Paulo, 393 hectares are currently undergoing restoration. Through a partnership with SOS Mata Atlântica,  77,000 seedlings were planted in Botucatu, Agudos, and Piratininga (SP), helping restore riparian forests and protect water resources.

Of the 393 hectares being restored in São Paulo, 0.7 hectares have already been restored and officially certified by CETESB. Additionally, 30 hectares restored by SOS Mata Atlântica have met legal criteria and are considered restored, though formal certification from the environmental authority is expected in 2025.

All restoration areas—whether required by law or part of voluntary programs—are monitored pursuant to SMA Resolution 32 to ensure all environmental criteria are met.

Monitoring is done via satellite imagery and drones to identify threats and gaps in planting. Bracell’s Biodiversity Monitoring Program tracks fauna and flora across the Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, and Caatinga biomes to support responsible forest management practices.

Areas protected or restored

Areas protected and restored in Bahia

Area	Status	Region	Size (km2)	Status
RPPN Lontra	Protected	Bahia	13.77	Under long-term monitoring
Falcão	Protected	Bahia	94.24	Under long-term monitoring
Lua Alta	Protected	Bahia	60.94	Under long-term monitoring
Pedra do São José II	Protected	Bahia	23.22	Under long-term monitoring
Total – Bahia			192.17

    

Areas protected and restored in São Paulo

Area	Status	Region	Size (km2)	Status
Casa da Rocha	Restored	São Paulo	0.24	In progress
Nova América II	Restored	São Paulo	0.001	In progress
Recreio	Restored	São Paulo	0.31	In progress
Santa Izabel	Restored	São Paulo	0.02	In progress
São Benedito IV	Restored	São Paulo	0.24	In progress
Sossego II	Restored	São Paulo	0.52	In progress
Paraíso VII	Restored	São Paulo	0.16	In progress
Santa Mariana II	Restored	São Paulo	0.0001	In progress
Nova América II	Restored	São Paulo	0.29	In progress
Córrego do Campo	Restored	São Paulo	0.23	In progress
Monte Líbano I	Restored	São Paulo	1.09	Under long-term monitoring
Monte Líbano II	Restored	São Paulo	0.35	Under long-term monitoring
Santa Izabel	Restored	São Paulo	0.01	Under long-term monitoring
Dona Lourdes	Restored	São Paulo	0.01	Under long-term monitoring
Mamedina	Restored	São Paulo	0.03	Under long-term monitoring
São Luiz V Vera Cruz	Restored	São Paulo	0.24	Under long-term monitoring
Arataba	Restored	São Paulo	0.05	Under long-term monitoring
Regina	Restored	São Paulo	0.03	Under long-term monitoring
São Benedito IV	Restored	São Paulo	0.02	Under long-term monitoring
Selva	Restored	São Paulo	0.04	Under long-term monitoring
Corvo Branco	Restored	São Paulo	0.004	Under long-term monitoring
Revolta	Restored	São Paulo	0.04	Under long-term monitoring
Santa Branca	Restored	São Paulo	0.01	Under long-term monitoring
Total – São Paulo			3.8851

Partner-protected or restored areas

Partner-protected or restored areas

Department	Partner organization	Status	Region	Size (km2)	Status
Riacho Mole Project	SOS Mata Atlântica	Restored	Bahia	0.3	In progress
Riacho Mole Project	SOS Mata Atlântica	Restored	Bahia	0.2	In progress
Santa Rita II, Santa Cruz and Nova América II	SOS Mata Atlântica	Restored	São Paulo	30.8	In progress
Shangrilá	Bracell and Jardim Botânico	Restored	São Paulo	4.5	In progress

Fire prevention and response

In protected areas, wildfires represent one of the main risks to biodiversity and the integrity of protected ecosystems. To mitigate this risk, we create and maintain fire breaks, donate firefighting equipment to local communities, install warning signs and organize fire response workshops for neighbors and members of local communities.

Bracell’s Fire Prevention and Response department has been created with a mission to preserve the environment, the well-being of people and the planet, and the sustainability and competitiveness of the business. Bracell has 39 fire monitoring towers equipped with high-resolution cameras covering 76% of our properties in São Paulo and 70% in Bahia, including both planted forests and protected areas.

Fire responders are divided into two groups: a Rapid Response Group (RRG) and an Identification and Containment Group (ICG). At the beginning of the dry season each year, we publish maps showing water withdrawal locations that are accessible to light and heavy fire trucks. Water withdrawal locations are strategically located to optimize refilling time and the fire response. During the dry season, internal and external fire breaks are kept especially clean, particularly those surrounding critical areas.

We have also signed a technical cooperation agreement with the Bahia State Environment Department (SEMA) and the State Water Resource Institute (INEMA) to plan and implement forest fire prevention and reduction initiatives.

Species identified during biodiversity monitoring are classified based on official protection lists, local laws and regulations, and scientific literature on degrees of threat, rareness, endemicity, economic importance, species migration, and other parameters.

The degree of threat is determined based on international as well as national and state conservation lists. The conservation lists used include:

• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List;
• MMA Ordinance No. 148/2022
• National List of Endangered Wildlife Species (MMA Ordinance No. 444/2014);
• Official National List of Endangered Flora Species (MMA Ordinance No. 443/2014)
• List of Threatened Brazilian Flora Species (MMA Ordinance No. 298/2019)
• National List of Invasive Alien Species (MMA Ordinance No. 2.546/2020)

IUCN Red List species and national conservation list species with habitats in areas affected by operations

Region	Level of extinction risk	2022		2023		2024
		IUCN	ICMBio	IUCN	ICMBio	IUCN	ICMBio
São Paulo	Critically endangered	0	0	0	0	0	0
São Paulo	Endangered	9	5	0	5	10	5
São Paulo	Vulnerable	8	8	9	8	9	8
São Paulo	Near threatened	12	0	12	0	12	0
São Paulo	Least concern	0	0	625	0	643	0
Bahia	Critically endangered	7	0	1	2	1	2
Bahia	Endangered	7	5	6	10	5	9
Bahia	Vulnerable	13	15	11	13	13	18
Bahia	Near threatened	7	2	7	2	7	11
Bahia	Least concern *	252	250	252	250	1,306	1,080

* The number of species in this category increased due to a review of the database.

In 2024, the number of species reported under this disclosure rose by 117%. The 2023 reporting standard included only threatened species—those classified as critically endangered, endangered, or vulnerable—and excluded those classified as least concern and near threatened.