Based on the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, the ecosystem services balance is fundamental for Suzano, as its business model involves an inseparable relationship with the environment. As a nature-based company, the eucalyptus planted and used in pulp production depends directly on natural resources. Thus, acting to conserve biodiversity and restore ecosystems benefits society and ensures the perpetuity of your own business.

Due to the high cost of creating and maintaining protected natural spaces, the state generally promotes these initiatives. However, most of the world's land, and its biodiversity, is in private areas. Thus, the private sector's commitment to establishing and protecting natural areas plays a key role in global efforts to increase the area of conserved natural habitats.

According to Brazilian Forest Service (SFB in portuguese acronym)¹ data, 98% of Brazil's forest area is made up of natural forests, while the rest is occupied by planted forests (approximately 9 million hectares planted with eucalyptus, pine, and other species for industrial purposes in the production of pulp and paper, wood panels, laminate flooring, energy production, and biomass). 

In the international context, Brazil stands out as the country where the planted tree sector protects the most natural areas. There are around 6 million hectares of Permanent Preservation Areas (PPAs), Legal Reserve Areas (LR), and Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs in portuguese acronym)².

Suzano has been committed to identifying and conserving biodiversity in its areas of occupation and considers nature conservation to be an essential part of its business model, in which the company's plantation areas are interspersed with native forests and protected areas that have been managed to increase the connection of biodiversity in these environments, through mosaics and ecological corridors, and the restoration of degraded areas.

Suzano's protected areas include PPAs and LRs, established and managed by Brazilian Forestry Law No. 12,651/2012. Depending on the ecological, environmental and social attributes of these areas, part of them can be considered a High Conservation Value Area (HCVA) and/or RPPN, in which case they must be voluntarily established and specifically managed and protected following certification requirements and legislation applicable to these conservation areas.

Suzano maintains and protects more than 1 million hectares of native vegetation, which corresponds to 40% of its total area. In this territory, the company has voluntarily identified 74 areas defined as HCVA and 7 RPPNs [category IV of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)], totaling around 90,000 hectares considered to be of global or national importance for biodiversity conservation.
 
The management of Suzano's conservation areas aims to promote the maintenance, improvement, and sustainable use of biodiversity, protecting ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity, and ensuring compliance with current legislation.

The company's biodiversity management relies on the Biodiversity Monitoring Plan, which establishes the general guidelines, procedures, and responsibilities for managing the conservation of its areas.

Regarding the defined HCVAs, Suzano has a specific Monitoring Plan for each forestry business unit, which presents monitoring indicators, potential risks to the attributes of high value for biodiversity identified, and the necessary protection measures. For RPPNs, special forms of management and protection of identified values are established by specific requirements and legislation applicable to these conservation areas.

Moreover, in areas where the need for intervention to re-establish ecological functions has been identified (due to previous use by cattle grazing and other uses by third parties), Suzano has a strategy and an Ecological Restoration Program, which considers landscape planning and the integration of its actors, to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and generate social benefits.

To reverse the loss of biodiversity and generate a positive impact on nature, in 2021 the company voluntarily established a commitment to connect half a million hectares of fragments - the equivalent of four times the size of Rio de Janeiro - in the Cerrado, Atlantic Forest and Amazon biomes by 2030 through ecological corridors. This commitment goes beyond Suzano's gates and focuses on the territory where biodiversity is most threatened, as defined by the Ministry of the Environment [MMA (Priority Areas for Biodiversity Conservation)].

The creation of ecological corridors connects isolated areas, enabling the movement of animals, an increase in vegetation cover, and, consequently, regenerating biodiversity. It is important to emphasize that the biodiversity commitment established by Suzano, besides covering three of Brazil's six biomes, took into account the representativeness of the company's entire territorial extension and influence, and its implementation will collaboratively take place with various stakeholders, in partnership with universities and, above all, with the local communities and the landowners of areas that will be connected.

To achieve this goal, Suzano is focused on the Connect, Engage and Protect axes. Based on these pillars, the company will strategically act through the implementation of biodiversity corridors; the creation of a network of Conservation Units (CUs); the conservation of primate and palm populations; and the establishment of business models that generate shared value and biodiverse production, as well as actions to reduce pressures on biodiversity as a result of human action. For further information, visit: Commitment to Renew Life - Conserving Biodiversity.

Notes:

1. Brazilian Forest Service - National Forest Information System [SNIF (2020)] – Map of Brazilian Forests;
2. The Brazilian Tree Industry (IBÁ) – landscape management.