One of the main threats to biodiversity loss in Brazil and worldwide is habitat fragmentation. This phenomenon occurs when a continuous natural area of environmental importance is subdivided into smaller, unconnected areas. This happens because of changes in land use and occupation, caused mainly by anthropogenic actions.

Fragmentation alters ecological interactions in the landscape and isolates species, resulting in reduced genetic variability and reproductive success - which can contribute to extinctions - as well as interfering with the loss of resilience of territories to climate change and the provision of ecosystem services, among other adverse effects.

Considering the extent and territorial influence of Suzano and understanding that nature does not recognize boundaries between properties, our commitment to biodiversity covers priority areas for the conservation of species in the Cerrado, Atlantic Forest and Amazon biomes. We understand that it is our role to help connect these fragments to preserve the biodiversity of the biomes and mitigate the risk of species extinction. 

The commitment covers natural forest areas and other types of fragmented native vegetation that need to be connected, as well as the respective biodiversity corridors between them, inside and outside the company's areas of operation, where ecological restoration and sustainable production actions are implemented.

To achieve the goal, Suzano is focused on the Connect, Engage and Protect pillars defined for the commitment. Based on these pillars, the company will act strategically along six lines of action:

1. implement biodiversity corridors on a landscape scale; 
2. implement biodiverse production models¹; 
3. establish business models that generate shared value; 
4. conserve populations of endangered primates and palm trees; 
5. create networks of protected areas;
6. alleviate anthropogenic pressures on biodiversity.

Based on the executive project drawn up by the Institute for Ecological Research (IPÊ), 500,000 hectares of native vegetation fragments were mapped, as well as defining areas for implementing restoration and biodiversity models in productive areas, to be implemented in the corridors by 2030. With this respect, we will seek to promote connections between the fragments, following an annual implementation plan to increase connectivity and fully achieve the target. 

Connect half a million hectares of priority areas for biodiversity conservation in the Cerrado, Atlantic Forest and Amazon by 2030.

We have implemented sections of corridors that connect 55,654 hectares (ha) of fragments since the launch of the Commitment. To this end, a total of 103 hectares of management with biodiverse models have been implemented, as well as 301 hectares of ecological restoration in Suzano areas, 178 in the Amazon Corridor, 42 in the Cerrado Corridor and 81 in the Atlantic Forest Corridor.

As structuring actions of the different lines of action that contributed to the results achieved, we highlight:

1. Establishment of six new strategic partnerships: 1. Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES); 2. IPÊ and P&G; 3. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz (Uesc); 4. Universidade Estadual do Maranhão (Uema); 5. Instituto Taquari Vivo (ITV); and 6. Coopyguá/Tupyguá;
2. Training of park rangers, structuring and implementation of surveillance teams to monitor the corridors and fragments (initially in Suzano's areas);
3. Training in different sustainable production activities in the Cerrado and Amazon corridors (beekeeping, seed collection and seedling production of native species) and the start of the process to create two Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs) in both corridors.

By 2024, we are committed to implementing sections of ecological corridors with the potential to connect another 50,000 hectares of fragments, through the implementation of ecological restoration areas and sustainable productive management in the corridors, both inside and outside Suzano farms. To this end, we plan to begin the process of engaging with rural landowners to adapt the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR for its initials in Portuguese) of their properties and carry out the implementation planned for the three corridors.

Additionally, to establish business models that generate shared value, we will work on structuring extractive production chains and promoting native seedling nurseries.

Finally, among other actions, we would highlight biodiversity monitoring in the corridors and fragments to be connected, as well as the start of the creation of an RPPN in the Cerrado Corridor and institutional coordination to create RPPNs in the other corridors.