We recognize that our operations generate direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity, resulting both from forestry activities and associated infrastructure. Most of these impacts are temporary and reversible. However, we also monitor risks that may result in long-term or indefinite effects—such as biodiversity loss or atmospheric changes—if not properly managed.

These impacts are managed as part of our Integrated Management System and are formalized in an Environmental Aspects and Impacts Matrix (AIA), where all potential and actual impacts are identified, assessed and monitored.

To ensure compliance with our commitments, Bracell conduct due diligence on 100% of the pulpwood supplied by vendors for mill operations. This assessment ensures compliance with internal policies, applicable legislation, international regulations—including the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR)—and PEFC forest management standards (NBR 14789:2024), PEFC Chain of Custody (ST 2002:2020) and PEFC EUDR – SDD (ST 2002-1:2024)).

Whenever an impact is identified, we act immediately to correct, mitigate or prevent its recurrence, in alignment with relevant stakeholders and our commitment to environmental conservation. In addition to corrective and mitigation measures, we conduct training, communication and engagement programs with employees, communities and other stakeholders, reinforcing preventive practices.

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: medium).
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: low to medium).

 

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: low).

 

Reduction of species

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 site-specific to local and regional. The likelihood of occurrence and the level of significance are classified as low, medium or high. All impacts are addressed with mitigation and awareness measures.