In a production chain as broad and diverse as agribusiness, many still wonder why they should invest in planting trees for new ventures. This question, although common, finds an obvious answer in the continuous expansion of global forest frontiers and in the considerable investments in the cellulose and paper sector, reconstituted panels, steelmaking charcoal and others, proving to be a profitable option, but which, above all, offers many benefits.

In addition to enabling the development of remote regions, improving income distribution through job creation, we make important contributions to the environment. With great evolution in recent decades, Brazilian forestry is a highly aggregating activity that, associated with the advancement of technology, has used good soil conservation practices, more calibrated use of fertilization, pest control via the release of natural enemies, prevention and efficient control of forest fires and planting of clones increasingly adapted to each region, producing more wood per hectare and consequently increasing carbon sequestration.

These practices result in the conscious use of agrarian space and the recovery of degraded areas for forestry production. This process not only meets market demands but also plays a crucial role in mitigating climate change.

Compared to other countries, we see Brazil standing out as one of the most attractive centers for wood production for various purposes, bringing together special characteristics that differentiate it in terms of criteria and attributes necessary for investments in the sector. Its continental dimension, with great availability of land, wealth and access to water, the privilege of the territory being covered with a long period of solar irradiation, climatic conditions, soil productivity, a reasonable logistics chain, the availability of labor of qualified work, and, in most of the country, clear environmental licensing rules and low-risk political and economic factors.

Connected to this, forest-based companies currently use advanced environmental certification systems. Through rigorous audits, these certifications attest to sustainable practices at each stage of the forestry production chain. These audits not only endorse but also adjust processes, ensuring their compliance with global sustainability standards and benchmarks. This commitment reflects the incessant search for operations aligned with the highest environmental standards on an international scale.

To this end, reconciling tree monoculture with the existing biodiversity of each region requires a strategic and careful approach that considers its economic, social and environmental interests. As examples of large projects that have been successfully implemented, we can mention the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, which has large areas of the cerrado biome, also considered a global access point due to its rich biodiversity, demonstrating that forestry production is possible. and the preservation of local biodiversity and natural resources.

See the highlighted graphs, which record the improvement in the biodiversity index in the Permanent Preservation and Legal Reserve areas in 5 projects in the Central-West region of Brazil, before and 5 years after the eucalyptus forest was implemented.

In analyzing the data from the diversity index of monitored Mastofauna and Avifauna, it is observed that, for the majority of farms evaluated in 2022, there was an increase in the diversity index compared to the 2017 monitoring, making it possible to affirm that the forest management adopted by the company positively influences the community of animals and birds studied, reinforcing the indication that the fragments of the Cerrado Biome's phytophysiognomies are in a good state of conservation and in constant evolution.

Forestry is often associated with the simple production of wood. However, it reveals itself as a multifaceted and crucial production system when we consider its positive impacts. Today, we know that tree planting plays a fundamental role in mitigating climate change, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, one of the main greenhouse gases. It is estimated that forest planting with eucalyptus sequesters, on average, up to 170 tons of carbon dioxide per hectare, in addition to serving as a barrier against undesirable pests in agricultural production, demonstrating a positive effect on the surrounding environment, protecting areas of permanent preservation of water resources and reserves of high conservation value, improving the quality of biodiversity in these areas.

Various calculations point to a demand of around 150 trees for each human being to mitigate their carbon dioxide emissions over an average lifespan of 70 years. Considering this correct calculation, each of us should plant just over 2 trees per year. Still calculating and making reference to Brazilian Forestry, 9.5 million hectares planted, we comfortably cover this demand, meaning that we are efficient and sustainable.

Another important point in balancing this sustainable production equation is also the implementation of integrated systems, such as agroforestry or Integration of Crops, Livestock and Forestry. It brings together agricultural, livestock and forestry systems in the same area, with intercropped cultivation practices, in succession or rotation, so that there is mutual benefit for all activities, and optimizing land use, increasing productivity and mitigating emissions of greenhouse gases.

It is also well known that planted forest areas contribute to the formation of strategic and effective ecological corridors, acting as bridges between production systems and biodiversity conservation, promoting gene flow. This all shows that the presence of well-managed forest areas is not just an economic investment, but a commitment to the long-term health of our planet and its diverse forms of life.

Maintaining forest health is crucial for a balanced production system. Pest and disease control, through integrated management, guarantees the preservation of the vitality of ecosystems. Biological control, through the release of natural enemies and the use of resistant species and clones, stands out for its benefits compared to chemical methods. This method is based on early identification, quantification, classification of occurrences and implementation of different control approaches, considering biological, physical, chemical and behavioral processes, ensuring environmental protection and the safety of the people involved.

Monitoring must also be carried out in order to evaluate the most important natural areas for environmental conservation, in addition to legally protected areas, and their dynamics as a function of forest management, always seeking continuous improvement of processes, activities and environmental integrity of the natural resources. Among the processes are the identification and recovery of degraded areas, the objectives of which are to guarantee legal compliance, especially in protected areas, such as permanent preservation areas and legal reserve areas.

Another point of great importance, directly linked to forestry, is water resources. The implementation of effective monitoring to guarantee the quality and availability of the resource, carried out at its capture points and micro basins in which management exists or in areas under the responsibility of the production chain. Areas that aim to guarantee or improve the quality of native vegetation are also studied for the establishment of High Conservation Value Areas, focusing on mapping and qualifying possible attributes, in addition to studying the dynamics of fauna and flora in relation to their operations, preventively ensuring the identification of any disturbance and/or improvement of mitigation measures.

So, as we explore the various aspects of the true value of forestry, it becomes clear that this practice goes far beyond simply planting trees. From initial planting to balance with biodiversity, environmental monitoring and management of water resources, forestry reveals itself as an important ally in the construction of sustainable production processes, integrating innovative practices and also strengthening the social bases of the communities involved in production chain, generating social bonuses that range from job creation to support for environmental education.

Finally, knowing that, despite also consuming oxygen, a mature tree produces an average of 120 kilograms of oxygen per year, corresponding to half of an adult's annual consumption, and playing a fundamental role in climate regulation, we can reaffirm that A well-planted forest calms the planet and creates true value for human life.