The planet is facing a challenging scenario. Ongoing climate change; biodiversity loss; population growth that should make the world reach 9.7 billion people by 2050; and consequent increase in demand for food, energy, fiber, among other essential items.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, to meet the human need for forest-based products, an increase of 0.9 billion cubic meters of wood will be required by the middle of the century, compared to 2020, when the volume reached 2 billion cubic meters. For this, at least 33 million additional hectares of highly productive planted forests are needed. On this journey into the future, the planted tree sector has a central role and all the potential to position itself as one of the solutions to global challenges. Currently, there are 9.9 million hectares of trees planted, with sustainable management and strong investments in productivity, which allow companies to do more with less.

In recent years, when I had the opportunity to represent the Brazilian Tree Industry, in different international forums in Bali (Indonesia), Seoul (South Korea) and Dublin (Ireland), the recognition of the role of the sector and sustainability was very noticeable. of its business model, based on the intelligent use of the earth, respect for nature and care for people

Forestry companies work in synergy with biodiversity, as they conserve 6.05 million hectares of natural forests, an area larger than the state of Rio de Janeiro. There is nothing like it in the country among the sectors that use land for production.

One of our specialties is landscape management, which creates mosaics of productive areas and areas destined for conservation, forming true ecological corridors that protect biodiversity. According to a survey by the Brazilian Tree Industry, companies registered more than 8,000 species of fauna and flora in their domains. Even endangered species were identified, which reveals that animals, for example, find in these places a safe territory for passage, feeding and even procreation. Trees are the most efficient nature-based solutions for mitigating climate change, as they sequester and store carbon dioxide, which is primarily responsible for pushing the planet towards global warming. In all, there are 4.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent immobilized in the sector's forests.

Still in the area of climate, forest-based companies demonstrate that their potential to make a difference goes beyond initiatives in the field. Currently, of the energy generated by them, 88% comes from renewable sources. A fundamental practice on a planet whose energy transition is imperative for decarbonization . It is also worth highlighting that, since the 1970s, there has been a 75% decrease in the use of water in pulp and paper plants. A clear example of applied technology in favor of efficiency and care for natural resources.

Revealing its anticipation of current demands, for more than 20 years the sector has been certified by internationally recognized institutions, such as the Forest Management Council and the Forest Certification Endorsement Program, which endorse the sustainable management of companies, confirming to the buyer of any part of the planet that the raw material that bears its seal comes from a company allied with the environment, which dialogues with neighboring communities and drives development in the region in which it operates. Implementing a true green agenda, with well-marked steps on viable paths to combine production and care for nature, the forest-based industry has emerged as one of the lights illuminating the path to overcoming world crises.

Society has a time bomb in its hands when it flirts between high demand for products and planetary limitations. What is at stake is the perpetuation of humanity as we know it today. We have already seen ourselves capable of surviving a pandemic and rebuilding entire cities after extreme events, and I believe that if we place sustainability at the center of the strategy, it will not be different with the other challenges.