Biodiversity

KODS 2030

Reintroduce at least 2 species that are proven to be extinct locally and promote the population reinforcement of 4 more threatened species
 

Number of species that are proven to be extinct and/or threatened locally

A survey conducted by the National Biodiversity Commission (Conabio), showed that the number of endangered species in Brazil doubled in eight years (from 698 to 1,399 species), which demonstrates the urgency of positive measures to reinforce the protection of species that are becoming extinct at the fastest pace in 10 million years.

In this sense, the Klabin Ecological Park, which has more than 30 professionals dedicated to nature conservation, reinforces the unique role of the Company in enhancing the positive impact by reintroducing this native species. The black-fronted piping guan, proven extinct in the region*, provides the service of being a great seed disperser, contributing to forest restoration.

The Black-fronted Piping-Guan (Pipile jacutinga), proven to be extinct in the region, provides the ecosystem service of seed dispersal, contributing to the restoration of natural forests.
The reintroduction project involved the release of 30 individuals of the Black-fronted Piping-Guan species. The first batch was released in March 2022 with 10 individuals and the second batch in December 2022 with 20 individuals.  In order to identify the expansion in the forest and the adaptation of the species, the technical team is monitoring these individuals using a folding VHF directional antenna, assessing their ability to survive, disperse and form reproductive pairs. During the monitoring period in 2023, it was possible to observe the social organization among the released individuals, as well as the delimitation of dominance and dispersal of some of them.

In March 2023, the first individuals of the Vinaceous-breasted Parrot (Amazona vinacea) arrived, health checks were carried out, a VHF radio was installed and pre-release training began. Two individuals were rejected, one for health reasons and the other for lack of behavioral aptitude.

The stages involved in the reintroduction and population reinforcement process are:

1. Reception/reproductive success (at least 1 individual for this stage);    
2. Start of the Rehabilitation/Habilitation process (at least 1 individual for this stage);        
3. Release of the individuals;            
4. Monitoring the released individuals.

*Criteria for proving local extinction: no observation of the animal in monitoring cycles in the last three decades, presence in the National Action Plan for Threatened Species, developed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), and the ecological importance for the region in which the Company is located.

KODS 2030
 

Have 100% of hotspots for fauna being run over mapped and with initiatives to reduce accidents
 

Percentage of hotspots for fauna being run over mapped and with initiatives to reduce accidents

The target of 100% of fauna hotspots being mapped and with initiatives to reduce accidents represents one of the main corporate mechanisms for managing and protecting biodiversity at Klabin. This is a relevant initiative since, according to the United Nations Environment Program, Brazil has the richest biodiversity on the planet, housing between 15 and 20% of all existing biodiversity, while on the other hand it has the seventh-largest system of roads and highways in the world, covering 1.8 million kilometers. In this context, the operations and production processes of national highway users generate a series of risks for local fauna, such as being run over along highways used to transport production and inputs.

The company has identified the protection of biodiversity as one of its KODS and is actively working to reduce road kills by mapping and diagnosing hotspots for fauna. The company also consolidates important information to support the implementation of infrastructure projects to reduce road kills, such as the building of fauna underpasses, the rehabilitation of existing culverts and the monitoring of stretches with viaducts, among other projects.

In order to maintain the continuous management monitoring practices of this goal, the following actions were taken in 2023:

• Maintained systematized monitoring of collisions with fauna in Paraná. From the beginning, until October 2023, a total of 20 monitoring campaigns were performed on the roads and highways used by Klabin.
• Monitoring of 4,000 km of roads.
• Application of a fauna collision perception assessment questionnaire to 600 of Klabin's direct and indirect employees, to guide future environmental education actions. 
• Participation in the Right Track and SIPAT events to raise awareness among both company and contractor vehicle drivers about collisions with fauna on the roads. 
• Providing biological material for scientific research. 
• Delivery of the annual report for the executed segment. 
• Participation in the planning of highway works associated with the PUMA 2 project, adding wildlife collision mitigation initiatives.

Providing biological material to partner institutions from the carcasses of animals that have been hit by cars helps to create a database of biological information on various species, providing material for research into health, animal behavior, toxicology, genetics, diet, ecology and taxonomic dentification. Partnerships include universities, museums, zoos and institutions that work with wildlife and environmental education projects.

KODS 2030

Maintain and strengthen the number of fauna species dependent on high environmental quality forests
 

Number of fauna species dependent on high environmental quality forests

The percentage is obtained by dividing the total number of species found each year by the historical series (last five years) of the total number of species sampled. Dependent bird species on forests of high environmental quality in the three forest units (SP, SC and PR) were considered, with data covering the 2011-2020 period. The 2022 result, 1% below the established range, depends on several variables, such as climatic conditions, landscape changes and the monitoring interval.

The decrease in the percentage is still within the acceptable range, however, it creates a warning sign which, if confirmed in the coming years, will subsidize a more vigorous adaptation plan.

KODS 2030

Maintain at least 6 partnerships/surveys per year based on nature conservation and biodiversity studies.
 

Number of partnerships/surveys based on nature conservation and biodiversity studies.

In 2023, in Paraná, we had research related to road ecology, zoonosis, animal genetics and biodiversity conservation in partnership with Via Fauna.

Ten research projects are active in the state of Santa Catarina.  In partnership with the State University of Santa Catarina (UDESC), there are five PhDs, one master's degree and three undergraduate research programs. In partnership with the State University of the Center-West (UNICENTRO-PR), there is a PhD project.

Some of the PhD theses in progress study soils and native flora on subjects such as soil diversity in environmental recovery areas, seed characterization of flora species, floral and reproductive biology and the use of essential oils from Myrtaceae. Another ongoing research project focuses on translating soil conservation studies into environmental education for schools in the region. The work aims to create teaching materials in appropriate language that will be presented in the future by the Klabin Caiubi Program. The last work focuses on alternative methods for using solid waste from the Effluent Treatment Plant.

The master's thesis is evaluating ecological indicators, biomass and carbon quantification in environmental recovery areas, and automated classification of succession stages. The undergraduate research programs follow the research lines in water resources and flora assessments.

KODS 2030

Provide 1 million native tree seedlings for restoring degraded areas in partner areas

Number of native tree seedlings for restoring degraded areas in partner areas

Tree seedlings are distributed by donation and planting through the Matas Legais and Matas Sociais programs, to rural producers (Klabin's partners or not) in the states of Paraná and Santa Catarina.

Undertaking goals linked to the topic by executives