This area of Bahia is a classic case for a sustainable development initiative, an area in need of a model industry that will provide livelihood for the local inhabitants while preserving the environment, particularly the remaining patches of Atlantic Rain Forest. This region of Bahia is ideally suited to such a project. The topography consists of plateaus, now used as pasture land, interspersed with steep valleys that provide excellent drainage. The area has a rather even distribution of rainfall throughout the year and has high light flux necessary for photosynthesis. It is an ideal area for growing eucalyptus, a tree that can be harvested in 6 to 7 years as opposed to the 25 to 70 years needed for typical species used in North America for pulp.
Plans are underway for a pulp mill with construction to start in three years.
As part of their land acquisition, Vera Cruz has obtained a large tract of original Atlantic Rain Forest, which is contiguous with a smaller federal reserve. Together they constitute a 13,000 acre tract which will be maintained as a preserve, one of the largest in Brazil s Atlantic forest. Vera Cruz is also committed to conserving the valleys, unsuitable for tree farming, that have not been clear cut and still contain original rain forest and to reforest those valleys that have been clear cut. This project has many positive aspects. It will provide employment for 10,000 people using a renewable resource, trees.