environmental criminal law

Alliance One Brasil Exportadora de Tabacos Ltda.
ATC – Associated Tobacco Company (Brasil) Ltda.
Brasfumo Indústria Brasileira de Fumos S/A
China Brasil Tabacos Exportadora S.A.
CTA – Continental Tobaccos Alliance S.A.
Industrial Boettcher de Tabacos Ltda.
Intab – Indústria de Tabacos e Agropecuária Ltda.
JTI Kannenberg Comércio de Tabacos do Brasil Ltda.
JTI Processadora de Tabaco do Brasil Ltda.
Philip Morris Brasil Indústria e Comércio Ltda.
Premium Tabacos do Brasil Ltda.
Souza Cruz S.A.
Tabacos Marasca Ltda.
Tabacos Novo Horizonte Ltda.
Unifumo Brasil Ltda.
Universal Leaf Tabacos Ltda.
INTRODUCTION
This primer is the result of joint efforts by
the Ministry of the Environment, Brazilian
Institute of Environment and Renewable
Natural Resources (Ibama), Interstate
Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco) and
the Tobacco Growers’ Association of Brazil
(Afubra), while its edition and distribution
is an action contained in the Term of
Commitment signed between the parties.
The publication features general information
intended to guide the farmers towards
making appropriate use of their rural
holding, making sure it complies with the
social function set forth by Brazil’s Federal
Constitution.
The various texts and illustrations were
divided into four parts: the first presents
the concepts of biomass and ecosystems,
biodiversity, sustainability and sustainable
management. It is followed by the topics of
Federal Environmental Legislation, based on
the Forest Code which entered into force
in May 2012. This section also addresses
the control and inspection of the use of
forest products and byproducts of forest
origin and their relation with regard to the
Environmental Criminal Law and the Rural
Environmental Registry, as well as a warning
on the need for the farmers to comply
with the specific legislations of states and
municipalities where they carry out their
agricultural activities.
The third part features concepts relative
to the use and conservation of water and
soil resources, attesting to the importance
of conservation initiatives for the farmers
to derive their livelihood from the rural
property.
Silviculture and environmental recovery
are the final topics covered by the primer.
These topics include concepts and uses of
planted trees, from energy-oriented forests,
extremely important in the production of
tobacco, to multi-purpose forestry, including
the production of posts and several timber
based products, and the production of resin
and cellulose.
Now in use in different regions across Brazil
and the world, although not very common
yet, the Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forestry
systems are highlighted in the last section,
as they adjust to small holdings, generating
environmental and economic benefits
to the farmers who have opted for their
application. Some species and some localities
recommended for tree plantations, along with
the basic cultural practices are also presented
in the final part of this publication.
With this primer, we hope to create and
maintain an indispensable dialogue among
rural producers, industries, rural unions,
associations, technicians, extension agents,
researchers, public administrators and
environmental organs, for the benefit of
all of them, including present and future
generations.
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CON
CEPTS
The concepts addressed in this primer are aimed
at clarifying the meaning of some technical words
which are very important for understanding the
relations between agricultural activities and the
environment.
ECOSYSTEM AND BIOME
Ecosystem is the integration of all
communities of living beings of a region,
associated in a balanced manner with other
factors like soil, water and climate. The
alteration of one of these elements can cause
alterations to the entire system and result
into the loss of the existing balance. They are
referred to as agroecosystems when, besides
these factors, an agricultural activity takes
place in the same environment.
Biome is the ecological unit of bigger
geographical extension, with communities and
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vegetable types more or less similar, situated
in different degrees of evolution which interact
in their biological elements (flora, fauna and
microorganisms) and nonbiological elements
(soil, water, air and climate).
In Brazil there are at least six different biomes:
Pampa, Atlantic Forest, Cerrado, Pantanal,
Caatinga and Amazonia. Tobacco farming in
the southern states has its pillars on two of
these biomes: Atlantic Forest and Pampa. The
map below depicts the location, extension and
characterization of all major Brazilian biomes.
Amazon biome
Caatinga biome
Pantanal biome
Cerrado biome
Pampa biome
Atlantic Forest biome
BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity or biological diversity represents the
entire living nature, interacting with itself and with
the environment where it is located. Biodiversity
varies in accordance with the different ecosystems
and biomes. Therefore, it refers to the variety of
life on Planet Earth, represented by flora, fauna
and microorganisms.
Human beings depend directly on biodiversity
for their survival. For this reason, it is necessary
to have a clear grasp of how biodiversity has to be
protected.
SUSTAINABILITY
Sustainability is a process or productive system
based on the use of natural resources in an
environment-friendly manner, economically
viable and socially fair.
Agricultural activities should generate wellbeing to the populations (social effect), along
with financial returns (economic effect) and
preservation of the natural resources and
biodiversity (environmental effect).
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
Sustainable management is the use
of the natural resources available in a
specific location, without disregarding the
ecosystem’s sustenance mechanisms.
The development of a sustainable activity
translates into the responsible use of the
available natural resources, taking into
consideration the present needs, without
compromising the needs of the future
generations.
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LEGIS
LATION
The land itself is a sacred thing, a source of
livelihood and subsistence for millions of
small-scale farmers throughout Brazil. This is
why it is important under any circumstances
to register the land in the Environmental
Registry.
This chapter presents a summary of the
main topics a farmer must comply with for
producing without any problem, in compliance
with legal environment protection standards,
thus avoiding environmental infringements
resulting from ignoring a farmer’s obligations
and rights.
FOREST CODE
The main instrument to be complied with
by all farmers is Federal Law nº 12.651, of
May 2012, the so-called Brazilian Forest
Code (BFC). This Code contains the “general
standards for the protection and sustainable
use of forests and other native vegetation”,
insisting on the importance of any vegetation
for all the inhabitants of the country and
the need for harmonizing environmental
protection with economic development.
The Forest Code sets forth the obligations
and rights of all land owners, tenants or
sharecroppers with regard to sustainable use
of land and environmental preservation.
Permanent Protected Areas
(PPAs)
PPAs include the following:
• riparian buffer strips at least 30 meters wide, along
natural streams of water;
• areas surrounding water wells and perennial water
courses within a 50-meter radius;
• slopes or parts of slopes with an incline greater than 45
degrees;
• mountain, hill and sierra tops, with a minimum height
of 100 (a hundred) meters and a slope greater than 25
degrees.
The maintenance of the PPAs is an obligation
of the owner, tenant or sharecropper of any
rural real estate, regardless of any vegetation
cover, or absence of any vegetation cover or
forest cover.
In case of native vegetation, its preservation is
also mandatory. In PPA areas where vegetation
was cut down, the person in charge of this area
is responsible for recomposing the original
vegetation.
Before acquiring a rural property, it is
important to check if there is any pending
embargo on the land, or if the area is under
recovery, if it belongs to a legal reservation plot
and if there are areas available for agriculture,
as well as the status of the PPAs.
It is equally necessary to get information
on the environmental register of the
property, a document that is issued by the
Rural Environmental Registry (CAR, in the
Portuguese acronym) office.
Areas consolidated in PPAs
The continuity of agro-silvi-pastoral
activities, ecotourism and rural tourism is
allowed in areas of permanent preservation
consolidated up to July 2008, and so
is the maintenance of homesteads and
infrastructure associated with those
activities, including access structures,
provided they are not located in an area that
is likely to cause harm to people or their
physical integrity.
All farmers who happen to possess areas
consolidated in PPAs along streams, are
under obligation to recompose these
stretches. The width of the stretch to be
recomposed will depend on the size of the
property, according to the following table:
Size of the farm in July 2008
Strip of land to be recomposed
(delimited from either side of the
stream)
Width of the water stream
Up to 1 fiscal m module
5 meters
regardless of the width
From 1 to 2 fiscal modules
8 meters
regardless of the width
From 2 to 4 fiscal modules
15 meters
regardless of the width
Over 4 fiscal modules
20 to 100 meters
as set forth by the ERP
(Environmental Registration Plan)
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In the case of rural areas consolidated in Areas of
Permanent Preservation on the surroundings of
water wells and perennial watercourses, agro-silvipastoral activities, ecotourism or rural tourism
are allowed, but a minimum radius of 10 meters of
vegetation should be recomposed.
For rural properties with areas consolidated in
PPAs surrounding natural lakes and ponds, the
maintenance of agro-silvi-pastoral activities,
ecotourism or rural tourism are allowed, but it is
mandatory to recompose a marginal strip with a
minimum width of:
Minimum width
Size of the property on 22nd
July 2008
5 meters
1 fiscal module
8 meters
from 1 to 2
fiscal modules
15 meters
from 2 to 4
fiscal modules
30 meters
more than 4 fiscal modules
Owners of rural properties which, on 22 July
2008 contained up to 4 (four)fiscal modules and
conducted agro-silvi-pastoral activities in the
areas consolidated as Permanent Preservation
areas, the recomposing requirement, including
all the PPAs of the property, will not exceed the
following:
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Area of
the property
Percentage of
recomposing required
Up to 2 fiscal modules
10%
Area bigger than 2 and
up to 4 fiscal modules
20%
In the PPAs located in mountains, hills and
sierras with a minimum height of 100 (
hundred) meters and average slope over
25º, and slopes with an incline above 45º,
it is allowed to maintain such activities as
reforestation lots, woodlots, either perennial
or long cycle, but the conversion of new areas
to alternative soil uses is not allowed.
Should it be necessary to recover these
locations, this recovery work should be done
under technical guidance, while on the farm or
on the land of the family it is allowed to plant
exotic and native tree species in up to 50% of
the recovered area, using the resources in a
sustainable manner.
Legal Reservation
Areas consolidated into Legal Reserve Areas
Legal reservation is an area located in the
interior of a property or rural estate, delimited
with the purpose to ensure the economic use of
its natural resources in a sustainable manner,
whilst conserving and rehabilitating its ecological
processes, promoting the preservation of its
biodiversity, equally serving as protection to wild
fauna and native flora.
Rural property owners who possessed an area
bigger than 4 fiscal modules on 22nd July 2008,
but which contained a Legal Reserve inferior to
the established size, can regularize their situation
adopting the following alternatives, individually or
jointly:
Besides providing for environmental services,
Legal Reservations can be managed, either for
consumption on the farm or for commercial
purposes.
Before using these areas, the farmers must always
consult with the local environmental organ.
Caution
All activities in Legal Reservation Areas
irregularly deforested after 22 July 2008
should immediately be stopped. The farmer
should seek technical advice to start the
recovery process of the area, complying
with legislation in force, especially with the
Forest Code.
A. Recomposing the Legal Reserve, in compliance
with standards set forth by the competent organ.
This restoration shall be concluded in a period
of up to 20 years and can be carried out through
intercalated plantings of regional and exotic native
species (in a maximum of 50% of the area to be
recovered), in an agroforestry system.
B. Letting vegetation regrow naturally in the Legal
Reservation area.
C. Compensating for the Legal Reservation.
For small properties (with dimensions smaller
than 4 fiscal modules, fruit tree, ornamental tree
or industrial plantings, comprising exotic species,
are accepted for composing the Legal Reserve,
provided they are cultivated in intercalate system
or in agroforestry systems.
Consolidated Rural Areas
These are the areas destined for the construction of
houses and farm facilities and the ones destined for
the production of crops, including the areas allowed
to lie “fallow”, prior to 22nd July 2008.
Controlling the Origin of Forest Products
Reforestation with native tree species does not
depend on any authorization. Farmers must only
inform the competent organ about this activity in
up to one year. This information is to confirm the
authorship and the right to use the reforested area.
However, if the reforested areas are to be cut down,
it is mandatory to inform the environmental organ.
Farmers must know that such plantings, when
conducted in PPA or in Legal Reserves, are subject
to the same treatment given to any vegetation in
these places.
When it comes to transporting and storing timber,
wood, coal and other products and byproducts
coming from native tree species for commercial
or industrial purposes, the farmers must get a
license from the competent organs. This license is
the Document of Forest Origin (DFO) which must
accompany the material to its final processing
stage.
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Control of Deforestation
Any environmental organ which happens to learn
about illegal deforestation, shall immediately
embargo the deforested area. This control could
even be conducted through remote monitoring. It
is important to know that any embargo can only be
removed by the organ that applied it.
Rural Environmental Registry – CAR
It is a nationwide registry, set forth by the Forest Code,
and is mandatory for all rural properties. The purpose
of this Registry consists in integrating the farms’
environmental information, in an attempt to make it
easier for controlling, monitoring, environmentally
and economically planning the fight against illegal
deforestation.
This is a declaratory registry, and it should contain
information given by the owner or tenant about the
situation of the permanent preservation areas, Legal
Reserve, remnants of natural areas, degraded, altered
or abandoned areas, as well as consolidated areas.
Any information coming from the owners should
be homologated by the competent environmental
organ, and they are subject to on-field inspections, in
accordance with what the inspecting organs take as
convenient.
As soon as the properties have been registered, the
owners can adhere to Environmental Regularization
Programs, when, on a voluntary basis, the interested
parties will start the recovery of the degraded or
altered areas, an instance at which they will not be
charged with infringements that took place prior
to 22nd July 2008, with regard to the cutting of
vegetation in PPAs, Legal Reserves or restricted areas.
Technical criteria for the recovery of areas follow the
same principles listed in the Forest Code.
For small-scale farm regularization, the owner or
tenant can rely on technical and juridical help provided
by the public organs in charge of demarcating Legal
Reserve areas and on the board of Real Estate
Records, without any cost. In the cases where native
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vegetation has to be recomposed in Legal Reserve
areas, farmers can equally count on technical support
from public organs.
Registration of small-scale farms in the CAR is done in
a very simple manner, and the only requirement is the
identification of the owner and the documents that
attest to the ownership of the land, besides a map
showing the perimeter of the real estate, Permanent
Preservation Areas and remnants that make up the
Legal Reserve.
ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMINAL LAW
Law nº 9.605/1998 is the main legal instrument to
guide the behavior of every citizen regarding their
constitutional obligations relative to the sustainable
use and preservation of the environment. This Law
and its Regulating Decree contains specifications
about damaging behavior and sanctions set forth
for every different case. It is based on the provisions
of these standards that environmental inspection
organs take action.
Most common damaging actions against the
environment consist in:
a) Destroying, exploring or damaging forests or any
type of native vegetation without the approval of the
competent environmental organ
b) Destroying or damaging primary or secondary
vegetation, at an advanced or medium advanced
recovery stage, in the Atlantic Forest Biome.
c) Cutting trees in permanent preservation forests.
d) Setting forests or jungles on fire.
e) Receiving or acquiring, for commercial or industrial
purposes, timber, wood, coal and other forest
products without valid origin or license.
f) Preventing or holding back the recovery of natural
forests or other forms of vegetation.
STATE FORESTRY LAWS
Up to the present moment we have been dealing
with all major questions involving environmental
regularization and sustainable use of the natural
resources, in accordance with Federal Legislation.
However, for farmers to work safely, we deem it
necessary to capture their attention to the need of
knowing and complying with state legislation.
We would like to remind readers that for the
purpose of inspections by the environmental
organs, restrictive rules supersede all other rules.
In every Unit of the Federation, environmental
organs that have to be consulted include State
Secretariats, Foundations, as well as other Public
Organs, even municipal organs.
Farmer support and technical assistance organs
(unions, associations) could also be consulted.
AUTHORIZATION OR LICENSING
FOR FOREST MANAGEMENT
SOCIAL FUNCTION OF A
PROPERTY
The right to ownership is ensured by the
Constitution of the Federal Republic, and
constitutes a fundamental assurance of every
Brazilian citizen residing in the Country.
Forestry exploration
However, the Constitution states that every
property should fulfill its social role.
All native forests are considered to be assets of
common interest. Therefore, their exploration
depends on the approval by the competent
organ and on a Management Plan. In the states
of Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina,
state organs are responsible for issuing licenses.
Farmers should always comply with legislation for
carrying out approved plans, while paying special
heed to the preservation of protected areas and
threatened species, thus avoiding mistakes that
could cause damage to the environment and losses
to the parties interested in forest management.
The social role of a rural property is clearly defined
in Article 186, which states that this role is fulfilled
when there is rational and appropriate use of
the natural resources, equating their use with
the preservation of the environment, while labor
legislations have to be complied with, too.
The well-being of the owners and farm workers
must equally be taken into consideration for the
social role of the rural property to be fully fulfilled.
11
SOIL
AND WATER
RESOURCES
USE AND
CONSERVATION
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Agricultural activities play a fundamental role in the
economic growth of most communities and nations.
Taking into consideration this important factor, it is
indispensable for this growth to be sustainable.
It is not possible to ensure permanent exploration
of the natural resources without considering the
conservation of soil and water resources. Someone
once stated that “the soil does not belong to us, we
only borrow it from our children”.
CONSERVATIONIST
MANAGEMENT
Soil and water conservation practices enhance the
performance of crops and ensure a sustainable
production environment. Only conservationist
management practices are capable of preventing
the degradation of the natural resources, thus
allowing for the continuity of agricultural activities.
Consequences from improper use
Degradation of the natural resources in all areas of this model.
Prevention and Reconstitution
In the above image, one can see a model of rational and sustainable exploration of agricultural properties.
Conservationist agricultural activities should:
• Give priority to appropriate and efficient use of the natural resources.
• Recover and enhance the quality of water.
• Adopt cultivation practices that cause minimal environmental impacts.
• Recover the biological quality of soil.
• Promote soil recovery and improvement.
• Preserve native forests.
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SILVI
CUL
TURE
In view of the importance of forests
for the environment and equally
considering the legal aspects of
reforestation activities, planting
trees is good business, because the
consumption of timber based products
is constantly rising, whilst reforestation
contributes towards the conservation
of native forests. Silviculture, under
proper management, leads to the use
of forests in multiple ways, serving as
a source of energy, besides different
products used on the farm or even for
commercial purposes, thus contributing
towards increasing the income derived
by the farmers, without overlooking the
question of environmental sustainability,
as it is a source of renewable raw
material.
ENERGY
FORESTS
The use of wood in the rural properties
in South Brazil is extremely important
in light of its cultural and productive
aspects. Wood is used for domestic
purposes (wood stoves, fireplaces,
etc.), for drying cereal crops and,
particularly, for the curing needs of
Flue-Cured Virginia tobacco farmers.
Wood represents approximately
10% of the production cost incurred
in connection with the production
of tobacco. Therefore, the best way
to eliminate these costs consists in
investing in forest plantations to
meet the demand for wood in tobacco
growing holdings. Nevertheless,
everything must be done in a conscious
manner, if the desired production
volume is to be achieved without
compromising the environment.
MULTIPLE USE FOREST
MANAGEMENT
In view of this fact, it is ascertained that, if it comes
to making the best use of the forest resources,
multiple use forest management should be
encouraged on small-scale farms.
The diversification of crops with economic
potential on small-scale farms is a need,
considering the peculiar characteristics of
each different crop and its relations with the
market and, it must even be stimulated. Within
this context, it is perceived that forests have
also the potential to be explored economically,
including different types of raw material, all from
renewable sources.
Multiple uses of forests imply in the introduction of
efficient techniques for the production of different
products. This is why it is extremely advantageous
to permanently manage the forests, both in light of
productive and environmental aspects, removing
wood related products and non-wood related
products. The chart below features some of the
wood related products and non-wood related
products derived from the forest.
Resins and
essential oils
Small logs
(fiber and cellulose)
Yerba mate
Logs
(laminated lumber and sawed lumber)
Posts
(stakes and rods)
Posts
Production
of honey
Wood
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SILVI-PASTORAL SYSTEM OR
AGRO-SILVI-PASTORAL SYSTEM
RECOMMENDED
TREE SPECIES
The silvi-pastoral system is nothing else than
the association of tree cultivations with livestock
farming in the same area. Likewise, the agrosilvi-pastoral system consists in the cultivation
of crops, forests and livestock farming in the
same area.
The definition of the species to be cultivated
should be based on the final use intended for
the wood. The species differ greatly in terms of
growth characteristics, shape, timber quality,
resistance to freezing temperatures, types of soil,
etc. Therefore, even before defining the species,
there is need to have a good grasp of the location
where it is to be established.
These consortiums are extremely relevant from
a small farm point of view. The search for crop
and cattle farming integration provides the
farmers with the chance to make the most of
their holdings, as far as natural and economic
resources are concerned.
TREE SPECIES RECOMMENDED IN
LIGHT OF THEIR USE
Eucalyptus
camaldulensis
• Adapts to poor soils
• Excellent timber for wood, coal,
posts, railroad ties and sawed wood for
construction
• Honey trees
• Popularly known as common
eucalyptus
• Red wood and durable in contact with
moisture
• Tolerant to mild frost conditions
• Adapts well to poor and stony soil
• Timber appropriate for posts, sawmills,
Eucalyptus
citriodora
rural constructions, coal and wood
• Timber of excellent quality
• Honey tree
• Tolerant to mild frost conditions (weak
and not very frequent)
Silvi-pastoral system – Association of trees with
pastureland for livestock operations. Under a consortium
system, pasturelands grow greener and are more protected
against winter time. Another practice involves the
cultivation of crops in-between tree rows, thus configuring
an agro-silvi-pastoral system.
• Prefers moist soils, fertile and well drained
• Wood appropriate for wood, coal, stakes
Eucalyptus
dunni
and sawed wood
• Recommended for areas with frequent
frost conditions, tolerant to freezing
temperatures
• Honey tree
Eucalyptus
grandis
• Wood recommended for posts, stakes
(treated), coal and sawmills
• Recommended for areas not affected by
frost conditions
• Tolerant to moist and sandy soils
Eucalyptus
robusta
• Timber appropriate for wood, coal,
posts and sawed wood
• Honey tree
• Recommended for all areas not affected
by frost conditions
• Very similar to Eucalyptus grandis
Agroforestry – Consortium between reforestation (giant
chinaberry) and the cultivation of potatoes and pumpkins.
Chinaberry trees were established with initial 4 x 4 meter
spacing. In addition, regular trimmings are conducted to
boost the growth of the agricultural crops and the forestry
species.
16
• Timber of excellent quality compared with
grandis, but heavier
Eucalyptus
saligna
• Timber indicated for posts, stakes (treated),
coal and sawmills
• Honey tree
• Recommended for areas free of frost
conditions, or subject to rare frost conditions
Besides eucalyptus species, there are other options with
distinct characteristics, but of commercial interest:
• Black acacia
• Australian cedar
• Giant chinaberry
Bracatinga forest management
• Grevillea robusta
• Pinus elliottii
• Pinus taeda
Plantation of young bracatinga trees
The Brazilian pine tree is an alternative for
native tree species to regularize the property
environmentally.
Farmers can also opt for native trees with real
commercial value and/or environmental benefit.
Among them, the following are of note:
• Mimosa scabrella
• Canchara cabralea
• Yerba mate
• Patagonia tree
• Palm tree
• Brazilian myrocarpus
• Cedar
• Caesalpiniaceous
• Brown laurel
• Brazilian pinetree
Bracatinga is a tree species much recommended
for reforestation in South Brazil. It grows fast
and its wood is famous for its calorific power. It
can also be used for the production of sticks and
furniture.
Brazilian pine tree planted alongside the access lane of a
rural property
LEGAL PLANTING
Silviculture is a licensed activity. Try to get technical
guidance as to the existence of state or municipal
standards that must be complied with before
planting.
17
PLANTING
LOCATION
For successful forestry activities it is
extremely important to establish the
forest in an appropriate place for its
growth, whilst respecting the permanent
preservation areas (PPAs), with access
routes (lanes and protections) for
exploring this timber in the future.
In the figure below, there are suggestions
for priority places for the conservation
of remnant native tree species and areas
suitable for reforestation (perennial
crops).
SLOPES AND HILLSIDES
Maintenance of native
vegetation
IDLE AREAS
Location recommended for
reforestation and perennial
crops
EUCALYPTUS LOTS
In an appropriate place, of
easy access and complying
with environmental
legislation
PERMANENT PRESERVATION
AREA – PPA
Along water courses and
brooks
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LEAF-CUTTING ANT CONTROL
Leaf-cutting ants cause serious damage to forests.
Therefore, in order to avoid losses and planting
failures it is extremely important to keep these
ants under control.
PRE-PLANTING
• 40 DAYS PRIOR TO PLANTING
• Initial control, before soil preparation, land clearing
or any soil disturbance.
REPASS
• 15 TO 20 DAYS PRIOR TO PLANTING the area
should be visited again in order to eliminate the
remaining active ant nests
• During planting time and in the days that follow,
new passes should be conducted, so as to eliminate
entirely any active ant nest.
MONITORING
• DURING THE FIRST YEAR of the established
forest lot, the area should be monitored to eliminate
ant nests. Should it be necessary, new passes have
to be conducted.
There are several methods and different products
to keep leaf-cutting ants under control, among
them, the most important are the so-called
granulated baits. Nonetheless, their use should
comply with the following standards:
• Choose dry days for applying the baits, as
excessive moisture reduces their efficiency.
• Walk across the entire area to find the ant nests
before spreading the baits.
• Never place the baits directly into the ant nests,
but next to them, along the ant trails.
• Wear the recommended personal protective
gear and avoid direct contact with the baits
and other products that could alter their
attractiveness.
• Check the label for the right dosage
recommended by the manufacturer.
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PREPARING SOIL FOR
PLANTING
Basically, all activities related to soil preparation
consist of clearing the lot, preparing the soil itself,
manual hoeing and/or chemical weed control.
A Land Clearing
Whenever necessary, weed cutters are used for
clearing the land and for the removal of invasive
plants that appear after transplanting. In addition,
land clearing facilitates planting, and the same holds
true for cultural practices and mechanized activities.
B
SPACING BETWEEN TREES IN
COMMERCIAL FORESTS
Purpose
Spacing (m)
Plant/ha
Wood, rods,
posts, stakes
(with management)
2,0 x 2,0
2,5 x 2,0
2,5 x 2,5
2.500
2.000
1.600
Logs
Management for
multiple use
3,0 x 2,0
3,0 x 3,0
1.667
1.111
Species
Spacing (m)
Plants (ha)
Black acacia
2,0 x 2,0
3,0 x 1,5
2.500
2.222
Bracatinga
1,5 x 1,5
2,0 x 1,5
4.444
3.333
Species
Spacing (m)
Plants (ha)
Pinus elliottii
Pinus taeda
2,5 x 2,0
3,0 x 2,0
3,0 x 3,0
2.000
1.667
1.111
Soil preparation
Soil preparation is extremely important for
establishing a reforestation lot. Transplanted
seedlings respond well to thoroughly prepared soil.
Based on this practice, a bigger number of seedlings
survive after transplanting, they develop a healthy
root system and the trees grow uniformly.
!
In case mechanization is not possible,
it is recommended to open holes in the
ground for the tree seedlings. The holes
should be big enough for the seedling to
develop properly.
X
Small distance between
eucalyptus plants results into
thin wood, and many trees
simply die due to competition.
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Planting of Eucalyptus saligna in
a 3.0 meter x 2.0 meter spacing,
with good development and
uniform growth.
SEEDLINGS, TRANSPLANTING
AND CULTURAL PRACTICES
Seedlings
The quality of a forest starts with the seedlings.
Therefore, the following topics have to be considered:
- Size of the seedling (height = 20 t0 30 cm).
- Healthy seedlings: no signs of diseases or nutrient
deficiency.
- Strong root system
- White roots (new)
- Rustic and firm seedling
Transplanting
- Care is needed during transport.
- Seedlings should be placed in a sunny and
ventilated area.
- In case it is necessary to store the seedlings before
transplanting, they should be kept in narrow and
well-ventilated seedbeds.
- Seedlings have to be lushly irrigated before
transplanting.
Fertilization
- Fertilization gets the seedlings off to a healthy
start.
- Forest species, especially eucalyptus seedlings,
respond fast to fertilization.
- Soil analysis is extremely important for the correct
fertilizer formulation, where quantity also counts.
15c
m
Soil clearing
- At the initial stage, the transplanted seedlings
should be free from any competition to take full
advantage of all available nutrients.
- The seedling rows should be kept free of weeds,
and the same holds true for the surrounding areas
(one-meter diameter).
Monitoring
- During the first year of a forest, the area should be
kept free of weeds.
- Monitoring leaf-cutter ants should be a permanent
and periodical concern.
- In case an area has to be replanted, it should be
done within 30 days after transplanting.
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RECOVERY OF
DEGRADED AREAS
By definition, Degraded Area is an area that,
through a natural trajectory, can no longer return
to an ecosystem similar to the previous one or to
an expected ecosystem. Typical examples are the
clandestine stone quarries, where no measures are
taken to reduce the environmental impact of the
mineral extraction activity. Due to this, it is almost
impossible for the location to return to its original
state without planned human action intended to
recover all environmental services of the area.
On the other hand, Altered or Disturbed areas are
the ones that after the impact are still capable of
biotic regeneration, that is to say, they still hold
their capacity to regenerate naturally. An example
is the clearing of land covered with vegetation.
The removal of the vegetation interrupts, for a
certain period of time, the environmental services,
but the seeds in the ground will provide for a new
generation.
The recovery of Degraded Areas implies in several
important aspects, especially the environment,
which is protected for future generations. In
addition, idle or degraded areas can again join the
productive process.
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Edited by
Interstate Tobacco Industry Union
(SindiTabaco)
sinditabaco.com.br
Tobacco Growers’ Association of Brazil (Afubra)
afubra.com.br
Brazilian Institute for the environment and
renewable natural resources – Ibama
ibama.gov.br
Publishers:
Publication: Ministry of the Environment (MMA).
Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural
Resources (Ibama), Interstate Tobacco Industry Union (SindiTabaco)
and the Tobacco Growers’ Association of Brazil (Afubra)
Project coordination: Carlos A. Sehn (SindiTabaco)
Texts: Darci J. da Silva (SindiTabaco), Juarez Pedroso Filho (Afubra),
João Pessoa R. M. Junior e Maurício V. de Souza (Ibama/RS)
Operational support: Nádia F. Solf (SindiTabaco)
Technical revision: DRS/SEDR/MMA e COUSF/DBFLO/Ibama
Graphic Project and diagramation: Agência Guideline
Text revision: Daniela Damaris Neu
Photos: Banco de imagens do SindiTabaco, empresas
associadas e Afubra
Printing: Gráfica Serafinense
Copies: 200.000 unidades
Free distribution.
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