Monitoring Biodiversity

Klabin has planted forests in the States of Parana, Santa Catarina and Sao Paulo. Up until September 2008, there are 449 thousand hectares of land, 90% owned and 10% leased, of which 187 thousand hectares are kept as Areas of Permanent Preservation and Legal Reserves. The remaining areas are comprised of forests planted with pines and eucalyptus (224 thousand hectares) and spaces set aside for infrastructure (plants, roads, residential villas, nurseries etc.).

In Parana, Klabin area is the largest expanse of green in the South of Brazil,  easily identifiable in satellite photos. In an area of 300 thousand hectares, 122 thousand hectares (or 40%) are preserved, wich include Areas of Permanent Preservation (APP), Legal Reserves (LR) and a Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN) established in 1998 by Directive 182 of the IAP (Environmental Institute of Parana) and signed into perpetuity.

The forests have been planted in a mosaic pattern where pine and eucalyptus stands are intermingled with the areas of native forest contributing to the preservation of biodiversity. The flora and fauna are studiously researched so that the knowledge gained can be introduced in environmental education programs for workers and local communities, as well as serving as a guideline for management of the forests.

With a view to perpetuating biodiversity, the following practices have been adopted:
• Upkeep and recuperation of areas of permanent preservation.
• Monitoring hydrographic micro-systems.
• Keeping track of fauna and flora.
• Environmental education for schools, local communities and workers.
• Surveillance of the region to prevent hunting.
• Checking for possible erosion and upkeep of roads and side-roads.
• Maintenance of scientific breeding grounds for wild animals.
• Maintenance of ecological park for environmental education and scientific research purposes.
• Environmental recuperation program, comprised of several projects in areas of permanent preservation, such as the build-up of these areas by planting native species.

Project – A Survey on the Avifauna

Birds make up the group which has been best studied in the region of Monte Alegre Farm, the first surveys of which were made in 1981. Since then, 401 species of birds, which are divided up into 50 families. This means, in just 0.72% of the area of the State of Parana, 57% of all the bird species catalogued in the State, which total 700 species.

It should be mentioned that the surveys made so far were restricted to only some areas of the Farm and for sure the number of bird species must increase considerably when fresh areas come under study. In these surveys, 10 species which are on the list of endangered birds of Brazil, and 8 species that are on the endangered list in Parana were observed

The studies made so far confirm that measures adopted by Klabin in its forest management have brought benefits to the biodiversity. The various species of bird that are abundant in the company’s forested areas are proof of this. This is one of the examples which goes to show that production from planted forests, when properly handled, can be perfectly well reconciled with nature conservation.

Project – A Survey on Amphibians

In the State of Parana, scientific information on anuran amphibians is still in its early stages, from the point-of-view both of taxonomy and of ecology. With the intention of studying these animals on the Monte Alegre Farm, since September 1999, Klabin has sponsored a master’s project and a doctorate project in zoology at UFPR.

At the beginning of these activities, 24 species of anuran amphibians were known in the region of Telemaco Borba, Parana. Today, 40 species have been registered. Of these, four species are expansions of the geographical distribution to the interior of the State of Parana, and one is a new registration. At least six species are indicators of preservation and environmental quality, since they are limited to a specific environment and cannot stand much alteration in it.

On the Monte Alegre Farm, anuran amphibians reproduce in the most varied aquatic environments available, such as lakes, temporary and permanent pools, streams and marshes, as well as microenvironments that may store water, like the bromelias and the hollows in trees. Two species reproduce on land for sure and do not have a larval phase (tadpoles). Even so, they choose places which are moist, such as under leaves and near fallen tree trunks.

The species of anurans found on the Monte Alegre Farm become sexually active at certain times of the year when environmental conditions, rain and heat, are favorable. During these periods, the species use quite distinct substrates of vocalization (micro-environment) from which they emit their nuptial chants to attract females. With data obtained until now, it can be concluded that the areas of preservation kept by Klabin are important for the maintenance and conservation of populations of different species of anuran amphibians. Especially important is the zebra frog (Hyla anceps) which is on the critically endangered list of the State of Parana. The only register known of this species in the State is on Klabin property – Monte Alegre Farm. The location has been isolated and protected.

Project – A Survey on Mammals

The mammals of medium to large size on Company lands are all well-known, because they can be accurately identified by employees. On the other hand, smaller mammals, (Chiroptera, Rodentia and Didelphimorphia) are little known, due to the difficulty in correctly identifying these animals. However they belong to important taxonomic groups, within the overall context of Monte Alegre mammalia, with a large number of species and are also considered to be good biological indicators. 

Until now, medium and large-sized mammals on the Farm have been surveyed using registration cards for Wild Animal Sightings and cases of animals which have been run over or hurt. As of July 2001, a more detailed survey of Monte Alegre mammalia was begun, which included small mammals as well.

At present, 85 species of mammal have been registered.

Worthy of note are the water opossum (Chironectes minimus) which is endangered, the hoary fox (Lycalopex vetulus), which had not been previously sighted this far south, the area of Monte Alegre being the probable limit for distribution of the species, and the jaguarundi.

Project – A Survey on Reptiles

Until 2001, 30 species of reptiles had been identified by the work that was being carried out on the Monte Alegre Farm. Since 2001, the list has been increased and 8 new species have been identified in the region, making a total of 38 today.