The Plantar project will lead to total emission reductions of almost 13 million tons of СОг — Table 14.4 indicates how much is the accomplishment in each component of the project.

One of the main criticisms of plantation forestry is related to biodiversity suppression. In the Plantar project, a number of precautions are taken to bring benefits in relation to biodiversity (Kornexl, 2001).

• The plantations are certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council, a strict environmental standard related to sustainable forestry worldwide. The standard requires forest operations to ensure the maintenance of biodiversity within managed areas.

• Plantation-based and sustainable charcoal production reduces pressure on native forests. Currently, Plantar itself still uses charcoal from native forests in its pig iron mill (derived from legal and authorized deforestation conduced by third parties outside Plantar’s own land). With the development of the project, Plantar will become fully self-sufficient in charcoal.

• The pilot project area of regeneration of cerrado and other native vegetation will lead to an increase in biodiversity and the return of native species of plants and animals. Plantar is also considering a more active management with assisted regeneration of the biomass, exploring landscape level biodiversity management opportunities.

• According to the baseline biodiversity study, fire suppression is the single most important biodiversity benefit of the Plantar project. By continuing its current fire monitoring and control system, Plantar could allow the cerrado and other native vegetation ecosystems on its land holdings to partially recover their original species composition through the process of secondary succession. Additionally, Plantar already provides neighboring landholders with the benefit of fire watch towers, which expands the positive impact of the project (Nepstad and Vale, 2001).

Six indicators to follow up on the biodiversity benefits accrued from the Plantar project are suggested in the study by Nepstad and Vale (2001):

• The total area of the legal reserve in the Curvelo property beyond 20 per cent (the likely area as of project initiation);

• The total area of fragments larger than 50 ha beyond the 2002 baseline;

• Reduction in fire incidence within 10 km of the ranch relative to regional fire incidence (10 to 30 km distant), using a 1999-2001 baseline of fire incidence;

• Number of native species of birds per sampling effort relative to 2002 baseline in three legal reserve fragments;

• Biomass increase in native vegetation beyond 2002 baseline;

• Testing of Eucalyptus effects on stream-flow, and incorporation of watershed management principles into harvesting regime, if warranted.

In addition to the efforts on biodiversity, Plantar will continue monitoring water hydro-biological, physical and chemical quality, and building up corridors between remaining native forest fragments, and recuperating former deforested areas in environmental fragile zones. The monitoring activities aim at accompanying the development of water quality conditions and seasonal variations, and the impact of forest activities on water quality. This information will help in identifying eventual shortcomings and propose measures to reduce impacts as well as contribute to evaluate the efficiency of the implemented environmental management system.