A small farming community in north-eastern Brazil has won a long battle against a multinational pulp company, Veracel Celulose. The settlement of Baixa Verde, which was established nearly two decades ago by local families who fought to retain their land, remains one of the few examples of successful resistance to the large-scale eucalyptus monoculture plantations that have ravaged much of Brazil.
The conflict began in 2008 when local residents discovered that Veracel had planted eucalyptus trees on public land. The company argued that it had been granted permission by the government, but the families refused to leave, citing a ruling from the state's agrarian court that they owned the land. After years of legal battles and protests, the state government finally sided with the residents in 2016.
Since then, over 1,300 hectares of Veracel land have been returned to the community. The agreement allowed families to grow their own food on a plot large enough for them to sustain themselves. However, not all families have taken up the offer. Eight remaining families fear for their safety and are unable to farm due to the aggressive tactics employed by Veracel.
The company claims that it operates with social and environmental responsibility but denies allegations of land grabbing and environmental damage. In contrast, the Brazilian government has passed a law excluding eucalyptus from a list of industries needing an environmental licence, effectively allowing the industry to continue unchecked.
Veracel says it adopts a mosaic management system to protect soil, wildlife, and water resources but its methods have been widely criticized as inadequate. Research suggests that monoculture plantations like those operated by Veracel can lead to severe groundwater depletion and wildfires, posing significant environmental risks.
The eucalyptus industry's contribution to the carbon market is also under scrutiny due to concerns about its environmental impact. Despite opposition from campaigners, Brazil has passed laws allowing the sale of eucalyptus as a carbon credit to fossil fuel polluters.
As the battle between Veracel and the community continues, many are questioning whether the company's actions align with national environmental policies.
The conflict began in 2008 when local residents discovered that Veracel had planted eucalyptus trees on public land. The company argued that it had been granted permission by the government, but the families refused to leave, citing a ruling from the state's agrarian court that they owned the land. After years of legal battles and protests, the state government finally sided with the residents in 2016.
Since then, over 1,300 hectares of Veracel land have been returned to the community. The agreement allowed families to grow their own food on a plot large enough for them to sustain themselves. However, not all families have taken up the offer. Eight remaining families fear for their safety and are unable to farm due to the aggressive tactics employed by Veracel.
The company claims that it operates with social and environmental responsibility but denies allegations of land grabbing and environmental damage. In contrast, the Brazilian government has passed a law excluding eucalyptus from a list of industries needing an environmental licence, effectively allowing the industry to continue unchecked.
Veracel says it adopts a mosaic management system to protect soil, wildlife, and water resources but its methods have been widely criticized as inadequate. Research suggests that monoculture plantations like those operated by Veracel can lead to severe groundwater depletion and wildfires, posing significant environmental risks.
The eucalyptus industry's contribution to the carbon market is also under scrutiny due to concerns about its environmental impact. Despite opposition from campaigners, Brazil has passed laws allowing the sale of eucalyptus as a carbon credit to fossil fuel polluters.
As the battle between Veracel and the community continues, many are questioning whether the company's actions align with national environmental policies.
, like these families just refused to back down from a giant corporation trying to kick them off their land, but it's also kinda worrying that the gov's been letting companies do whatever they want without proper checks and balances... I mean, 1,300 hectares of Veracel land being returned is a good start, but what about all those other families who are still in danger? And what about the environmental impact of this eucalyptus industry? it feels like the gov's just trying to make money off these carbon credits without thinking about the bigger picture 
...
anyw way gotta keep it up 4 them ppl in baixa verde u got my support 
. I mean, it's amazing that these families stuck their necks out for so long to fight for what was rightfully theirs, only to have some of them still struggling now 
. And don't even get me started on Veracel's tactics - if they're really committed to social responsibility, why are they being so aggressive towards the remaining families? 
It just feels like they're trying to scare them into leaving so they can keep their profits rolling in 
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It's all about letting industries off the hook while claiming to care about the environment. The fact that eucalyptus is now being sold as a carbon credit to polluters is just laughable 
. If they really wanted to make a difference, they'd be taking a harder stance against companies like Veracel.
. It's going to take more than just a few high-profile victories for some real change to happen 
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they're one of the few examples of people standing up for their land rights and it's so inspiring to see them still growing their own food on that plot of land 
even though some families are still living in fear, this is a reminder that individual actions can lead to bigger change 
what I'd love to see next is more communities taking action against unsustainable industries like eucaluptus monocultures 
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And research is telling us that monoculture plantations like Veracel's are bad news for the environment. I wish people would just listen to science and take action instead of lining their pockets 
. It's just not cool that companies are profiting off of this while ignoring the damage they're causing.
. The company is saying one thing but I'm pretty sure their methods aren't as clean-cut as they make it sound 
. What's up with all these eucalyptus plantations anyway? They just seem like a recipe for disaster 
. We need to push for more transparency and accountability in environmental policies, so we can ensure that our actions are actually making a positive impact on the planet 
. It's just not right.
the way they just clear cut all that land without a care for the people living there is insane 
and now these 8 families are still stuck in limbo while the others get to live off the land it's just not right 
. we need to start holding big corps like veracel accountable for their actions and not just letting them get away with it 
It's like they're more concerned with making a buck than protecting the environment.
it's not all doom and gloom, there are some amazing communities out there fighting for what's right 
. I'm all for sustainability and responsible business, but Veracel's methods are like, woah... what a shame they can't get it together.
. But I guess that's just how it goes sometimes when big companies have too much power. The fact that Brazil is making it easy for eucalyptus plantations to sell carbon credits without proper regulation is just, like, crazy talk 
. Perhaps this case will serve as a wake-up call for policymakers to reevaluate their stance on eucalyptus plantations and consider more sustainable alternatives 
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