Suzano, the world’s largest pulp producer, has introduced a comprehensive Nature Strategy that positions biodiversity conservation as a central pillar of its long-term business vision.
The company, whose operations depend directly on natural ecosystems, says the initiative is designed to ensure resilience, guide decision-making, and shape future innovation.
Developed in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the strategy follows the well-established mitigation hierarchy avoid, reduce, restore, and transform. Suzano says this science-based framework will help prevent and minimize environmental impacts while supporting large-scale ecosystem regeneration across the regions where it operates.
A key component is the use of the STAR metric, an emerging tool that identifies sensitive areas, maps endangered species, and calculates priority actions needed to reduce extinction risks. Suzano’s long-term monitoring work has documented 125 threatened species across its territories, with 24 selected for immediate action based on technical criteria.
The methodology underpinning Suzano’s approach including the RHINO framework (Rapid High-Integrity Nature-positive Outcomes), was presented as a case study at the IUCN Congress in October.
Internal analyses for the strategy covered the company’s 2.9 million hectares of owned land and extended to nearly 10 million hectares when watershed areas were included, offering a broader ecological view beyond operational boundaries.
According to Suzano, the global context underscores the urgency: terrestrial ecosystems continue to decline, and roughly a quarter of assessed species are now considered endangered. The company argues that safeguarding biodiversity is essential not only for environmental stewardship but also for the reliability of industrial operations and the well-being of surrounding communities.
The Nature Strategy is also designed to integrate with Suzano’s existing long-term commitments, including connecting 500,000 hectares of forest fragments through ecological corridors and improving water availability in high-risk watersheds. These goals align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and broader efforts to advance a regenerative, nature-positive economy.
More than 25 stakeholders including government bodies, NGOs, researchers, and local communities contributed to the development of the strategy. Suzano says this collaborative process was critical to ensuring scientific credibility and practical relevance across diverse landscapes.
World's largest pulp producer, Suzano leads in eucalyptus-based bioproduction from Brazil. It converts planted forests into pulp, tissue, packaging, and innovations like biodegradable Greenpack paper across 2.9M hectares.
Source: Suzano
