Stora Enso and Suzano’s joint venture Veracel Celulose is taking a leading role in restoring Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest through the newly launched Muçununga Project, spearheaded by Biomas in southern Bahia.
Over the next two years, more than two million native seedlings will be planted across 1,200 hectares of Veracel’s land. The large-scale restoration aims to regenerate one of the world’s most threatened biomes, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen local ecosystems by stabilizing water resources, moderating local temperatures, and improving soil health.
Beyond its environmental goals, the project places strong emphasis on community engagement. Biomas and Veracel are collaborating with local residents to foster social inclusion and create new economic opportunities linked to restoration and conservation work.
The initiative, named after the unique Muçununga ecosystem native to Bahia, will also generate scientifically verified, high-integrity carbon credits to help finance ongoing activities. These credits ensure measurable and long-term climate benefits while supporting local development.
The Muçununga Project is Biomas’ first large-scale initiative and marks the beginning of its broader mission to restore millions of hectares of degraded land in Brazil over the next two decades.
As Brazil prepares to host COP30, the project highlights how partnerships between industry, science, and communities can contribute to global climate goals. “Through Veracel, we are proud to contribute to the Muçununga Project, which not only helps restore a unique ecosystem but also supports Brazil’s climate ambitions,” said Johanna Hagelberg, EVP Biomaterials at Stora Enso and board member of Veracel.
Veracel Celulose is a joint venture between Stora Enso and Suzano, operating in southern Bahia, Brazil. The company produces bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp and is recognized for its forest management practices, which integrate commercial forestry with large-scale conservation and restoration of native ecosystems.
