In a local planting initiative, Sonae Arauco employees in Meppen, together with their families, demonstrated their commitment to sustainability and community spirit.

More than 100 Sonae Arauco employees and their families came together in Meppen (Germany) and Castelo de Paiva (Portugal) for a reforestation initiative that resulted in the planting of over 1,400 new trees. The goal was clear: restore degraded forest areas, enhance biodiversity, and promote ecosystems that are more resilient to climate change.

Several essential interventions were carried out to restore and improve the health of the forest areas:

• Planting trees of various species, including cork oaks, birches, willows, ashes, strawberry trees and pines;
  
  
• Removing invasive species, such as mimosa (Acacia dealbata) and Australian blackwood (Acacia melanoxylon);
  
  
• Applying the debarking technique to mimosa trees, removing a ring of bark around the trunk to interrupt sap flow and help control the species.

These actions play a key role in restoring natural areas, promoting more diverse habitats, and creating forests that are better equipped to withstand fire and climate pressures.

The initiative is part of Sonae Arauco’s sustainability strategy and demonstrates that real impact happens when people work together and take action within the communities where the company operates.