The Brazilian Association of Forest Plantations Producers (ABRAF) has been launched.
Companies involved in solid wood products, paneling, energy, pulp and paper have joined forces under the new umbrella organisation.
A key aim is to ensure future availability of wood supply for the different manufacturing sectors in Brazil. The country’s forestry sector is important to the domestic economy despite being nowhere near its full potential. Sales of around US$21bn in 2002 accounted for 4% of GDP and export of forest products brought in US$5.4bn during the year, accounting for 10% of the country’s overall export earnings.
Carlos Aguiar, president and CEO of Aracruz, is the first president of ABRAF.
