Biomas Launches Major Reforestation Project In Brazil

Brazilian reforestation firm Biomas, supported by large investors such as Vale, Marfrig, Suzano, Santander Brasil, Itaú, and Rabobank, has launched its first large-scale reforestation project. The project, called the Mucununga Project, will restore 1,200 hectares of the Atlantic rainforest in Bahia state, one of the world's most biodiverse but most threatened ecosystems. With a $9.7 million investment, Biomas intends to plant more than two million native trees, a critical move toward environmental regeneration and climatic action.

The Atlantic rainforest, which was spread in vast expanses now inhabited by two-thirds of Brazil's population, has shrunk to 12% of its original extent. Identified around the world as a hotspot of biodiversity, the area provides a strategic location for reforestation because it has existing infrastructure and secure land titles, said Fabio Sakamoto, CEO of Biomas. "The Atlantic rainforest is a hotspot of biodiversity," Sakamoto said, noting the need to select an area that permits instant and effective action.

Working in collaboration with Veracel Celulose, Biomas' reforestation project is not only aimed to restore the forest but also to make a substantial contribution to climate objectives. The project itself is anticipated to produce about 500,000 high-quality carbon credits within the next 40 years, with every credit equating to the reduction of one ton of carbon dioxide emissions. The long-term vision reflects Biomas' dedication to integrating environmental renewal with carbon sequestration in a manner that maintains both environmental and economic sustainability.

Biomas distinguishes itself from other emerging reforestation companies like Mombak and re.green by choosing to initiate its work in the Atlantic corridor rather than immediately moving into the Amazon. However, Sakamoto confirmed that the company’s broader strategy includes restoring both the Atlantic rainforest and the Amazon. “We have been mapping opportunities in both biomes for the past couple of years,” he said, underscoring a comprehensive national approach to ecological restoration.

Apart from carbon sequestration, the Mucununga Project is a reflection of Biomas' holistic vision for reforestation. The company perceives ecological restoration as an interdependent process that brings together soil health, water cycles, biodiversity, economic activity, and community well-being. Mapping out degraded land, designing reforestation work, and working with local communities are all occurring at the same time to achieve enduring environmental and social impacts.

Biomas is giving significant priority to social inclusion and community engagement right from the beginning. Active listening and community consultation were integrated into the development stage of the project to ensure that efforts at reforestation not only give the ecosystem a new lease on life, but also generate real benefits for local communities. The return of the forest will keep temperatures cooler and water cleaner, increasing agricultural productivity and the health of people, plants, and animals," the company said in its press release, emphasizing the wider social and environmental gains that restoration will bring.

The Mucununga Project marks only the beginning of Biomas’ wider ambition. Over the next 20 years, the company plans to restore millions of hectares of degraded or unproductive land across Brazil. This long-term goal reflects an understanding that reforestation is not only critical for biodiversity and climate resilience but also essential for supporting sustainable rural economies and improving the quality of life for communities living near restored areas.

More broadly, Biomas' activity fits into the international momentum building around nature-based solutions to climate change. By restoring native forest, Biomas and other firms are helping create essential carbon sinks while preserving biodiversity, securing water sources, and generating green jobs. The promise of transparency, environmental integrity, and community cooperation creates a new standard for Brazil's reforestation efforts, and beyond.

As the Mucununga Project unfolds, Biomas' methodology presents a promising model for how corporate capital, ecological research, and popular participation can all converge to address some of the world's most urgent environmental problems. Successful restoration of the Atlantic rainforest would not only restore a vital biome but show that ambitious, large-scale environmental restoration is not only feasible but desperately needed.