SITE SELECTION
At the start of the project several sites were chosen for development, all sites were located approximately 30km from the city of Barreiras. Sites were chosen due to their proximity with each other that would allow the company to reduce costs associated with the planation establishment.
These sites were also to be interconnected with GWD Forestry developing road infrastructure between sites connecting them with Fazenda Tropical and direct access to the main asphalt highway to Salvador. Soil condition was checked prior to acquisition of sites in order to confirm that each site maintained the recommended soil composition for the region and were suitable for the establishment of eucalyptus crops.
It was also felt at the time that the location of the sites acquired were expected to benefit from the development of a new rail system that could potentially open up the region via the new rail link to the city of Jequie to the east and the location of Bahia’s first pig iron facility being constructed within the region.
The images below show the sites acquired prior to the development of the project, and as the project finally started to progress.
SITE MAPS
Click on the images below to view site plans
INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
As part of the companies planning phase GWD Forestry constructed the correct infrastructure in order to interconnect the sites to both the location of the companies operative HQ as well as allowing access at harvest to the main asphalt highway. Alongside road development the company was legally required to construct workers accommodation and facilities.
SEEDLING PROCUREMENT
Seedlings were acquired by GWD Forestry under direction of the forestry manager (Nuno Paris) and were selected from similar regions in Minas Gerais known to produce excellent yields.
PLANTING
Seedlings were transported to individual FSPU areas before being established prior to the start of the regions rainy season.
AFTER ESTABLISHMENT
The first few years after the plantations were established were a critical time for GWD Forestry, combating disease as well as pests such as ants was the main focus as the young eucalyptus started to grow.
PLANTATION ESTABLISHMENT
Over the next several years GWD Forestry maintained the forests the pictures in this section show the farm areas identified established with eucalyptus crops.
HARVEST OPERATIONS
In 2017 after receiving the final licensing from INEMA to cut and transport timber issued in November 2016 GWD Forestry progressed with the harvesting of the eucalyptus projects
