Eucalyptus: More Than Meets the Eye

A first-hand look at a Eucalyptus farm brought into focus some of the important environmental questions being raised along the Environmental Justice in Brazil trip. Amilton, a local farmer, invited EJB to his farm in the village of Consilheiro Mata, near the Agarthy preserve. After touring through his various fruit gardens and conducting some interview questions, we finally got to get up close with the tree which is king amongst export crops in Brazil; Eucalyptus.

Later turned into paper, charcoal, and building materials, the eucalyptus which grows in Brazil is non-native, endemic to Australia and Southeast Asia. The particular species being grown in Brazil is one which can be harvested after 7 years, according to Amilton. However, the prevalence of eucalyptus farming in the country is one that comes with a slew of environmental concerns, in particular because the tree is most often monocropped, meaning large swaths of land which are used exclusively for growing a single crop.

When asked about ecological impact, Amilton touted eucalyptus farming as a form of reforestation, “Eucalyptus is beneficial to the environment,” Said Amilton. “Planting eucalyptus saves virgin forest from being cut down…for every hectare of Eucalyptus, 8 hectares of virgin forest are being preserved”. This makes sense, but what about the impact on the local environment where the non-native tree is being planted and monocropped? “The animals have mostly left. The bees like the eucalyptus, but not the other animals. Maybe they don’t like the smell,” added Amilton.

It takes 1.5 years to be approved and licensed by the government to plant and farm Eucalyptus. In that time, officials from the municipal, state, and federal governments conduct a rigorous analysis of the environmental impacts of growing the crop in a specific area. The requirements are rigorous, including keeping a distance from growing near any free flowing natural water sources, and creating a permanent preservation area which will never be used for farming. According to Amilton, the larger eucalyptus plantations leave a strip of non-deforested land in the middle of the eucalyptus for wildlife. Though the licensing process was described as expensive, Amilton would not disclose the exact cost.