Pará Officializes Sustainable Forest Concession in Amazonian Lands

On Thursday (5), the Government of Pará signed the forest concession contract for the 2nd Forest Management Unit (UMF) of the Mamuru-Arapiuns Land Complex at Utinga State Park, in Belém. Coinciding with World Environment Day, the initiative underscores the state’s commitment to Amazon conservation through the sustainable use of natural resources.

The 2nd UMF covers an area of 68,680.72 hectares across the municipalities of Santarém, Juruti, and Aveiro. The 30-year contract authorizes the sustainable harvesting of up to 30,000 cubic meters of legal timber annually. At least 8% of this production must be processed locally, promoting the regional economy through environmentally responsible practices.

Established under the Public Forest Management Law (No. 11,284/2006), the forest concession model allows private companies to manage forest products and services through payments to the state, without transferring land ownership. The aim is to curb predatory practices such as land grabbing and illegal deforestation, while encouraging the rational use of natural resources.

Nilson Pinto, president of the Pará State Institute for Forest and Biodiversity Development (Ideflor-Bio), emphasized that the concession ensures institutional presence in previously neglected areas, bringing oversight, investment, and job opportunities. “It’s the forest generating wealth without needing to be destroyed,” he said.

In addition to sustainable forest management, the contract requires the concessionaire to invest over R$300,000 annually in initiatives that support the social, productive, and community organization of surrounding populations. These investments, defined through participatory processes involving residents, the company, and public agencies, are intended to meet local needs in infrastructure, services, and sustainable income generation.

Since the implementation of the forest concession model in the Mamuru-Arapiuns Land Complex, the Government of Pará has seen positive impacts in reducing deforestation and strengthening the legal forest economy. With constant state oversight and independent audits, the contracts strictly enforce sustainable forest management practices, ensuring the natural regeneration of the forest.

Source: Agência Pará