Plantation models that gave little consideration to the needs of local communities resulted in years of conflict in the Brazilian states of Bahia and Espirito Santo. But Fibria has turned the situation around, with company and communities now working together to achieve common goals. Since 2009, Fibria has invested more than US$50 million in its social development programmes, benefiting thousands of families.
Local communities have seen significant improvements in their standard of living. For example, for families involved in PDRT activities in Bahia and Espirito Santo, the average monthly family income increased 44% between 2012 and 2013. Communities have invested in improvements in housing, sanitation, agroecological management practices and water use. In total, more than 5,000 families benefit directly from Fibria’s community investments.
