Fibria came in first place in the Natural Resources Conservation category of the 2011 Ecology Awards for a project titled "Program for the Conservation and Ecological Restoration of the Remaining Forest Fragments of the State of Espírito Santo."

Organized by the Government of Espírito Santo and partners, the awards were granted in late November and aim to acknowledge and encourage projects and research in the environmental area.

The event highlighted the declaration of the UN, which officialized 2011 as the International Forest Year. Also this year, by means of the State Department for the Environment and Water Resources (Seama) and the State Environment and Water Resources Institute (Iema), the State Government rolled-out the "Reflorestar", the State Program for the Enhancement of the Forest Coverage, of which Fibria is also a partner.

According to Fibria Forestry Environment analyst Roberto Mediato, the award is an encouragement for the company's work to be continued. "Awards are an important recognition of the initiatives that we have carried out in the restoration chain," he stressed.

Under development since 2010, the purpose of the project is to restore some 9,000 hectares of Atlantic Forest in 17 Espírito Santo municipalities. The areas are expected to be conserved by 2016, by this driving a significant increase in the Espírito Santo forestry coverage. In addition to the environmental benefits, such as improved water, soil and weather quality in the areas that are encompassed under the program, the project also contributes to generating income and quality of life in the municipalities involved.