Arefloresta presents forestry strategic demands to Mato Grosso political coalitions

The Association of Reforesters of Mato Grosso (Arefloresta) has presented strategic demands to the three main coalitions competing for the state government. The initiative aims to place the forestry sector at the center of public debate and state policy to drive environmental and economic development.

Mato Grosso currently has approximately 253,000 hectares of planted forests. The association seeks to reach a state goal of 700,000 hectares by 2040. To achieve this, Arefloresta is calling for structural changes, including the creation of a Credit Guarantee Fund and a State Forestry Investment Fund to accommodate the long 7-to-20-year production cycles of forests.

Additional proposals include the implementation of a state wood industrialization program and the modernization of the State Secretariat for the Environment (Sema) to ensure more agile and standardized administrative processes, such as simplified Terms of Reference for forestry management.