A Critical Conversation on Climate Change ... - Green Choices

312 development dialogue september 2006 – carbon tradingHarvest timeon Plantar’splantations.Locals: What with the eucalyptus industry’s transformation of localrural society, people often have no livelihood options other thansmall-scale charcoal production, and build clay ovens in the cerradofor the purpose. Collecting commercial eucalyptus is against the law,however, so independent producers often burn what’s left of nativetrees, and the resulting charcoal is often eventually purchased by thecorporations. Although the companies are legally allowed to use acertain percentage of charcoal made from native cerrado trees as longas it comes with a certificate, they are said to pay more for nativecharcoal without the certificate. This allows them to use more thanthe legal amount of native charcoal. Companies still use around 15-20per cent native charcoal.Plantar: The use of charcoal made out of native vegetation is a realitythat bothers pig iron manufacturers, environmentalists and authoritiesalike. That’s why it’s a goal of the Plantar project to establish sustainableplantations, capable of supplying 100 per cent well-managed eucalyptusplantation charcoal for pig iron manufacturing, thus curbingnegative impacts brought by the use of native vegetation.Forestclearancefor Plantarplantation.