OUR FORESTS

Our Forestry and Resin Division manages planting, resin tapping , and wood for about 55,000 hectares distributed among our own areas, partnerships, leasing, and forest partnership.

FORESTRY & MANAGEMENT

The first step in establishing the forest is the choice of the genetic material that will be planted. Our Genetic Improvement Program was started in the 1980s, responsible for producing superior genetic materials of various species adapted to the country’s diverse climatic conditions. Our Forestry Research Program promotes continuous improvements in processes and products, both in seedling production and forest management. The result is highly productive, healthy forests.

In the forestry implantation and maintenance phases, we follow silviculture and management practices established in the literature, adjusted by our Forestry Research Program, and approved by the FSC sieve:

FORESTRY

CLEANING THE AREA:

The area where the forest will be planted needs to be free of weed competition. This can be done via mowing and or herbicide application.

Combat ants:

It is usually done using bait-formicides, in a localized way.

SUBSOILING/SHOEING:

In areas where it is possible to mechanize, we do subsoiling, in order to speed up the planting process and facilitate the penetration of the seedling root system into the soil.

Where it is not possible to subsoil, we do hand-troweling. In this case, we do the beaconing operation first, to ensure that the correct spacing is followed. Dimples are opened to accommodate the seedlings for planting.

PLANTING:

It is a manual operation that should be performed preferably during the rainy season. Each open pit receives a seedling, the turned-over soil is returned, and a pressure is applied at the planting site to prevent air pockets from forming.

When planting, make sure that the root ball does not bend inside the hole. The stem of the seedling should be level with the pit, neither drowned nor exposed.

REPLANTS:

It should be done around three months after planting.

FOREST MANAGEMENT

CLEANING THE AREA:

There must be weed-competition control, so that the weeds never exceed the height of the pine, blocking the light from entering for development. This control can be done by trimming, crowning, or by applying herbicides.

Combat ants:

The combat is usually done using bait-formicides, in a localized way, when damage is identified in the forest.

Thinning:

Depending on the initial planting density, the forest is thinned, systematically, to open branches that will be useful in the resin tapping operation, and selectively, to eliminate the worst individuals.

Pruning:

Pruning is done to leave the panel that will be resined free of branches. The trunk should be pruned to a height of approximately 3.5 m, which is where the resin tapping is usually applied.

FOREST RESEARCH

An important action for the success of a forestry project is the choice of the seedling that will be planted. Since the 80’s, Grupo RB has developed Research and Genetic Improvement activities aiming to increase the productivity and quality of Pinus spp. resin gum. The forest improvement program has well-defined strategies, planned in the short and long term, to obtain the desired genetic materials.

Thanks to the high genetic diversity of the Pinus genus, the improvement program has been able to manipulate the characteristics of interest by means of mass selection, controlled crossbreeding and hybridization, progeny and provenance testing, always seeking to obtain genetic materials adapted to meet the most diverse purposes and environments. This action has been providing gains in the quality of the raw material, increasing resistance to pests and diseases, besides the increase in production associated with the lowest possible cost. Currently, the Forestry Research Department develops work in the areas of biotechnology, genetic improvement, cloning, nursery, resin tapping, forest management, and nutrition.

VIVEIRO JAÓ

RB Group seeks the production of high quality seedlings for the formation of forest plantations. Besides being able to offer its customers improved seedlings for resin and wood production, it also offers the result of its Forestry Research and Development. The RB Group’s nursery has a team specialized in genetic improvement, responsible for selecting and indicating new materials for planting. This action promotes the increase in the productivity of resin gum and wood from forest plantations. A forest planted with the right genetic material for resin production can have productivity of more than 4 kg/tree/year. The resin provides periodic income, in addition to the income from the wood at the end of the cycle. The annual production capacity of the Jaó Nursery is 15 million Pinus spp. seedlings.

VIVEIRO JAÓ

RB Group seeks the production of high quality seedlings for the formation of forest plantations. Besides being able to offer its customers improved seedlings for resin and wood production, it also offers the result of its Forestry Research and Development. The RB Group’s nursery has a team specialized in genetic improvement, responsible for selecting and indicating new materials for planting. This action promotes the increase in the productivity of resin gum and wood from forest plantations. A forest planted with the right genetic material for resin production can have productivity of more than 4 kg/tree/year. The resin provides periodic income, in addition to the income from the wood at the end of the cycle. The annual production capacity of the Jaó Nursery is 15 million Pinus spp. seedlings.

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SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Seeds, Seedlings & Products

Genetic improvement is responsible for the development of superior trees and the formation of more productive and profitable plantations, providing operational advantages and considerable economic gains.

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Forestry
Forest Planting & Management

Planting begins with area preparation, weed competition control, ant control and subsoiling/pitting. The RB Group Forests are rigorously managed in order to reach the maximum production of gum resin and wood.

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resin tapping
Stretching and Collection

The resining tapping process begins with the groove in the tree trunk and later the gum resin is collected, to supply the factories of the RB Group.

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TIMBER
Itabox & Wood Sale

At the end of the resining cycle, the trees are cut down to replant the new forest. The production of wood is destined for the sale and supply of Itabox.

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chemicals
Pitch, Pitch Resins, Turpentine & Terpene Derivatives

The RB Group, a global leader in natural resins, has high-performance factories strategically located in Brazil and Europe, with the capacity to serve its customers on five continents with maximum efficiency and quality.

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alimentary
Sweet Gum & Cafosa

Committed to our customers, we incorporate what is most innovative and safe for the chewing gum industry, offering products and services of high quality and performance.

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