LET'S SAVE THE MATA ATLÂNTICA!

At TIJUCA we are aware that our activities can contribute to the deforestation of the Mata Atlântica and that it is our responsibility to act for its preservation. This is why we work alongside local authorities and the many NGOs that work to protect and restore this environment. Thanks to these combined efforts, all hope is not lost.

UNITY MAKES THE FOREST
In order to protect existing biodiversity, national parks have been created, including the TIJUCA Forest, as well as biological corridors. Sebastião Salgado, a French-Brazilian photographer, founded the Terra Institute, planting 2.5 million trees on 700 hectares, which has allowed the return of many species.
Recently, the government and the SOS Mata Atlântica association proposed creating an 8,000-kilometer ecological corridor along the coast, in the heart of the Mata Atlântica, to raise awareness about deforestation. Inspired by legendary routes such as the “Great Trail” in Canada, this future trail linking Brazil from north to south is called “Oiapoque-Chui,” after the cities located at the two extremes.
LAND TO PRESERVE
The Brazilian government has also established a list of species to be protected and has put in place specific regulations on wood cutting for the manufacture of wooden barrels (used for aging the rum).
Today, even if the system can be improved, particularly in the Amazon, Brazil has a reliable traceability system to determine the origin of the wood. Our producers only use authorized and sustainably managed wood. They are also involved in replanting operations.

Reforestation of the Mata Atlântica is a critical concern for a wide variety of reasons. It helps conserve water resources and preserve indigenous cultures. It also helps slow climate change as a massive source of biomass storage to offset human activity, and thus contributes to the overall health of ecosystems.

OUR PRODUCERS AT WORK
For these reasons, we have selected local producers who share our same convictions in favor of protecting the environment.
We ensure that their wood comes from sustainable stocks and sustainably managed forests. While we know that deforestation has been caused, in part, throughout history by timber harvesting, the situation in Brazilian forests is probably similar to oak and other species forests in Europe at the time of industrialization, when forests were at significant risk.
LITTLE TREE WILL BECOME BIG
More specifically, of the four endemic woods used for the aging of cachaças used in the composition of TIJUCA rum and cachaça, two belong to the category of protected species: jequitibá and pau-brasil. Our producers replant these trees in order to compensate for the impact of the felling carried out for the manufacture of barrels.
Amburana and Ipe are not classified as endangered species but we ensure that the barrels come from stocks managed in accordance with environmental rules. Note that amburana or Ipe barrels last about forty years and each tree takes about fifteen years to grow, which allows for sustainable production.

In order to encourage our producers to continue their efforts, TIJUCA is committed to donating part of its turnover to those who fight to save the Mata Atlântica and thus helps the municipality of Rio das Flores (RJ) to replant trees.
