Eastman Plants 11,000 Trees in Brazil's Atlantic Forest

Eastman and SOS Mata Atlântica just announced plans to plant 11,000 native tree seedlings across two critical river basins in Brazil's Atlantic Forest. The trees will help restore water supplies for 12 million people while protecting one of Earth's most threatened ecosystems.

The Tennessee-based materials company is expanding its partnership with the Brazilian environmental organization to restore forests in the Tietê and Paraíba do Sul river basins. These areas have suffered for decades from urban sprawl, industrial pressure, and agricultural expansion that stripped away protective forest cover.

The new seedlings will go into the ground during Brazil's rainy season between October and March. SOS Mata Atlântica's Forests of the Future program handles the careful work of soil preparation, removing obstacles to natural growth, and planting diverse native species that once thrived there.

Each restoration site gets two years of active maintenance and five years of monitoring to ensure the young forests take root. The goal extends beyond just planting trees to reconnecting broken forest fragments and strengthening ecological corridors that wildlife needs to survive.

The partnership creates jobs too. Local nurseries grow the seedlings, and rural workers handle the planting and care. In municipalities where forest cover has dropped below 10%, this restoration work becomes essential for protecting both biodiversity and drinking water.

The Ripple Effect

Ana Beatriz Liaffa, who coordinates the Forests of the Future program, sees something remarkable happening. Rural landowners who participate start viewing their restored forest patches with pride and responsibility. Some trees from the first project phase in Bahia already provide shade for maintenance crews working the sites.

The shift in mindset spreads. When farmers recognize the value of restored forests on their land, they become advocates for conservation in their communities. That cultural change may prove as important as the trees themselves.

This partnership builds on Eastman's 2022 collaboration with SOS Mata Atlântica and supports the UN's Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. The company sources wood pulp for its Naia textile fibers from sustainably managed forests and uses closed-loop manufacturing to minimize water use and environmental impact.

The Atlantic Forest once covered nearly 350 million acres along Brazil's coast but has shrunk to just 12% of its original size. Every new seedling represents a small victory in bringing back what was lost.