With an annual turnover of more than euro 1,100 million, 92% of which correspond to sales in the external markets, from Europe to Asia, all of the Group's activity begins in the forest.
The Portucel Soporcel group is responsible for woodland assets up and down the country, totalling approximately 120 thousand hectares. This land is managed in accordance with the principles set out in the group's Forestry Policy. The eucalyptus, more specifically the Eucalyptus globulus species, which is considered at world level to provide the ideal fibre for the production of high quality papers, occupies 74% of this area.
In the Biodiversity 
scope, the Group has established partnerships with the WWF – World Wide Fund for Nature
The majority of the Group’s forest assets are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), whose certification system guarantees that the Company’s forests are responsibly managed at environmental, economic and social level, and comply with strict and internationally recognised criteria. On a first phase the scope of FSC certification has been restricted to mainland estate, owned by or leased to the Group, and to eucalyptus roundwood. Areas excluded from FSC certification comprise of some areas where long-term sustainable management can not be guaranteed by the company (some leasing contracts or areas where economic sustainability is not foreseen). Nevertheless, in these non FSC-certified areas, the Groups publicly assumes it’s commitment towards a responsible conduct, respecting the spirit and intentions expressed is FSC’s Principles and Criteria.
Besides certifying it’s own managed forests, the Group has been actively promoting forest certification adoption by private forest owners all over the country.
Besides the production of eucalyptus to meet its industrial needs, the Group also engages in a wide range of other activities, from game reserves to cork, wine , honey and ornamental plants. The Group’s Herdade de Espirra (Espirra Estate) is a good example of its long-standing agroforestry strategy focused on biodiversity and multiple soil use. It is in this estate that the Group produces the Herdade de Espirra wine, which has already won several prizes in Portugal and abroad.
Its important forest assets make the Group a net carbon fixer. By the end of 2007, the plantations managed by the Company had an accumulated retention of 7.7 million tons of CO2. The Group sees the forest as a strategic source of wealth for the country: in fact the national forest based industry generates 2.8% of the Portuguese Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The Portucel Soporcel group is strongly committed to applied research, an activity developed at RAIZ 
, Instituto de Investigação da Floresta e Papel (Forest and Paper Research Institute). RAIZ supports the forestry and paper industries, providing technological support and specialised training.
The operational management of the Group’s forest is carried out by Aliança Florestal. Within the scope of this company, mechanised forest exploitation is developed by AFLOMEC, while the prevention and support to forest fire fighting is the responsibility of AFOCELCA, an organisation jointly set up with other companies in the sector.
Finally, Viveiros Aliança, SA. produces in its nurseries forestry and ornamental plants for the Group and for the external market.
International Seminar - June 2nd 2009
The Forest - Path to Sustainable Prosperity
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