Over the past 30 years, the Forest Stewardship Council has worked tirelessly to protect forests from climate change, biodiversity loss, and deforestation. We are proud to have been part of this journey as FSC® Certificate Holders, applying sustainable practices that contribute to a more responsible future. This year, as in the past four years, we joined the #FSCForestWeek under the theme "Small steps, big changes for everyone." Click to discover how we celebrated this time.
Read moreJoin us in highlighting, together with the @Forest Stewardship Council, the need to take collective action to protect our forests and share the small actions we can all take to create lasting change. Stay tuned to our channels to learn how you can participate and support this year's campaign from September 21 to 27 by using #FSCForestWeek. Visit the FSC™ website to learn more about how to get involved. FSC-C005515.
Last Monday, at the Curva facility, we conducted an important first aid training session led by instructor Sebastián Márquez. The event was attended by employees from Forestal Atlántico Sur, contractor companies, and local residents from our area of influence. This session, crucial for both our organization and the community, helped reinforce vital knowledge on emergency care, resuscitation techniques, and the use of a defibrillator, highlighting the importance of a quick and effective response in critical situations. With a strong practical focus, the training not only enhances safety within our work environment but also promotes preparedness among those in our area of influence. These training sessions, which we hold regularly, are a clear reflection of our unwavering commitment to the well-being and safety of everyone.
This past Friday, we had the privilege of supporting and attending the conference organized by the Rural Association of Batlle y Ordóñez and Nico Pérez at the Concordia Club in Batlle y Ordóñez, Lavalleja, titled "Living Better: 5 Connections for a Meaningful Life," presented by psychologist Alejandro De Barbieri. The event, which gathered more than 200 community members, offered valuable tools to improve mental and emotional health—fundamental topics for the well-being of our community. As a company committed to sustainability, we understand that caring for the environment goes beyond nature, extending to the well-being of the people who inhabit it. In line with our values, we promote initiatives that strengthen the holistic development of the communities where we operate. Click here to watch the full conference.
Read moreOn September 6th, we held a Forest Health Update Workshop to train our operations team on the latest trends in protecting our forests. The agenda included new threats such as emerging diseases and pathogens, advanced detection techniques, and strategies to mitigate the risks of pests and diseases. This workshop is part of our ongoing training program, launched last year, which combines theoretical instruction with practical field exercises. This year, the focus was on updating and reinforcing the knowledge gained, strengthening our ability to detect and manage potential threats to the health of our forests.
On Tuesday, September 17th, at 9:30 AM, the Forestry Breakfast organized by the Forestry Producers Society will take place. This civil association was established in 1959 and is made up of various actors from the production chain of the sector, including independent rural producers, forestry companies, companies managing investment and pension funds, nurseries, technicians, and forestry service and industrial companies. In this edition, the agricultural advisors of the presidential candidates will be present to discuss the future of forestry, and Ignacio Munyo, Executive Director of CERES, will present an update on the 2023 forestry sector study.
For the past three months, the Forestry Producers Society has been presenting "Uruguay Forestal" on the show "Otra Mañana" on Radio Oriental. The purpose of this series was to showcase all facets of a young and dynamic sector, which currently leads in export volume in Uruguay. Over the past 10 years, the forestry sector has received more than $4.5 billion in foreign direct investment and represents 1.5% of total employment in the country. Throughout the episodes, relevant topics such as investments, logistics, and ecosystem services have been explored, providing a comprehensive view of the vital role the forestry sector plays in Uruguay. We invite you to listen to the 12 episodes available on Spotify, YouTube, and the Forestry Producers Society's website to learn more about the sector.
This past Sunday, the Ánimas Trail Running Race took place. At Forestal Atlántico Sur, we are proud to support trail running in Lavalleja, promoting a healthy lifestyle and the recreational use of our forests, and having part of our team represent us. To further support and enhance the participants' experience, we also contributed with our flora and fauna manuals for the runners' raffle. These manuals, based on studies conducted in the fields where FAS operates, offer a deep and detailed look at the biodiversity of our forests, enabling us to design management and monitoring plans aimed at conserving natural resources and values in our areas of influence. Click to access the rest of the photos.
"The Contractors' School" is an educational initiative led by Forestal Atlántico Sur, in partnership with Edúcate and funded by our valued contractors. In its 2024 edition, the initiative will focus on enriching the educational experience of children at School No. 107 in Sierras Blancas, Lavalleja. This project is part of our commitment to continuous improvement within the framework of Sustainable Forest Management. The "Reading is a Journey" project is at the heart of "The Contractors' School" in 2024. Our goal is to transform each child into an independent reader, instilling the joy of reading through rewarding experiences. We aim to make books constant companions in their educational journey, both within the school and at home.
In line with our commitment to promoting work practices that respect and value diversity and equality, we have organized, in collaboration with INEFOP, a training and awareness day on gender and inclusion issues. Our goal is to continue building increasingly inclusive work environments. This initiative had the participation of 17 FAS colleagues and 23 representatives of contracting companies, demonstrating our shared commitment. During the workshop, key topics were addressed such as the development of inclusion policies with a gender perspective and the support available for entrepreneurs. The valuable contribution of rural women in forestry companies and the support strategies that companies can offer them were highlighted. The benefits of mixed teams and how to promote more diverse and equitable workplaces were also discussed. In addition, our commitment to SDG 5: Gender Equality was reaffirmed.