Support practices for the reforestation and preservation of native woods within the tobacco culture in southern Brazil

Abstract

This paper analyzes environmental management as practiced by the tobacco sector in Southern Brazil, more specifically in relation to one of the main problems facing the sector, i.e., the use of firewood as burning fuel to cure tobacco. The tobacco culture is an agricultural activity characterized by family production and massive absorption of hand labor in small rural areas actually developed throughout 787 counties in the three southernmost Brazilian states. Regarding the environment, meaningful parts of the properties are destined to native woods of which approximately 27% is actually reforested, mounting to a percentage above the one demanded by the Brazilian legislation. Our study also detected the increasing concern by the tobacco industry towards preserving the environment, with practical actions such as the support to reforestation practices and the preservation of native woods, which have been spread among a large population of tobacco growers, mounting to a total of 198.040 of them.