The Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES) has approved financing of R$ 200 million for Camapuã Agropecuária Ltda., a company in the BTG Pactual TIG reforestation strategy, to protect and restore 49,458 hectares in the Cerrado biome, located in Mato Grosso do Sul. For this project, more than 52,000 hectares have already been acquired, and it includes two main fronts:
- Restoration of 24,850 hectares of consolidated areas, without the removal of native vegetation or commercial timber exploitation, in accordance with the Forest Code (Law No. 12,651/2012) and the National Policy for the Recovery of Native Vegetation (PNRV).
- Conservation of 24,608 hectares of preserved areas, with actions such as fencing, biodiversity monitoring, control of invasive species, and fire prevention.
Ecological restoration is a process aimed at recovering the functionality and biodiversity of ecosystems altered by human activities, including lands lacking developed native vegetation or in a state of conservation inadequate for local biodiversity sustainability.
“BNDES has been coordinating and promoting forest restoration as a crucial tool to combat the climate crisis, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and foster sustainable development, which is a priority for President Lula’s government,” emphasized BNDES president Aloizio Mercadante.
“We believe that restoration efforts are the most effective when they can be expanded at scale, which requires a conjoint effort in an efficient and sustainable model. BNDES’ financial support will help advance our goal of protecting and restoring Brazil’s forests as part of a large-scale investment strategy” said Roberto Sallouti, CEO of BTG Pactual.
The conversion of consolidated areas into native vegetation represents a significant environmental improvement, fully supported by Brazilian legislation. This initiative demonstrates that it is possible to combine scientific knowledge, private investment, and environmental conservation to generate significant positive impacts.
Scientific Innovation and Strategic Partnerships
Restoration will be carried out exclusively with native species, with technical support from the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), through a Research and Development agreement with the Forest Restoration Laboratory. Ongoing experiments involve more than 100 native species across 81 hectares of test plots.
Carbon Market
The initiative is conducted in partnership with Conservation International for the assessment of degraded areas and restoration planning, aiming to connect fragments of native vegetation to form ecological corridors. In addition to environmental benefits, the project stands out for generating high-integrity carbon credits. The expectation is for the entire reforestation strategy to generate approximately 36 million credits, of which 25% have already been contracted by global companies.
BTG Pactual TIG
BTG Pactual TIG is one of the world’s largest timberland managers with $7.3 billion assets and commitments and 2.9 million acres under management throughout the U.S. and Latin America (as of Q2, 2025). Its team of more than 160 professionals has an on-the-ground presence through 22 offices, bringing local, regional, and global experience to bear on the careful management of client investments. See website for more information and important disclosures: timberlandinvestmentgroup.com
The BTG Pactual reforestation strategy’s investment policy includes the protection and recovery of degraded areas in Brazil and other Latin American countries. BTG Pactual controls Camapuã Agropecuária, which will implement the project.
About the Project:
- Location: Mato Grosso do Sul, Cerrado biome
- Total area: 49,458 hectares (24,608 ha conservation + 24,850 ha restoration)
- Partnerships: Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) and Conservation International
- Expectation: Generation of approximately 36 million carbon credits from the strategy as a whole
- Status: 12,000 hectares already under restoration