Nature has an extraordinary ability to regenerate — but it needs help to recover from damage caused over centuries. Around the world, environmental conservation initiatives prove that it is possible to reverse destruction, restore ecosystems, and create a future that balances human development with environmental protection. From forests regrowing in previously degraded areas to species returning to their natural habitats, different strategies show that there is still time to act.

The challenge, however, is urgent. According to the UN, 1 million species — or about 25% of life on Earth — are at risk of extinction in the next decade due to human activity. Researchers warn that we are at the beginning of the Sixth Mass Extinction, a process accelerated by deforestation, pollution, and climate change. But if humanity is responsible for the crisis, it is also responsible for reversing it. With resources, knowledge, and time, ecosystems have the potential to regenerate and regain their natural balance.

What is the difference between environmental preservation and conservation?

Although often used as synonyms, conservation and preservation have different meanings. Preservation refers to keeping the natural environment untouched, such as a forest. In this model, the goal is to protect the area and ensure its integrity and permanence without human interference.

Conservation, on the other hand, assumes the possibility of implementing actions and management strategies. When we talk about conservation, it is implied that the region has some level of human intervention for its maintenance, while in preservation the area remains intact. Brazilian environmental law establishes different mechanisms for each approach: Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs), such as mangroves and riparian forests, do not allow direct economic exploitation; whereas Legal Reserves (RLs) enable the sustainable use of natural resources.

"Conservation allows the management of exotic species and the production of non-timber products, such as honey, resins, and fruits," explains Paulo Groke, specialist director at Instituto Ecofuturo, a non-governmental organization created by Suzano, focused on environmental conservation and promoting knowledge about the environment.

Why are conservation and preservation important?

Both approaches play essential and complementary roles. According to the UN, the global goal should be to preserve 30% of terrestrial and marine environments. "Few preserved areas remain on the planet, and they are increasingly under pressure from threats. We cannot afford to lose another hectare," emphasizes Groke. Protecting these untouched refuges is crucial to maintaining ecological processes in their original state.

Conservation, on the other hand, often works with already degraded or fragmented areas. In these regions, management techniques are necessary: controlling invasive species, enrichment planting, and potential fauna reintroduction. "Conservation uses tools intelligently, trying to understand what the environment needs," explains the specialist.

A practical example is forest management in the Amazon, where areas can undergo controlled timber extraction. Through detailed inventories, it is possible to remove a percentage of resources with minimal impact on the forest's balance. These conservation areas should ideally be close to untouched preservation areas, which help heal the interventions carried out.

Environmental conservation strategies

Environmental conservation requires a series of actions carried out together. Here are some of them.

Sustainable use of natural resources

The sustainable use of natural resources is a fundamental strategy. When a landowner can extract fruits, resins, honey, or even timber from their legal reserve, for example, they feel more motivated to keep it standing. “The forest will not remain absolutely untouched, but it will maintain enough biodiversity to allow genetic exchange [plant and animal reproduction] and protect water resources,” explains Groke.

Suzano, for instance, promotes sustainable extractivism in communities in Maranhão. The company encourages families to access conservation areas to collect fruits such as babassu and açaí in a sustainable way. The goal is to develop plant extractivism and family farming while respecting the socioeconomic and cultural relationships of these communities—such as the babassu nut breakers. The initiative provides investments in infrastructure, training, and technical assistance, structuring the management, production, and commercialization of products. In addition to contributing to forest conservation, the initiative boosts family income and aligns with Suzano’s commitment to lift 200,000 people out of poverty by 2030.

Restoration of degraded areas

Restoring degraded areas is another crucial front and involves an integrated set of actions. The process begins with landscape planning, considering conservation units, forest remnants, ecological corridors, and water sources. To expand the reach of initiatives, it is essential to bring together different stakeholders—public and private institutions, NGOs, the scientific community, and landowners. Ecosystem recovery combines passive restoration (when the area regenerates naturally) and active restoration (with planting native species and/or seeding), controlling invasive species, and creating corridors that connect forest fragments. Continuous monitoring evaluates everything from seedling development to ecological indicators that ensure the area’s long-term sustainability. This strategy also develops the restoration production chain, generating income and job opportunities for local communities, thus amplifying the social benefits of conservation.

Suzano has a structured commitment to ecosystem recovery. In addition to dedicating 1.1 million hectares of its total areas to conservation, the company has worked since the 1990s on ecological restoration initiatives in different regions, positively impacting more than 39,000 hectares under recovery. The goal is ambitious: by 2030, 98,000 hectares of conserved areas on company properties will be undergoing ecological restoration.

A notable example is Parque das Neblinas, in São Paulo. The region’s forest was cleared in the 1940s for charcoal production, and decades later, Suzano acquired the area and identified that the land was better suited for conservation than eucalyptus planting. Starting in 1999, the Instituto Ecofuturo transformed the former degraded area into one of the largest private reserves of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil. An initial challenge was reintroducing the juçara palm, a key species that provides food for about 70 animal species. To date, around 9 million juçara seeds have been distributed within the park, attracting animals such as the jacutinga, which, by feeding, disperse seeds of other species and accelerate natural restoration.

Monitoring endangered species

Monitoring endangered species also plays a vital role in ecosystem conservation, as scientists need data to deeply understand species behavior and find ways to protect them. Technologies such as drones with thermal sensors, microphones that capture forest sounds, and DNA analysis from soil samples allow increasingly accurate portraits of local biodiversity.

At the same time, fauna reintroduction—the process of returning animals to environments from which they disappeared, aiming to restore species populations and contribute to ecological balance — is one of the most complex strategies. “It’s an expensive procedure and requires highly technical work,” notes Groke. The process includes veterinary care and behavioral training so animals learn to feed themselves in the wild, for example. Despite the challenges, such initiatives — like the reintroduction of Spix’s macaws in the Caatinga — carry fundamental value. “It’s an ethical issue. The same species that humanity helped drive to extinction becomes part of an effort to recover it,” explains Groke.

How can we contribute to environmental conservation?

Individual changes also make a difference. Saving water and energy reduces pressure on natural resources. Recycling and reusing decrease waste generation and the need for raw material extraction.

“The most effective conservation strategy is to help people reconnect with nature,” argues Groke. Taking children and adults to green areas, promoting reconnection with the natural environment, shapes more conscious generations.

What is the role of companies in environmental conservation?

Many essential economic activities depend on natural resources. According to UNESCO, 78% of jobs worldwide depend directly on water availability. Moreover, $44 trillion in economic value—more than half of global GDP — is moderately or highly dependent on nature.

“Companies need nature to remain sustainable. Without water and other natural resources, they cannot exist,” emphasizes Groke. Additionally, investors increasingly seek companies that care for nature, pressuring for practices that ensure business longevity.

Parque das Neblinas illustrates how the private sector can significantly contribute to conservation. Managed by Instituto Ecofuturo since 1999, the park protects 7,000 hectares of Atlantic Forest, where environmental education, scientific research, ecotourism, and forest restoration activities are developed. More than 1,300 species of fauna and flora have already been recorded, including four new to science.

Recognized since 2006 by UNESCO as an Advanced Post of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve, the park demonstrates that previously degraded areas can be transformed into important conservation centers through structured, long-term corporate investment.

Conclusion: preservation and conservation must go hand in hand

To ensure the future of life on the planet and fulfill our responsibility to restore the environment, we must act by combining different strategies for ecosystem care. The combination of preserving untouched areas, actively conserving degraded regions, using resources sustainably, and reconnecting people with nature is crucial to reversing biodiversity loss and building a more balanced planet for future generations.

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