By Roberto Samora and Manuela Andreoni
SAO PAULO, June 9 (Reuters) – Brazil’s Mato Grosso state has signed a commitment to eliminate the use of firewood from deforested native forests in power-generating boilers, starting in 2034, according to a document seen by Reuters.
• Boilers are used locally to fuel agro-industrial facilities such as corn-based ethanol plants.
• The commitment, signed on Monday, follows an inquiry into potential illegalities in the use of native firewood to power corn ethanol plants, which are multiplying fast in Mato Grosso.
• The Amazon state had about 10 corn ethanol plants last year, with plans for over 10 more in the coming years, according to industry figures.
• Under the pledge, consumption of native wood from deforestation must drop to a maximum of 50% by the end of 2030, then 40% by 2031, 30% by 2032, 10% by 2033, and zero by 2034.
• The state government also must issue a decree within 30 days to expand the area of planted forests to at least 700,000 hectares (1.73 million acres) by 2040.
• Companies will be notified within 90 days to take action, with requirements to prove wood legality and implement proportional planting plans from 2027-2029.
(Reporting by Roberto Samora and Manuela Andreoni; Writing by Fernando Cardoso; Editing by Mark Porter and David Holmes)
