Conserve-Action Program
The Conserve-Action Program aims at getting to know the remaining native forests of VCP so that we can propose actions that contribute to maintaining bio-diversity in our ecosystems.

The questions guiding this project are:

• What tree, bird and mammal species exist in the different types of forests on VCP farms? 
  
• What do these species tell us about the Conservation State of these ecosystems?
  
• Is it possible to take steps to improve the Conservation State of these ecosystems? What are these steps?

How do we find answers to these questions?

• Identification of remaining native flora (location, size, form, type of ecosystem);
  
• Tree inventory;
  
• Tree fauna inventory;
  
• Small and large mammal inventory;
  
• Monitoring of species that are out of balance;
  
• Monitoring the long term forest dynamics;

What has been discovered?

• The VCP farms encompass different ecosystems such as: Atlantic Forest, Semi-deciduous Seasonal Forest and Savannah.
  
• Each identified ecosystem is composed of different animal and vegetable communities with a large bio-diversity:
  o 350 tree species
  o 200 bird species
  o 40 mammal species
  
• Many of these species are threatened with extinction or were new findings for the State of São Paulo; 
  
• It is possible to develop new handling actions to improve environmental quality in different situations (infestation by out of balance species, reforesting and species enrichment);
  
• The results up to now indicate that VCP areas possess an important role in conserving bio-diversity in the State of São Paulo, and also possess a large potential for Environmental Research and Education.

Construction of a sewage treatment plant in partnership with SAAE
The São Silvestre District, formed by the Vila Garcia, V. São Simão, V. São João, Jd. São Gabriel, Jd. Boa Vista and Chácara Marília Communities, does not currently have a Domestic Sewage Treatment System.

At this time, a population of 6,000 inhabitants will be served. VCP's contribution will be the ETE construction its and subsequent donation to SAAE, who will be responsible for installing the collection network and for operating the ETE.

VCP, together with SAAE (Independent Water and Sewage Service) from Jacareí, developed a basic project for the construction of a Sewage Treatment System to serve these communities, seeking to meet their needs and taking into consideration the large environmental asset existing there.

In this way, besides improving the quality of life locally; the elimination of untreated releases will provide significant gains in the quality of water in the Paraíba do Sul River. 

Remember that the Hydrographic Basin of the Paraíba do Sul River is very important since it serves the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro as a source of potable water (manancial).
So, VCP once again demonstrates its concern with the social-environmental issues in the community where it is located, acting as a force for positive change, following and practicing the company's core values.

Construction of an Environmental Education Center near the Jacareí Unit
This Center is in the construction phase and inauguration is planned for the end of 2003. It has a constructed area of 402 m2, and will have a library, auditorium and recycling workshop among other spaces. The goal of this Center is to allow both its infrastructure as well as its programs and projects to be developed in partnership with region schools, aiming at the dissemination of environmental preservation and citizenship concepts.

Compost

From the environmental standpoint, the process allows elimination of two residue deposits (industrial and wood stockyard). From the economic standpoint, it will represent annual savings of R$ 370 thousand, substituting the chemical fertilizer used in forests. The experiment was presented at the 25th Brazilian Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition Meeting in Botucatu, and at the 35th Annual Pulp and Paper Conference.

Biological Loam

Another project developed by VCP, under Cetesp supervision, involves the use of biological loam in parts of the Vale do Paraíba region. The goal is to evaluate the effects of applying different amounts of biological loam on the chemical and biological properties of the soil, as well as analyze surface runoff and nutrient leaching. The intention is to make it possible to apply the biological loam from the Jacareí unit, with economic and environmental gains plus increased forest productivity.

Bricks
A doctorate thesis at the São Paulo University – USP – was concluded. The thesis evaluated the making of adobe type bricks from mud produced at the Jacareí unit's effluent treatment station. The results indicate that it is possible to incorporate up to 20% of this mud in the brick's composition, without losing physical-mechanical properties.

The next step is the construction of houses inside the São Carlos campus using alternative material, and then evaluate the thermal and acoustic comfort as well as other properties of the material used in the construction.

The ecological brick is also made in Piracicaba in the construction of the local Environmental Education Center (NEA) branch.