Forest yield

Forest yield is measured by the volume of wood per hectare or tons of pulp per hectare. Klabin has one of the highest forest productivity rates in the world for the Eucalyptus and Pinus genus. The goal is to maintain this position in line with the Klabin Sustainable Development Agenda (KODS), translated in targets for short-, medium-, and long-term management up to 2030, aiming to maintain and increase productivity. This reduces the need for planted areas and preserves native areas.

Several research projects have been developed for the production of improved genetic material and the selection of high-yield eucalyptus hybrids for pulp production. These genetic improvement projects evaluated the growth of hundreds of developing clones, wood quality, and tolerance to pests and diseases.

In 2023, six new clones were recommended for operational plantations, showing 20% higher productivity compared to the existing forest base. Currently, Klabin has 12 clones (patents) protected by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply (MAPA). These clones are planted to form the forest base in the 2023-2035 productivity evolution plans. Additionally, eight new clones were submitted for protection by the MAPA.

Regarding the Pinus genus, research projects aim to identify the best crossbreeds to obtain superior families in growth performance and wood quality. In 2023, nine new families (elite material) were recommended and incorporated into the Company's planting program. To further enhance the gains of these superior materials, the strategy of vegetative propagation of elite materials has been scaling up year after year, allowing a potential 10% increase in wood per planted hectare to supply our mills and maintain the quality of the final product.

With more targeted management recommendations for the operational program, Klabin started customized fertilization recommendations in 2021 to increasingly optimize productivity and natural resource use. Such measures were structured to increase the Company's productivity and forest expansion projects with quality plantations and forestry management. Recommendations for species and clones are made based on soil and climate knowledge. In 2023, new soil mapping and additional weather stations were installed for better coverage and knowledge of the planting area where the Company operates. In total, there are 66 weather stations distributed across Klabin's forests in the three states: Paraná, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo.

Maintaining research for pest and disease assessment and monitoring is a constant focus, aiming to mitigate impacts and carry out biological controls when necessary. Additionally, since 2020, a project has been underway to develop a bio-based product to control leaf-cutting ants in the forestry sector.

Innovation and technology transfer in forest management are the focus of R&D, seeking to enhance the productivity of Klabin's forests. Interactions of biotic and abiotic factors are evaluated for the allocation of pine and eucalyptus forests to capitalize on the productive gains of each genus according to the regions where the Company operates and in all ongoing forest expansion projects.

To that end, Klabin has specialists dedicated to the areas of genetic improvement of eucalyptus and pine, biotechnology and cloning, nutrition and forestry, ecophysiology, forest protection, and wood quality. Klabin is also constantly attentive to research related to transgenic species and new biotechnological routes. In compliance with forest certification guidelines, the Company does not use them in its processes.