Sustainable forest management
Our journey into commercial plantations began in 1997. LUMIN (formerly the US company Weyerhaeuser) established Eucalyptus Grandis and Taeda Pine plantations in Uruguay to provide a long-term and sustainable supply of wood products. Today we manage plantations in Rivera, Tacuarembó, Cerro Largo and Treinta y Tres.
Our activies are carried out in line with a Forest Management Plan, which provides the framework for producing high quality wood.
This strategic plan not only outlines the development of our forest resources but also ensures every step—from planning to project preparation—meets strict guidelines before gaining approval from government agencies.
Committed to excellence, we continually refine our management practices and employ advanced monitoring tools to enhance our operational efficiency and sustainability.
Clonal nursery
A unique aspect of our sustinable business model is our clonal nursery, designed to produce over 3 million of the highest quality seedlings annually.
Our clonal improvement programme picks the best plants suited for the land and climate, as well as industry needs. Placed in climate controlled environments and nurtured with valuable nutrients for growth, the plants produce the highest quality trees which ultimately provide wood and veneer of excellent quality.
Planting
As the forests grow, commercial thinning becomes a key part of the process with the first thinning taking place at 11 or 12 years.
Other examples of silviculture techniques include selective tree thinning and pruning, aimed at improving quality, regulating growth and maximizing the production of knot-free wood, thus adding greater value. These actions ensure that our trees optimize the light, water and nutrients they need to achieve the fastest growth and highest quality.
Harvesting
The final harvest is at 15 years for eucalyptus (and at 21 years for pine). It involves cutting, felling, processing and carefully storing the logs.
With rigorous quality-control processes in place, logs that meet expectations are peeled into veneers suitable for plywood production (the cores that remain are used for a range of sub products). As a sustainable business, any unused wood from the peeling process is chipped and shredded for use as solid fuel for power generation.
Our annual harvesting operations at LUMIN are structured through an operational plan that aligns with our broader strategic objectives. This ensures that we efficiently utilize various forest products, considering operational, economic, and production dimensions to support sustainable growth and profitability.
Establishing a robust network of roads is crucial for efficient forest management, harvesting, and emergency access. We work closely with local authorities to maintain these vital roadways, ensuring they meet the needs of our operations and support community safety.
Forest protection
We conduct comprehensive protection and monitoring activities across the lifecycle of our plantations to prevent, detect, and control pests and forest fires.
Our forest health surveillance system is crucial for early detection and quantification of both emerging and known issues, enabling us to devise management strategies that minimize their impact.
We are proactive in preventing forest fires, ensuring the safety of both people and our forest plantations.
Technology
With over 65,000 hectares of forest, an important element of our sustainable forest management is respecting the conservation of the local ecosystems.
Putting these principles into practice, we monitor the local fauna and flora and if necessary, make the appropriate adjustments.
To support adaptive forest management, we've conducted detailed studies in two 100-hectare micro watersheds in Tacuarembó to assess the impact of our forest management activities on soil, water, and biological resources.
These studies, conducted in collaboration with research centers, universities, (both nationally and internationally) and local producer associations, inform and refine our practices.
Driving productivity
As part of our commitment to social responsibility, we partner with local farmers and beekeepers to maximise the use of our land and to provide them with opportunities.
42% of our total land is not forested but still requires responsible land management so partnering with farmers and beekeepers in the community has mutual benefits. They can take advantage of the pastures, as well as the shelter and shade of the plantations.
The non-forested land is utilized for alternative uses, such as livestock grazing, beekeeping, agricultural crops, or preserved in its natural state as environmental conservation areas.
We have also implemented management practices that are designed to preserve the land such as the control of invasive exotic species, livestock population and prohibitng deforestation, among others.
