Aug 17, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. The Espírito Santo police carried out a court order on August 12, returning possession of forestlands belonging to Aracruz Celulose in Linharinho (ES) that had by been invaded since July 23 by a group of quilombolas (individuals who state they are descendents of escaped African slaves). The invaders withdrew from the location without offering resistance. Aracruz is now organizing a clean up of the 18-hectare area and the transportation of wood that was illicitly cut down during the 20 days of the occupation. Damages were estimated at BRL 218 000 ($103 894). The court repossession order - issued on August 26 by substitute federal judge Leonardo Marques Lessa - recognized that Aracruz is the legitimate owner and possessor of the area. In his opinion, the judge emphasized that there were no documents that proved that the members of the invading community in fact were descendants of quilombolas. The group of invaders had petitioned the 2nd Region Federal Court (RJ and ES) to try to overturn the court repossession order issued in São Mateus (ES). However, federal judge Raldênio Bonifácio Costa upheld the decision in favor of the company. Two of the company's forest areas remain under invasion, one by Indians in the municipality of Aracruz, and the other by members of the Landless Workers Movement (MST) in Prado. In all cases of invasion of its properties, the company has been adopting the appropriate legal measures to defend its rights. The company's position is that the land conflicts that are occurring around the country must be solved through the law and in a peaceful manner. Aracruz Celulose is a Brazilian company, the world's leading producer of bleached eucalyptus pulp. It is responsible 27% of the global supply of the product, used to manufacture printing and writing, tissue, and high value added specialty papers. Aracruz's forestry operations are situated in the states of Espírito Santo, Bahia, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul. They involve some 279 000 hectares of eucalyptus plantations, intermingled with around 154 000 hectares of native forest reserves, which are of fundamental importance for ensuring the balance of the ecosystem.