Jun 02, 2006. /Lesprom Network/. Aracruz has requested the cancellation of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification of the forests pertaining to its Guaíba unit located in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. This certification, which was obtained before the acquisition of this unit, had previously been revalidated three consecutive times and was to expire in December 2006. When it took the first steps to again revalidate the certification, Aracruz learned, through Smartwood (FSC’s certifying body), that some stakeholders had expressed concern to the FSC about the revalidation of the UG certificate — not related to forestry management in Rio Grande do Sul, but rather a land dispute between the company’s Barra do Riacho Unit and indigenous communities in the State of Espírito Santo. Aracruz is convinced that it is adopting all of the procedures necessary to reach a stable solution to resolve this dispute, whose guiding principle is the definition, through an independent process, of the rights of all of the parties involved. Taking into account the concerns manifested by some stakeholders to the FSC and the fact that the process for resolving the land dispute in Espírito Santo is still underway, in a decision taken together with Smartwaood, Aracruz voluntarily decided to request the cancellation of this certification. Along with a number of stakeholders, Aracruz will evaluate the possibility of requesting the certification of all of its forests by the FSC in the future. This attitude is consistent with Aracruz’s posture of recognizing the importance and the value of forestry certification systems. As an example of this, all of the forests under the company’s own management are certified by the Brazilian Forest Certification System (CERFLOR). CERFLOR is recognized by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC). Aracruz Celulose is a Brazilian company, the world’s leading producer of bleached eucalyptus pulp. The Company is responsible for 30% of the global supply of the product, used to manufacture printing and writing, tissue, and high value added specialty papers.