THE WHAT? Dow has announced that it has completed the mapping stage of Project Yba Conservation that Transforms, a critical milestone towards full implementation of the project.

THE DETAILS Launched by Dow in May 2021 in collaboration with Peabiru Institute and The Nature Conservancy, the project promotes the development of local communities through the commercialization of non-timber resources, while supporting the conservation of the Amazon Rainforest.

The mapping of local biodiversity identified 17 plant species of commercial interest to the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries, four of which are of interest to Natura.

“Our Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) goals are the priority for our operations in Latin America,” says Flavia Venturoli, business commercial director for Dow Consumer Solutions in Latin America. “It is part of Dow’s purpose to invest in sustainable innovation in collaboration with our customers, partners and the community where we operate. Project Ybá demonstrates our philosophy in action.”

THE WHY? Matias Campodonico, Dow’s Sustainability Director for Latin America, explains, “To ensure the conservation of the forest, it is necessary to offer the community a source of income generation, while at the same time increasing awareness of the value of the standing forest through sustainable management and extraction. The Amazon has great potential to impact a flourishing bioeconomy. Project Ybá serves as an excellent example of creating value through conservation – by simultaneously honoring our natural resources, contributing to increased family incomes in the region and driving innovation.”