Annual Report 2023 UPM Forestal Oriental

38

PREVENTION

Fire prevention is present from the moment we design our plantations We care for firebreaks and safety strips as well as limit potential fuel with grazing activities We carry out awareness campaigns in the media in the interior of the country We train our own team as well as contractors We have a coordination and vigil group to regulate activities that may constitute a fire risk. Their coordination and decisions allowed us to continue our operation during 16 extremely HIGH RISK days during the 2023/24 season

We have an annual training plan that covers topics such as

Firefighting Use of heavy machinery in forest fires Investigation of fire origins and causes Preparation for fire truck drivers Incident command system Forest fire training for middle management Conversations with beekeepers about fire prevention Use of fire extinguishers and drones

Forest fire training

In 2023 we conducted 10 different kinds of training with the participation of roughly 800 people between UPM employees from different areas, personnel from contracting companies and leaders from neighbouring communities.