Biofore Magazine 2020

Photography Andres Barted Bracho

SNAPSHOT

15

Planting the seeds for growth The best seeds are the foundation of a healthy forest, but even the highest quality seeds need a little help on their way. That’s where a seedling nursery comes in. UPM supports seedling nurseries in Finland and in Uruguay, making sure that millions of future trees get a good start in life. When the company’s newest facility in the Durazno area of Uruguay opens in 2022, it will produce around 10 million Eucalyptus seedlings every year and provide more than 120 permanent jobs. These high-tech nurseries monitor every aspect of the seedling’s development, from ventilation to irrigation to fertiliser needs. Nursery workers make sure the young plants are free from pests and weeds. After a year of care, the seedlings are sent out to be planted.