Ibá Announces Winners of its Journalism Award

First edition of the contest received over 100 reports across text, video, audio, and specialized outlet categories

São Paulo, December 2024 – Ibá (the Brazilian Tree Industry) announced on Tuesday (3) the winners of its 1st Journalism Award. A total of 12 reports were recognized in the categories of text, video, audio, and specialized outlet, along with four works that received honorable mentions. Winners will share R$ 36,000 in prizes, in addition to trophies and certificates.

In its first year, the Ibá Award received more than 100 submissions from professionals across 17 states in all regions of Brazil. Most entries were in the written category (62), followed by TV (28), specialized outlet (11), and audio (7). Among the awarded works are pieces from major national outlets, as well as affiliates, regional newspapers, and radio stations.

This year’s theme was “The cultivated forest sector as an ally in combating climate change.” The works addressed the environmental benefits of tree plantations, technological advances in producing sustainable products, investments in restoring native forests, and the advantages of agroforestry, among other stories.

The winners were selected by a distinguished jury of experts from different fields: Heródoto Barbeiro (anchor of Jornal Nova Brasil and columnist at R7), Dalva Queiroz (researcher at Embrapa Florestas), Elson Fernandes de Lima (executive director of FSC Brazil), and Cindy Correa (Ibá’s communications manager). Each juror evaluated the entries based on five criteria: alignment with the proposed theme, relevance, reporting quality, originality, and style/creativity. The three winners in each category were defined from the combined scores.

The Ibá Journalism Award was created to demonstrate support for the press and to encourage high-quality journalistic coverage of topics related to the cultivated forest sector. The project was carried out in partnership with Embrapa Florestas and regional associations representing the forestry industry. The initiative expands the scope of an award first created last year by Apre (Paraná Association of Planted Forest Companies), which has already achieved notable success. In addition to Apre, the award also has the support of regional entities such as Abaf, Amif, Ageflor, Arefloresta, Florestar, and Reflore.Below are the winners of each category, along with the honorable mentions of the 1st Ibá Journalism Award. More information about the award is available at iba.org/premio2024.

WRITTEN CATEGORY

1st – So, is eucalyptus cultivation really harmful to the environment?
Outlet: Agência Senado
Journalist: Ricardo Westin
Link: https://www12.senado.leg.br/noticias/infomaterias/2024/09/afinal-o-cultivo-de-eucalipto-e-mesmo-prejudicial-ao-meio-ambiente

2nd – From NASA satellite to AI, technology advances to prevent fires
Outlet: Gazeta do Povo
Journalist: Adriana Brum
Link: https://www.gazetadopovo.com.br/brasil/satelite-da-nasa-inteligencia-artificial-tecnologia-avanca-para-evitar-incendios-florestais/

3rd – From Faria Lima to USP, wooden buildings gain momentum in São Paulo and are set to expand
Outlet: Estadão
Journalist: Priscila Mengue
Link: https://www.estadao.com.br/sao-paulo/predio-madeira-sao-paulo-faria-lima-usp/

VIDEO CATEGORY

1st – Planted Forests: Veredas in Minas
Outlet: Rede Minas
Journalists: Renato Franco, Cibele Penholate, Sandro Romero, Fabrício Andrade, Bruna Cevidanes, and Reginaldo Medina
Link: https://minasplay.com/video/1851/polo-de-florestas-plantadas/

2nd – Rio invests in restoring the Atlantic Forest to address climate change
Outlet: CNN Brasil
Journalists: Thiago Felix, Thiago Vinícius Alves, Leandro Sant’Anna, Rafaela Cascardo, Marcelo Cascão, and Cassiano Guanaes
Link: https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/nacional/rio-investe-na-recuperacao-da-mata-atlantica-mirando-mudancas-climaticas/

3rd – Millions sprouting from reforestation
Outlet: Jornal Pioneiro
Journalists: Flávia Terres and Neimar De Cesero
Link: https://globoplay.globo.com/v/11806951/

AUDIO CATEGORY

1st – Climate Emergency and Planted Forests: how Paraná’s forestry industry contributes to reducing environmental impacts and balancing the planet’s climate
Outlet: Rádio CBN Curitiba
Journalists: Felipe Harmata and Grasiani Jacomini
Link: https://cbncuritiba.com.br/materias/serie-especial-emergencia-climatica-e-florestas-plantadas/

2nd – Agroforestry reconnects rural life and makes the backlands more sustainable
Outlet: Rádio UFS
Journalists: Josafá Bonifácio da Silva Neto and Juliana Correia Almeida
Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6l9g8fNmF105tvvSSjmaFf?si=Oqjqn7i7QQ2PHKoOvzPkhQ&t=680

3rd – Super Trees: industry and decarbonization
Outlet: Rádio Educadora da Amazônia
Journalist: João Paulo Seabra
Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6eCpBJPJxfOjNzgFtISC4i?si=b31def65516447b8&nd=1&dlsi=3b5184f67a5041f7

SPECIALIZED OUTLET CATEGORY

1st – From planting to manufacturing: the furniture production chain stands out for environmental responsibility
Outlet: Emobile
Journalist: Everton Lima
Link: https://emobile.com.br/site/noticias/cadeia-produtiva-de-moveis-se-destaca-pela-responsabilidade-ambiental/

2nd – Paper and cardboard stand out as sustainable materials and gain ground in the packaging market
Outlet: Revista O Papel
Journalist: Caroline Martin
Link: https://www.opapeldigital.org.br/pub/papel/?numero=131&edicao=12239#page/50

3rd – Planted eucalyptus forests demonstrate capacity to store large amounts of carbon
Outlet: Revista O Papel
Journalist: Caroline Martin
Link: https://www.opapeldigital.org.br/pub/papel/?numero=129&edicao=12209#page/7

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Trees to slow climate change
Outlet: Correio do Povo
Journalist: Itamar Pelizzaro
Link: https://www.correiodopovo.com.br/not%C3%ADcias/rural/%C3%A1rvores-para-frear-as-mudan%C3%A7as-clim%C3%A1ticas-1.1523833

Planting and harvesting: forestry companies invest in social projects to ‘cultivate’ people
Outlet: Portal Banda B
Journalists: Francielly Azevedo and Lucas Sarzi
Link: https://www.bandab.com.br/noticias-parana/empresas-do-setor-florestal-investem-em-projetos-sociais/#google_vignette

Climate Change and Sustainability: How the Brazilian Tree Industry is Shaping the Future
Outlet: Business Moment
Journalist: Jhulia Caballero
Link: https://businessmoment.com.br/mudancas-climaticas-e-sustentabilidade-como-a-industria-brasileira-de-arvores-esta-moldando-o-futuro/

Super Trees: industry and decarbonization
Outlet: Rádio Educadora da Amazônia
Journalist: João Paulo Seabra
Link: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0cGvwjGv44JSkRiZHZUyRH?si=a194198eb3a24d6a

About Ibá
The Brazilian Tree Industry (Ibá) is the association representing the entire planted-tree production chain, from the field to industry, before its key stakeholders. Launched in April 2014, it represents 48 companies and 10 state-level associations producing goods from planted forests — including wood panels, laminate flooring, pulp, paper, energy forests, and biomass — as well as independent producers and institutional investors.

Website: iba.org/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/iba_oficial/
Facebook: web.facebook.com/industriabrasileiradearvores

Press contact – Ibá
Beatriz Montesanti
+55 11 97142-2935
beatriz.montesanti@iba.org