...To the Business and Human Rights Resource Center

...Portucel Moçambique considers essential the constant dialogue, the agreement and the harmony between the company and the communities living inside the land which Rights of Use (DUAT) where granted to the project...[And]...counted with the technical support of the Advisory Services from the International Finance Corporation...[It]...became aware of the documentary...[″Um Hectare, Uma Chapa de Zinco" by ADECRU]...in 2016 through social media...In February 2017 ADECRU contacted Portucel Moçambique requesting an interview, to which the company indicated that was available to respond in writing through a questionnaire. ADECRU agreed in sending the questionnaire...Portucel Moçambique didn´t receive the questionnaire...Through the Grievance Mechanism, the company initiated a process to:...collect information in the communities and with the documentary testimonies;...register the grievances; and...provide the proper treatment to such cases...[P]reliminary results:...One of the testimonies did not cede land, neither worked for the company...;...Community leaders indicated...they were supportive to the project but...not included in the documentary;...testimonies indicated...they were instructed by ADECRU on what to say;...Portucel Moçambique plantations are eucalyptus...[It]...was invited for the launch of the Justiça Ambiental..."Portucel - O Processo de acesso à Terra e os direitos das comunidades locais"...study...and...showed appreciation for the work...and assumed the commitment to analyse the information...[Through]...the Grievance Mechanism assessed...[that it]...did not destroy agriculture products and did not work in the land without the families' prior consent...From the 67 families that the company was able to identify that claimed loss of products in their farms, only 48 ceded land;...19 never ceded land...[It will]...[r]evise...communication materials and land access...;...Promote flexibility in the grievance...process;...Conduct community meetings...

Download the full response in English here.