Economic Profitability of Land Lease for Eucalyptus Cultivation in Sao Paulo State, Brazil

ABSTRACTThe present study aimed to analyze the leasing of land for the cultivation of eucalyptus in Vale do Paraiba, Sao Paulo state, Brazil. We used information from 10 properties, eight landowners, a pulp and paper company, and an investor in forestry assets. The economic tools used were the Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Land Expectation Value (LEV). Considering a minimum attractiveness rate of 8.75%, the cultivation of eucalyptus with investment in land in the study area was economically viable for only five of the properties analyzed. With the guarantee of productivity established in the contract, the investment was feasible for land lease, but uneconomical for the investor. Ensuring productivity was important to maintain economic viability for the investor and the lessee, considering that without productivity assurance only three properties showed economic viability for land lease.