Protected areas


A protected area is a geographical space that is clearly defined, recognized, dedicated and managed by legal or other equally effective means for the long-term conservation of nature, alongside other ecosystem services and associated cultural values.

FURNAS has several activities focused on Protected Areas, such as, for example, one that produced three thousand folders on Forest Fire Prevention for the Cunhambebe State Park, in 2017.


Permanent Preservation Areas (PPA)
 

Hydroelectric projects are surrounded by a strip of land called a Permanent Preservation Area (APP) and these areas have certain restrictions on land occupation and use, as per the relevant environmental legislation. The table below indicates the PPAs impacted by the FURNAS forest recovery plan in 2016.


Recovered PPAs - GRI EN11
 

  • HEU Mascarenhas (Atlantic Forest) - 23.14 ha
  • HEU Itumbiara (Cerrado) - 22.9 ha
  • HEU Batalha (Cerrado) - 123.48 ha
  • HEU Simplicio (Atlantic Forest) - 198.15 ha
  • Total: 367.67 ha


Preservation Units
 

A preservation unit is responsible for maintaining a balance between nature and mankind. These are areas that are home to species of great important for biological continuity.

Importantly, there are no FURNAS hydroelectric plants operating in Conservation Units.


Operational units in areas of high biodiversity - G4-EN11 (2016)

  • Adjacent protected areas - 164.71 km²
  • FURNAS operational area - 7,326.14 km²
  • Protected area located in the operational area - 127.17 km²


Pedra Branca Park - Voluntary activities
 

In 2016, FURNAS invested R$ 50,000 in voluntary projects for biodiversity preservation in the Pedra Branca State Park (RJ), considered the largest urban forest in the world (the Tijuca Forest is one third its size). Eight company transmission lines cross the area. The park gained visibility during the Olympics and with tourist pictures at Pedra do Telégrafo. It is located in western Rio de Janeiro, near the Jacarepaguá Substation.

In honor of Tree Day (09/21), FURNAS organized another voluntary socio-environmental education initiative, taking a group of children from Frei Luiz (RJ) to plant 100 native seedlings in the Park. The purple ipê, yellow ipê, angico and brazil wood seedlings, among others, were strategically planted near the Trilha do Mel (Honey Trail) by Natureza Doce Project. The goal is to contribute to the floristic enrichment of the area by nurturing pollinating bees.

  • Park Leaders Course - The Park Leaders course was held In partnership with the Aliados da Floresta (Allies of the Forest) institution (Aliflor). Its purpose is to encourage ecological tourism.

  • Bromeliad - The main Park headquarter has a new area for cultivating and appreciating species of flora from the Atlantic Forest. The structure was built using material recycled from energy transmission towers. The company donated bromeliad and orchid seedlings to the area.

  • Sweet Nature - The project to preserve bees native to the Atlantic Forest, responsible for the pollination of 40% to 90% of Brazilian trees, won the Honey Trail in 2016. In addition to purchasing ten species of bees, miniature houses made of wood were deployed to receive the hives. The trail is a new park attraction, promoting environmental education focused on biodiversity. During the trail, visitors can observe the bees closely, learning to respect nature.

  • Scientific Meeting - The State Environmental Institute (INEA), sponsored by FURNAS, promoted the 2nd edition of the Scientific Meeting of the State Park of Pedra Branca, at the FURNAS Cultural Space in 2016. That year’s theme was "Dialogue of knowledge". The event brought together researchers, students, environmentalists and technicians from environmental agencies and civil society for lectures and panels discussing the scientific work done in this conservation unit.


Environmental signaling
 

FURNAS has made posters about protecting wild birds (Lugar de Pássaros é na Natureza) and about the preventing forest fires (Queimada é fogo) for the following State Conservation Units in Rio de Janeiro:

  • Mendanha State Park
  • Pedra Branca State Park
  • Desengano State Park
  • Cunhambebe State Park
  • Mangaratiba Environmental Protection Area