The affected region covers 670 km of watercourses and was divided into 17 sections. Renova Foundation defined the most appropriate actions and techniques for the repair of each one, based on the specific indicators of each part, such as volume, thickness, and characteristics of the tailings, in addition to the environmental conditions.
MORE THAN 80 EXPERTS WERE GATHERED BY RENOVA TO DEVELOP THE TAILINGS MANAGEMENT PLAN, A SET OF SOLUTIONS PRIORITIZING THE TAILINGS TREATMENT IN THE RIVER AND ITS SURROUNDINGS WITHOUT REMOVING IT, WHICH WOULD CAUSE AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
One of the most critical areas is the region of the Risoleta Neves Hydroelectric Power Plant (Candonga). It played a key role in retaining 10.5 million m³ of tailings, preventing them from going to the Doce River channel. Cleaning the reservoir is a complex operation, which began in February 2016. Giving the plant the conditions to resume its operation involves innovative and unprecedented engineering solutions.
The recovery process of the areas impacted by the Fundão dam collapse involved, at first, cleaning the gutters and stabilizing the banks of the Gualaxo do Norte and Carmo rivers, between Mariana and Santa Cruz do Escalvado Cities (MG State). In order to combat erosion and prevent the mud accumulated on the outside of rivers from falling into the gutters, native species were planted. The tributaries which practically disappeared from the landscape after the Fundão dam collapse had to be completely redesigned based on geoprocessing information.
Renova Foundation supports rural producers who have been impacted by the passage of tailings through the implementation of a sustainable economic production model, which is appropriate to the local reality. Among the actions, the promotion and support for the environmental readjustment of these properties are highlighted, as recommended by the regulations of Brazilian legislation.
Located on a stretch of 100 kilometers between the Fundão dam and the Risoleta Neves Hydroelectric Plant, in the municipalities of Mariana, Barra Longa, Ponte Nova, Rio Doce and Santa Cruz do Escalvado.
OTHER 5 THOUSAND HOURS OF ATER WERE PERFORMED BY RENOVA FOUNDATION TEAMS BETWEEN JANUARY 2017 AND AUGUST 2019 IN AFFECTED RURAL PROPERTIES. THE GOAL IS TO PROMOTE THE CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION PRACTICES AND DIRECT SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE PROPERTY AND COMMERCIALIZATION OF PRODUCTS, COMPLEMENTING THE INTEGRATED VIEW OF PASEAS.
THE GENETIC IMPROVEMENT OF THE CATTLE HERD FROM THE RURAL PROPERTIES AFFECTED BY THE FUNDÃO DAM COLLAPSE IS AMONG THE WORKS CARRIED OUT BY THE RENOVA FOUNDATION. KNOWN AS ‘RENOVA HERD’, THE INITIATIVE AIMS TO INCREASE MILK PRODUCTION, COMBINING THE TECHNOLOGY OF ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION WITH MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES. BY NOW, 562 CALF BIRTHS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED.
Located on the stretch after the Risoleta Neves Hydroelectric Plant to Linhares (ES State), in the region of the mouth of the Doce River.
Renova Foundation works in an integrated manner for the environmental revitalization of the Doce River Basin, combining actions for the protection of springs, the recovery of Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs) and water recharge areas. The action in these areas contributes to improving the quality and quantity of water from alternative sources in the region.
PAYMENT FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (PSA): R$ 523 THOUSAND PAID TO RURAL PRODUCERS IN THE DOCE RIVER BASIN, UNTIL THE MOMENT, FOR COMPROMISING TO ALLOW THE RESTORATION OF SOURCES, APPS, ARHS, WATERSHEDS OR SOURCES OF WATER AT THEIR PROPERTIES.
The water from the Doce River can be consumed after undergoing conventional treatment in municipal supply systems. That is what the more than 1,5 million data generated annually by the largest watercourse monitoring system in Brazil, created by the Renova Foundation in 2017 to monitor the Doce River, indicate.
SIX ORGANS PARTICIPATE IN THIS WORK THROUGH A TECHNICAL GROUP OF MONITORING: NATIONAL WATER AGENCY (ANA), BRAZILIAN INSTITUTE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES (IBAMA), CHICO MENDES INSTITUTE OF BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION (ICMBIO), MINAS GERAIS INSTITUTE OF WATER MANAGEMENT (IGAM), THE ESPÍRITO DO SANTO STATE AGENCY OF WATER RESOURCES (AGERH) AND THE STATE INSTITUTE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER RESOURCES OF ESPÍRITO SANTO (IEMA).
Renova Foundation acts on two fronts for biodiversity actions, both focused on monitoring and producing studies related to the impacts of the Fundão dam collapse – these are studies about terrestrial flora and fauna, Doce River aquatic biota and sea monitoring. From the result of this joint work, guidelines for the preservation of the ecosystem along the Doce River will be established in the impacted section, at the mouth and in the coastal zone, conclusions about the consumption of fish in human food and about the approval of fishing native species with no threats to the continuity of the local fauna, among others.
PROJECT IN PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN RENOVA AND PRO-TAMAR FOUNDATIONS MONITORES THE CONDITIONS OF SEA TURTLES IN AN AREA COVERING 159 KM OF ESPÍRITO SANTO BEACHES. MONITORING NOW HAS SATELLITE TRANSMITTERS INITIALLY PLACED IN 10 FEMALES OF THE SPECIES HEAD (CARETTA CARETTA), IN REGENCY, CITY OF LINHARES (ES).
RENOVA FOUNDATION WILL PAY FOR THE ACTIONS TO CONSOLIDATE THE DOCE RIVER STATE PARK (MG STATE) AND THE SANTA CRUZ (ES STATE) WILDLIFE REFUGE, IN ADDITION TO THE HEADQUARTERS CONSTRUCTION, ELABORATION AND EXECUTION OF THE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE NEW ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AREA OF DOCE RIVER (ES STATE) WHICH WILL STILL BE CREATED BY THE PUBLIC POWER.