CBA participated in a TV Integração broadcast about planting tall saplings to reforest the “Zona da Mata”

This is novel forest restoration technique used by Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA) in the “Zona da Mata” in Minas Gerais was the theme of a program broadcast last Sunday, the 21st. TV Integração is a Globo Network Affiliate in Minas Gerais, broadcasting a program entitled MG Rural. This program is a partnership with the Federal University in Viçosa (UFV) and greenhouse owners in the region of Dona Euzébia, and highlights CBA’s work in planting tall saplings of native Atlantic Forest species in the company’s reforestation areas to accelerate the recovery of the flora and create areas to expand biodiversity. MG Rural stressed the various benefits the project brings to the surrounding communities, for greenhouse owners in the region by creating a market niche, for the environment by accelerating forest restoration, and for academia by fostering the development of technologies with local greenhouse owners and managers, and different industry sectors Christian Fonseca de Andrade, who manages the CBA units in the “Zona da Mata” stresses that these studies are in line with the company’s commitment to foster innovative actions and generate positive socioenvironmental transformations and impact that goes beyond the aluminum industry, as this technique can be replicated to other restoration activities. This is one more technology developed as part of the bauxite mining environment, which has become a reference in sustainability, improving how we restore forests”, he added   The full program can be seen at: https://globoplay.globo.com/v/10860904.   The Project The tall saplings technique was developed due to one of the main challenges of forest restoration – competition with native saplings and grasses. Native saplings suffer from aggressive competition from invasive species such as brachiaria (signalgrass), which normally results in high mortality of planted saplings.  To avoid this, taller saplings – averaging 2.5 meters, which is five times taller than the standard 50 cm -, are being planted in CBA reforestation areas. Planting tall saplings means shadow is cast on exotic grasses faster, helping weaken them and even eradicate these species that affect the development of small saplings. According to Professor Sebastião Venâncio Martins, taller saplings develop quickly, and their profound roots spread over a large area, absorbing water and nutrients more efficiently to enable their survival and development. “Taller saplings develop quickly, and their profound roots spread over a large area, absorbing water and nutrients more efficiency to enable their survival and development”, he added.