Issues: Environment, Community Development
Stakeholders: Communities, Government
Region: South America
One of the core values of Novelis is to protect the environment. As a result, Novelis continuously seeks to balance its industrial activities with measures to preserve the environment, native species and the ecosystem where the Company operates.
In Brazil, Novelis owns a 190 hectare area of land located in Ouro Preto called the Maria Soares e Barcelos Farm. The farm not only contains many natural springs that are an important water source for the Company’s operations, but is also home to native trees and animals, some of which have been classified as endangered species. The land, teeming with flora and fauna, is also in the vicinity of two important state-owned environment preservation areas: the Itacolomi State Park and the Tripuí Ecologic Station.
In an effort to protect the vulnerable wildlife and secure the area as a water source for years to come, Novelis was recently granted approval from the state government to turn the land into an Environment Preservation Reserve. The Environment Preservation Reserve “Soares e Barcelos” has trees up to 30m tall, with a wide range of species, among them the Pindaíba, in danger of extinction. Studies have also revealed the presence of eight mammalian endangered species in the region: the Tamanduá-de-colete giant anteater, the Sauá, the Guará Wolf, the Puma, the Jaguatirica leopard-cat, the Gato Mourisco wild cat, the otter and the Tesourinha-da-mata Swallow-tailed Cotinga bird. The area is also the natural habitat of the Peripatus Acacioi, deemed as a “live fossil”, as it represents an “evolution link” between the Annelid and the Arthropod species.
In addition to protecting this land, Novelis has started studies to identity long-term uses of the land that would be most beneficial to the reserve’s wildlife, as well as the community. Novelis plans to open the reserve for public visitation and is exploring offering environmental education classes.
