Four-year project contributed to the protection of endangered birds and mammals and helped provide the basis for the creation of four municipal laws protecting biodiversity in Minas Gerais. 

A partnership between Samarco and the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) has generated unprecedented knowledge about 22 endangered species in the Rio Doce Basin and contributed to the creation of four municipal laws protecting biodiversity in Minas Gerais. Completed in May of this year, the project “Conservation and management of endangered fauna species in the Rio Doce basin, Minas Gerais” expanded scientific knowledge about the regional fauna and strengthened initiatives aimed at preserving native species.

The results were presented during the closing meeting of the initiative, which integrated the environmental remediation actions carried out by Samarco within the scope of the New Rio Doce Agreement. The project brought together researchers, students, and conservation experts to study species of birds and land mammals classified at different levels of threat of extinction.

Under the coordination of the Center for Conservation of the Saguis-da-Serra (a species of Marmoset) (CCSS) at UFV, the work was divided into three major strategic areas. One of them focused on research and conservation of the fauna of the Upper and Middle Rio Doce, including the Sete Salões State Park and surrounding areas. Another focus was on the conservation of the Southern Marmoset (Callithrix aurita) and the Black-tufted Marmoset (Callithrix flaviceps), through actions carried out both in their natural environment and in specialized management structures. The initiative also included strategies for controlling hybrids of these species.

The third initiative promoted citizen awareness, environmental education, and ecotourism activities, bringing local communities closer to conservation efforts and encouraging public participation in protecting regional biodiversity.

The main results include the generation of unprecedented information about the geographic distribution of the species studied. The data provides a technical basis that can guide future actions for monitoring, managing, rescuing, and conserving wildlife in the Rio Doce Basin.

The project also strengthened the breeding infrastructure of the Saguis-da-Serra Conservation Center, expanding its capacity to receive and manage endangered primates. Furthermore, it contributed to the training of specialized human resources, through the qualification of researchers and graduate students involved in the activities.

For Andressa Gatti, project specialist at Samarco, the partnership demonstrates the importance of science for biodiversity conservation. “The results achieved show how scientific knowledge can directly contribute to the protection of endangered species and to the planning of long-term conservation actions. By supporting research like this, we strengthen the generation of knowledge and leave a legacy of knowledge building for the Rio Doce Basin,” she says.

Impact beyond the university

The information produced by UFV was important in mobilizing the local population and contributing to the approval of four municipal laws that recognized the Sagui-da-Serra as a biodiversity heritage in Itueta, Santa Rita do Itueto, Resplendor, and Conselheiro Pena, in Minas Gerais. 

Part of the data generated has also been officially integrated into the Marmoset Population Management Program, coordinated by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), expanding the reach and application of the information produced by the study.

The coordinator of CCSS and professor at UFV, Dr. Fabiano R. de Melo, highlights the scope of the results obtained. “We managed to transcend the walls of the university and connect pure research to the formulation of public conservation policies. Strengthening breeding programs and defining priority areas for the management of marmosets ensures a solid foundation for the survival of these primates. “The logistical and financial support over these years has allowed UFV and the federal agencies themselves, such as ICMBio, to establish a new level of ecological governance for the fauna of Minas Gerais,” he emphasizes.

This initiative reinforces the role of scientific research as a tool for biodiversity conservation and for the development of evidence-based environmental management strategies, contributing to the recovery and preservation of the ecosystems of the Rio Doce Basin.

For more information on the remediation projects and Samarco's actions under the New Rio Doce Agreement, visit [website address]. Samarco Remediation Portal.