São Paulo, Mar 21 (EFE).- Within the metropolitan area of São Paulo, the largest city in Latin America, hides 700,000 square meters of forest, a natural refuge for more than 120 species of animals. At Coral Tangará Reserve, they can breathe the purest air in the area and enjoy two springs of crystal-clear water.

Located in the municipality of Mauá, right next to one of the world's largest paint and coatings production plants owned by the Dutch multinational AkzoNobel, the Atlantic Forest, Brazil's most devastated and threatened biome, has found a major ally in its neighboring factory for its recovery and conservation.

The Atlantic Forest Seeks Help

The Atlantic Forest is a humid tropical forest stretching along the Brazilian coast, precisely the country's most industrialized area, which jeopardizes its conservation.

The biome, which also spreads across Argentina and Paraguay, is home to more than 20,000 species of fauna and flora, nearly 2,000 of which are endangered.

Between 2021 and 2022, the Atlantic Forest lost 20,075 hectares of native forests, according to a report by the SOS Atlantic Forest Foundation, which uses official data collected by satellite.

To reverse this scenario, the NGO advocates for the creation of conservation units and private reserves, which is crucial since 78% of the lands in this biome are privately owned.

Only 10% of the Atlantic Forest territory is protected, but according to estimates by the SOS Atlantic Forest Foundation, this allows for offsetting 1.5 gigatonnes of CO2.

A Model of Sustainable Development

An example of this protective work is AkzoNobel's efforts in the Coral Tangará Reserve, which accounts for 10% of the native forests in Mauá.

Over the past ten years, the company has invested about $480,000 in the reserve, where it has undertaken restoration work focused on removing eucalyptus to replant native species.

It has managed to improve water quality, prevent fires, and create a biological corridor, explains AkzoNobel's sustainability manager, Flávia Takeuchi.

"The changes we've seen have been mainly in terms of biodiversity and water regulation," Takeuchi told EFE.

Since water is one of the main raw materials for the paint factory, Takeuchi argues, it was essential to adopt measures to conserve this resource.

"We know that the water quality from eucalyptuses was not very good, compared to that from native vegetation," she said.

The company also carries out environmental education work with local public school children, who can make guided visits to the reserve.

Another measure adopted in Mauá was the creation of a wastewater treatment plant.

The facility, costing almost $2.6 million, subjects water to physical, chemical, and biological purification processes, allowing its reuse in the production of paints and coatings, enabling the factory to achieve a 100% reuse rate.

Everyone's Responsibility

Takeuchi emphasizes that these projects are a major challenge for AkzoNobel. "We had to step out of our comfort zone, but we want to show the way and inspire other companies," she said.

She also calls on all local sectors to make a collective effort to move towards a more sustainable future.

"Not just the public sector, but also the private sector and the community. We all have a role to play in conservation," she said. EFE

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This content was produced by EFE with the support of AkzoNobel.

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