Pilot project of the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA) is the result of an agreement made between
the State Forestry Institute (IEF) and the Renova Foundation
Green is everywhere at Corvinas Farm in Barra Longa (MG). The area located on the banks of the Gualaxo do Norte River, a tributary of the Doce River, is part of the pilot project of the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA), active in rural properties with areas of deforested native vegetation in the regions and impacted by the collapse of the Fundão dam.
The PRA pilot project is the result of the Technical Cooperation Agreement between the State Forestry Institute (IEF) and the Renova Foundation, which together with the farm owner, designed and executed the fencing and forest restoration projects, with resources made available by the Foundation.
Activities on the ground began at the end of 2022, with the preparation and correction of the soil, the opening of holes to receive native seedlings from the Atlantic Rainforest, fertilization of the land, irrigation, fencing to protect the plantation and control of ants and pests.
During the work, 6,685 seedlings of native species were planted, 7,424 meters of fencing were produced to protect plantings and fragments of native vegetation, in addition to the restoration of 4.71 hectares on the land. The actions continue on site with monitoring and care of the planting so that the forest is formed in the coming years.
Thanks to the success of the project, Corvinas Farm became a reference for the implementation of PRA on other rural properties in the Doce River Basin.
Discover the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA)
The initiative seeks to reach more rural properties to expand knowledge and experience related to the forest restoration of APPs (Permanent Preservation Areas) and Legal Reserve (RL) in the Doce River Basin, replicating the success achieved at Corvinas Farm .
In Minas Gerais, the PRA is intended for rural areas that had their native vegetation deforested by up to July 22, 2008, and for landowners who wish to generate an economy based on the restoration of green areas on their land. In Espírito Santo, the Renova Foundation technical team is helping to build the legal framework for the program in the state, through another Technical Cooperation Agreement, signed with the Espírito Santo Agricultural and Forestry Defense Institute (IDAF).
Owners of properties that have environmental liabilities to be restored in Permanent Preservation Areas (APP) and Legal Reserves receive several benefits when joining the PRA, such as the environmental regularization of the property and the right to continue economically exploiting part of the permanent preservation area (APP) and the Legal Reserve, possibility of using Agroforestry Systems, in addition to access to rural credits and the conversion of infractions into environmental services.
Failure to comply with the activities established by the PRA may result in the loss of all benefits, that is, there may be the suspension of agricultural activities, the generation of infraction notices and fines, and the obligation to recompose any area that was deforested without the authorization of the responsible entity.
How to sign up?
To be part of the PRA, it is necessary to register the rural property in the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR). In total, in Minas Gerais, 524 properties joined the CAR and PRA registry through Renova. Around 95% have completed their registration and 257 are already awaiting the issuance of the Environmental Regularization Commitment Term, a document that formalizes the activities that must be carried out on rural properties.
Visit the IEF-MG website and learn more about the program: http://ief.mg.gov.br/programa-de-regularizacao-ambiental-pra