Institution is responsible for conducting a set of activities in the areas impacted by the collapse of the Fundão dam
The Renova Foundation, a non-profit institution of private law, assumes the implementation and management of environmental and socioeconomic programs designed to repair, restore and rebuild the regions and communities impacted by the collapse of the Fundão dam.
Founded on June 30, 2016, the Foundation began operations on August 2 and is the result of the signing of the Transaction Term of Conduct Adjustment (TTAC) between Samarco Mineração, with the support of its shareholders, Vale and BHP Billiton, and Federal government, state governments of Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo and other government agencies, which took place on March 2. The entity will be headquartered in Belo Horizonte and have offices in Mariana (MG), Governador Valadares (MG) and Linhares (ES).
The role of the Foundation, led by biologist and administrator, Roberto S. Waack, is to restore and recover communities and impacted resources as well as replace or compensate for what is not subject to remediation, always in an efficient, reputable, transparent and ethical manner.
The programs are based on scientific studies and count, since their development, with the participation of the communities. They are subject to constant monitoring, audits and broad dissemination, ensuring that civil society stays informed about the measures taken and the results obtained.
With an extensive background in the field of sustainability, Waack has developed long term relationships with national and international civil society organizations, including WWF Brazil, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Ethos and the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund.
Results of revegetation work, two months and twenty days after sowing. | Photo: Leo Drumond / NITRO
The Renova Foundation consists of the Board of Governors, the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board and the Advisory Council, as well as technical experts and independent audits.
The Inter-federative Committee – composed of representatives of environmental agencies and public administration, signatories of the Transaction Term of Conduct Adjustment (TTAC) – the external organ of the Foundation responsible for advising on plans, programs and projects and suggesting solution proposals of the impacts caused by the breach. It is also function of the Committee to establish channels of participation of civil society and may, for this, call specific meetings and listen to interested organizations.
The collapse
On November 5, 2015, the collapse of the Fundão dam, located in Mariana (MG) and owned by Samarco caused the slip of a large volume of iron ore tailings. The incident affected the districts of Bento Rodrigues and Paracatu de Baixo, in Mariana, and Gesteira, subdistrict of Barra Longa, the town that was also affected at its headquarters, then reaching the Doce River, which runs along cities of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo. In Espírito Santo, the affected cities were Baixo Guandu, Colatina and Linhares, where the mouth of the river is located. To learn more about the collapse, click here.