On December 6, 2024, Ação Socioambiental held a planting event that symbolized the beginning of the restoration of the Macacu Action Project, marking an important step. The project is executed by Ação Socioambiental – ASA and carried out by Funbio, through the Florestas do Amanhã program, an initiative of SEAS-RJ, with resources from the Fundo Mata Atlântica.
The main objective of the project is to restore at least 50 hectares in the municipality of Cachoeiras de Macacu, in areas located in strategic micro-basins of the Guapi-Macacu basin. The planting event took place at Fazenda São Barnabé, a partner in forest restoration, and marked the beginning of a movement to recover water production, both for the population and for local agricultural activity.
Bringing together authorities and partners committed to the conservation and sustainable development of the eastern region of Guanabara Bay, the event highlighted the collective importance of these initiatives.
The owner responsible for providing the areas for planting emphasized: “Accessing areas of rural properties for reforestation and preservation is essential to foster forest conservation policies. In this sense, I was happy to participate in the launch day of the Florestas do Amanhã program on our family property, in the municipality of Cachoeiras de Macacu.”
The activities began in July, with the training and education of 51 residents of the region. Four courses were held on seed collection and nursery farming, developing essential skills for the production of essential inputs for ecological restoration, such as seeds and seedlings. These actions offered productive alternatives to local agriculture, taking advantage of the region's potential as a major producer of water for the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan region and strengthening the restoration production chain.
There was also a major mobilization effort in priority areas for water production, counting on the partnership of local landowners through Ação Socioambiental – ASA. To strengthen these partnerships, the project implemented monthly joint efforts to create and update the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR), contributing to the state of Rio de Janeiro in the environmental adaptation of rural properties and promoting greater water security for the metropolitan region.
According to the project's executive coordinator Tatiana Horta, "The Macacu Action Project goes beyond forest restoration: it is an opportunity to strengthen communities, promote the environmental suitability of properties, boost the restoration production chain and generate a positive and lasting impact on the region."
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