FLORAL CONSERVATION

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Reforestation program for vegetation located on the banks of springs, rivers, lakes, dams and streams.

Cemig seeks to implement strategies to compensate for deforestation resulting from its Distribution expansion activities, committing itself to the planting of native plant species and the recovery of degraded areas. To this end, it established targets and deadlines for forest compensation whose progressions are shown in Table 1, considering planting, maintenance and land regularization, since 2020 in Cemig Geração e Transmissão S.A. and at Cemig Distribuição S.A.

Furthermore, the company invests in research and development projects, with the aim of developing protective methods in relation to forest actions.

RIPARIAN REFORESTATION PROGRAM

Our Riparian Forest Reforestation Program began in 1990. Through an agreement between the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) and Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais, its main objective was to generate technology for recomposition of riparian forests on the banks of the reservoirs.

Our riparian forest restoration projects were initially implemented in the Volta Grande HPP reservoir, in 1991, prioritizing the development of technologies for the production of seedlings. Many challenges were faced in mastering native seedling production techniques. UFLA developed several research projects, which contributed to the definition of the species that would best adapt to the conditions of the Volta Grande reservoir.

From 1992 to 2005, 705,263 (seven hundred and five thousand, two hundred and sixty-three) seedlings were planted, in a total of approximately 480.00 ha. In addition to the partnership with UFLA, landowners on the banks of the river also walked side by side with the project. Several field activities were carried out involving landowners, rural unions, Emater, IEF. The program was widely publicized through folders, lectures, press, etc.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (R&D) 484

In partnership with the Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), P&D 484 was also developed between 2012 and 2016, whose main objective was to evaluate the degree of sustainability of riparian forests in different successional stages of the Volta Grande Reservoir. through indices obtained from temporal and spatial analyzes of ecosystem processes and biodiversity.

This systemic analysis made it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the different reforestation methods applied in the areas over the last 20 years. The results of this work are available in the book “Restauração e conservação de matas ciliares em reservatórios hidrelétricos – Importância para a conservação da biodiversidade e processos ecológicos”, which was widely distributed among the academic community, companies in the electricity sector, environmental agencies and other interested parties and continues to be widely used as a bibliographic reference.

The results obtained through R&D 484 demonstrate that the reforested areas around the Volta Grande HPP reservoir, despite not having been restored with the specific purpose of recovering biodiversity, ecological processes and ecosystem services, present today this set of elements, important for their “survival”.

The main benefits of the Volta Grande reservoir reforestation program were improvement of the physical environment, erosion control, maintenance of soil fertility and hydrological cycles, increase in plant and fauna biodiversity, increase in aquatic invertebrate biodiversity, vegetation and carbon fixation, bringing direct benefits to human life.

Currently, we also have Estação Ambiental de Itutinga (EAITU), which is located in the municipality of Itutinga, at Km 306 of BR 265, between the dams of the Itutinga and Camargos HPPs, close to the cities of Lavras and São João Del Rei. It was inaugurated in July 1994, with an area of 3.52 hectares and its infrastructure comprises 01 (one) Pisciculture Laboratory and 01 (one) seedling nursery.

The seedling nursery works with native species recommended and identified in two groups: Pioneers (PI), with fast growth and that produce fruits attractive to the fauna and Climax (CL), demanding of light, are those species of intermediate growth and that appear in the last stage of forest succession.

The production of seedlings takes place through the sowing or cutting process, and the seeds and cuttings are collected in the region surrounding the Environmental Station. After germination of the seeds or sprouting of the cuttings in greenhouses, these are transferred to tubes and are cultivated until they reach average sizes between 30 and 40 cm, depending on the species.

A minimum monthly production (from January to November of each year) of 2,500 seedlings/month of native species is foreseen, 50% with pioneer species (PI) and 50% with climax species (CL), totaling 22,000 seedlings/year, considering a average loss of 10% per year. These native seedlings produced will be used for revegetation in planting riparian forests, recovery of degraded areas and for protection of springs.

The Station will also support activities related to PEA (Environmental Education Program) practices at the Itutinga and Camargos Power Plants, as required, through monitored visits by students and other interested parties, as well as training in the areas of fish farming and forestry.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (R&D) 602

During the construction of the Emborcação Hydroelectric Plant (UHE), in the period between 1977 and 1981, an area of Cerrado, belonging to the district of Pedra Branca, municipality of Catalão, Goiás, was used as a loan area for the extraction of clay for the construction of the power plant.

After completion of the construction work on the Emborcação Hydroelectric Power Plant (UHE) in 1981, Cemig used techniques to rehabilitate the borrowed area, installing a vegetation cover on the ground and stabilizing the area, which was sold to third parties in 1987.

Thus, in order to promote the recovery of that area, the research project: “Strategies to accelerate ecological succession in degraded areas around UHE Emborcação: ecological services performed by animals, in favor of environmental restoration”, was proposed and started on August 02, 2018 with a duration of 48 months. It counts, in its development, with the participation of the Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), University of Brasília (UNB), Gorceix Foundation and Cemig Geração e Transmission S/A (CEMIG GT).

This project aims to propose and test techniques for recovering degraded areas, using new technologies and aiming at the installation of islands of ecological succession, using fauna as a source of colonizing species, within the scope of UHE Emborcação.

The Research Project comprises 12 subprojects, 9 of which have already been concluded. Among the results obtained, the effectiveness of applying the topsoil transposition methodology stands out, which proved to be a low-cost methodology for recovering the area. Another methodology that we could cite would be the use of dung beetles, as secondary seed dispersers, being a complementary technique for the recovery of these areas. Also noteworthy is the use of artificial perches associated with other types of attractions, such as shelter and/or food items, to attract seed-dispersing birds in the area, which contribute to the recovery of the environment.

It should be noted that one of the products that will be obtained by R&D GT602 is a manual for the recovery of degraded areas, which will be used in the recovery of CEMIG areas and will greatly contribute to the entire Brazilian energy sector.

FOREST COMPENSATION

It is worth mentioning that, with the formation of the large reservoirs of hydroelectric plants, a large perimeter is created on their banks, normally devoid of forest formations. When existing, these formations are made up of species adapted to a drier environment and, therefore, poorly adapted to high soil moisture due to the rise in the water table and fluctuations in the level of the reservoir.

This new configuration of the environment creates the need for implantation, recovery and conservation of riparian forests around the reservoirs in order to maintain ecological processes.

For almost 30 years, Cemig has been developing, in partnership with universities, several studies that have supported programs for the implantation of riparian forests around its reservoirs. Through R&D Programs, the Company has sought to study and propose innovations in the face of the technological challenges of the electricity sector. The partnership with rural producers around its reservoirs has been fundamental for the success of these actions.

Cemig seeks to implement strategies to compensate for deforestation resulting from its Distribution expansion activities, committing itself to the planting of native plant species and the recovery of degraded areas. To this end, it established targets and deadlines for forest compensation whose progressions are shown in Table 1, considering planting, maintenance and land regularization, since 2020 in Cemig Geração e Transmissão S.A. and at Cemig Distribuição S.A..

Table 1 – Forest Compensation: Goals and achievement per bienium at Cemig GT and Cemig D

Itutinga Environmental Station

The Itutinga Environmental Station (EAITU), inaugurated in July 1994, with an area of 3.52 hectares, has an infrastructure that comprises 01 (one) Pisciculture Laboratory and 01 (one) seedling nursery. The Station is located in the municipality of Itutinga, at Km 306 of BR 265, between the Itutinga and Camargos HPP buses, close to the cities of Lavras and São João Del Rei.

CONSERVATION UNITS

The Conservation Units are spaces protected by law which aim at the preservation and conservation of nature. Law No. 9,985, of July 18, 2000, establishes the National System of Nature Conservation Units– SNUC which defines criteria and guidelines for the creation, implementation and management of these protected areas.
Conservation units are divided into two groups called Full Protection Units, whose objective is to preserve nature, with only the indirect use of its natural resources being allowed Sustainable Use Units that combine nature conservation with sustainable use.

Standing out in the category of Sustainable Use Units is the RPPN – Private Natural Heritage Reserve, which is a private area, in which a term of perpetuity is signed between the environmental agency and the owner, which is recorded in the registration in the Public Registry of Properties. The purpose of RPPNs is to conserve biological diversity by contributing to the expansion of protected areas in the country with the possibility of collaboration between public and private initiative. It allows scientific research and visitation for tourist, recreational and educational purposes, as provided for in the unit’s Management Plan.

Cemig has three RPPNs in the state of Minas Gerais, the RPPN Galheiro located in the Minas Gerais triangle region, the RPPN Coronel Domiciano in the southern portion of the state and the RPPN Fatura in the north of Minas, in the Jequitinhonha Valley region.

RPPN CORONEL DOMICIANO PLANT

A The RPPN Usina Coronel Domiciano is inserted in the territories of the Minas Gerais municipalities of Muriaé and Rosário da Limeira. This reserve was created in the year 2000, being recognized by the State Institute of Forests (IEF) through IEF ordinance nº 18/00. It is located in the Zona da Mata Mineira region, inserted in the Atlantic Forest biome and is of great importance for the conservation of fauna and flora species belonging to this biome.

The management plan for the RPPN Usina Coronel Domiciano was approved by the State Institute of Forests IEF in 2021 and provides for the following programs:
• Protection Program
• Environmental Education and Visitation Program
• Altered Area Recovery Program
• Scientific Research Program

RPPN GALHEIRO

The Galheiro Natural Heritage Private Reserve was created in 1995 by Ordinance No. 73-N of the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) and is located in the municipality of Perdizes, Minas Gerais. In this region, the native vegetation is composed of a mosaic of phytophysiognomies such as the Forested Savannah, the Arborizada Savannah, the Gallery Forests, among others. It is an area of great biological importance, which holds a plant heritage for the Triângulo Mineiro region and for Brazil, with approximately 2,700 ha.

Flora survey studies in the Galheiro Natural Heritage Private Reserve have shown a great richness of species in the Cerrado biome and a continuous variation in floristic composition throughout its extension, a very relevant characteristic for the preservation of the region’s fauna. In this RPPN, more than 1,200 species and 148 families of plants have already been catalogued.

Currently, this reserve has a Management Plan, published in 2015 by ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation) and updated by Cemig in 2022. As a result, the unit carries out various activities related to environmental education and the promotion of scientific research. . Educational signage, with visual impact signs for visitors, selective collection and maintenance of accommodation for receiving students and researchers are some of them.

RPPN FARTURA

No In the municipality of Capelinha, in the Jequitinhonha Valley, in Minas Gerais, Cemig maintains the Fartura RPPN (Private Natural Heritage Reserve). The Sustainable Use Conservation Unit, which has an area of 1,455 ha, was created in 2009 by Ordinance No. 189 of the State Institute of Forests of Minas Gerais (IEF), consolidating the property’s perpetual destination as a reserve.

During the environmental licensing process for the Irapé Hydroelectric Power Plant (Usina Presidente Juscelino Kubitschek), located on the Jequitinhonha River, there was a need to resettle the communities of Jacuba and Bocaina, both located in Turmalina (MG). For this purpose, land was acquired in the municipality of Capelinha, where there was an important remnant of Atlantic Forest, whose richness of fauna and flora should be preserved mainly because it is in an ecotone zone (environmental transition) with the Cerrado biome. Thus, an agreement was signed with the IEF to transform the site called Fazenda Fartura into a protected area, giving rise to the RPPN.

According to the survey carried out by the Federal University of the Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys (UFVJM), in 2016, the region has 278 species, belonging to 144 genera and 55 botanical families. Among the registered species, 17 have not yet been identified. The Research and Development project, R&D 551, entitled Characterization of Reference Ecosystems and Implementation of Models for the Recovery of Degraded Areas in RPPN Fartura, ended in 2018 and produced a book and booklets containing important guidelines on agroforestry systems, springs, fires, among others. other. The material can be accessed below, in the attachments section.

In this RPPN, Cemig also carries out actions within the Environmental Education Program to raise awareness of the care and conservation of the natural and cultural resources of the conservation unit and its surroundings. The Reserve’s Management Plan also provides for protection of the area and prevention against fires, activities that are being maintained by Cemig, in addition to stimulating scientific research whose partnership with the UFVJM has generated important scientific data on the region’s flora