MINAS GERAIS, Brazil — Serra do Brigadeiro State Park in Minas Gerais, Brazil, is not only a stunning natural haven but also home to Iracambi, a dedicated NGO focused on conservation and environmental education within the Atlantic Forest biome. This vital area has faced significant destruction due to deforestation, making Iracambi’s work even more crucial.
In partnership with local schools and communities, Iracambi aims to plant 1 million native trees by 2030 to restore the Atlantic Forest. So far, they have successfully planted 250,000 trees, contributing to the revitalization of this important ecosystem.
The Serra do Brigadeiro region also holds Brazil’s second-largest bauxite reserves, drawing interest from mining companies. As environmental challenges increase, the work of Iracambi becomes even more essential in preserving the rich biodiversity of this area while advocating for sustainable practices.
Watch the video to explore the efforts to restore the Atlantic Forest and the balance between conservation and development in this ecologically significant region.
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Banner image: An outdoor nursery at Iracambi Research Center, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Image by Sarah Brown/Mongabay.
A Brazilian NGO restores widely degraded Atlantic Forest amid mining threats