Rio de Janeiro environmental restoration projects show significant ecological recovery

Environmental restoration efforts in Rio de Janeiro are yielding significant ecological results. In Cachoeiras de Macacu, the Guapiaçu Ecological Reserve (REGUA), founded by Nicholas and Raquel Locke in 2001, has successfully transformed former cattle ranching land into a thriving forest. Over 25 years, the project has planted approximately 840,000 trees, restoring about 607 hectares of Atlantic Forest and reconnecting previously isolated forest fragments.

This reforestation has revitalized local biodiversity, including the return of a species not recorded in the region for over a century. The restoration of wetlands and native vegetation has provided essential habitats and food sources for various birds and animals.

In Barra da Tijuca, the 'Dia do Cuidado com a Restinga Carioca' event, promoted by Instituto-E’s Restinga Project, focuses on coastal preservation. The initiative includes cleaning, planting, and environmental education activities to recover the original vegetation of the Brazilian coast.