| MRN NURTURING AMAZON CHELONIA
(TURTLES) |
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Business
Group: Bauxite and Alumina
Region: South America |
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At the Mineração Rio do Norte
(MRN) joint venture bauxite mining operation in Brazil, a biodiversity
initiative known as the "Pé de Pincha Project"
is aimed at the conservation of chelonia turtles, such as
the tracajá and pitiu turtles. The goal is to nurture
baby turtles and return them to nature in the 14 communities
of Terra Santa County and nine communities of Oriximiná
County.
The project first involves identifying the turtle egg holes,
then removing the eggs and transferring them to a nursery
where the eclosion takes place (birth of the young turtles).
Later on, they are carried to a nursery tank, where they remain
for 90 days, after which they are returned to nature.
Success relies on the effective volunteer participation of
the local population, while MRN provides the nurseries, boats,
outboard motor, fuel and a generator. Thanks to this partnership,
some 170,000 turtles were born and will be returned to
nature for re-population of the local lakes, demonstrating
MRN's concern for the community and the environment through
preservation of this local species.
MRN, together with local authorities, participates as partner
of the Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos
Naturais Renováveis (Ibama) (Brazilian Institute for
the Environment and Natural Renewable Resources) and the Amazon
Federal University. To date, MRN has invested US$66,000 in
the project.
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