In Pontes e Lacerda, mining meets nature: 6 hectares recovered and Cerrado species saved.
Brazil’s Cerrado is celebrating a moment of relief: deforestation in the region has reached its lowest rate since 2001, according to data from Inpe. Alongside this encouraging environmental news, a pioneering project in Mato Grosso, developed by mining company Aura, demonstrates that economic progress can coexist harmoniously with environmental recovery.
In Pontes e Lacerda (MT), the Manoel Ferreira Nursery, maintained by Aura‘s Apoena unit, is marking nine years of operations, reaffirming its commitment to biodiversity preservation and the restoration of degraded areas.
The initiative has a tangible impact, having produced 270,000 seedlings and restored more than 6 hectares of native vegetation.
A Green Legacy in the Making
The project goes beyond simple restoration. It is dedicated to safeguarding the genetics of local flora.
By collecting seeds from carefully mapped “matrix trees,” Aura ensures that new seedlings have a higher chance of adapting to transplantation, maintaining the biological identity of the species.
With a capacity to produce up to 30,000 plants annually and a dynamic inventory of 6,000 seedlings across 59 species, the nursery prioritizes the rescue and multiplication of threatened plants, many of which are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Species such as Peroba-rosa, Pau-brasil, Cedro, and Mogno, alongside others of great ecological and economic value such as Pequi, palmito-juçara, and açaí, find a vital refuge in the project.
Knowledge That Flourishes
The management of the Manoel Ferreira Nursery is an example of synergy between technical rigor and traditional knowledge.
Environmental analyst Micheli Lemes combines her scientific knowledge with the experience of local staff, such as Valdir Lima and Manoel Ferreira, after whom the space is named.
Seu Manoel, one of the longest-serving team members, oversees every stage of the process, from seed collection to planting.
Micheli Lemes stated:
It is deeply satisfying to see a plant that passed through our hands growing and helping to rebuild that vegetation once again.
Connection with the Community and the Future
Aura‘s initiative extends far beyond the boundaries of the mining area.
The nursery has become an environmental education hub, hosting students from various institutions, such as the Federal Institute of Mato Grosso (IFMT) and the State University of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT).
Additionally, more than 4,000 seedlings have been donated to local residents, schools, and public agencies in the region, strengthening the bond between the company and the community.
Fanuel Medeiros stated:
Producing seedlings of rare species and sharing these results with local residents is our way of ensuring that mining activity works hand in hand with environmental conservation.
Aura‘s project in Pontes e Lacerda is an inspiring testimony of how innovation and socio-environmental responsibility can go hand in hand, promoting a greener and more balanced future for the Cerrado and for Brazil.