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Created in May, 1993, the Environmental Park of the Poços de Caldas Unit, located in Poços de Caldas (MG), is of national significance within the context of environmental education and is an important resource for both formal and informal education in the State of Minas Gerais. Over the years the park has been improving its activities and physical structure, based on the Corporation's Global Environmental Strategy for 2020 of sustainable development.
Installed in an area of 331.5 ha (hectares), the park laid out in a harmonious manner, has three pavilions made of glass and treated eucalyptus, and each measuring 100 sq. m. These locations are used as the administration office, the laboratory, the library and the activities workshop. Also included in this architecturally-designed complex are a guard-post, two suspension bridges, a kiosk, a look-out tower in the middle of the forest and three nature trails (Cedar, Humming Bird and Titi Monkey), each 500 meters long, where the exotic diversity of the native vegetation can be observed close to.
In 1999 the area became an integral part of the Retiro Branco Private Natural Heritage Reserve that has a total area of 207.5 ha, thus guaranteeing the permanent preservation of the forest that surrounds it. In this same area there is a recovered nature trail 300 meters long, where visitors have the opportunity of seeing an area where, for the last 16 years, the native flora has been re-established on recovered mining areas. Among the trees to be found there are the Pau-Cigarra, Guatambu, Jacarandá, Capixingui, Manacá-da-serra, Cedro, Paineira, Ipê, Capororoca and Embaúba.
In 2001, the Park’s structure gained a 2 hectare arboretum that has 117 species of both exotic trees and those that are native to Poços de Caldas and Brazil. It also has trails, a kiosk, an amphitheater, a plant nursery and a structure for holding monitored visits, courses and events.
Between 1993 and 2007 the Park received 82,222 visitors; in 2007 alone, 3656 people visited the area. In this period outside activities were also arranged, like educational projects, talks in universities and environmental training.
With its aim of turning the nucleus into a reference point in environmental education Alcoa is developing educational activities for children and adults from the local community, with the objective of bringing about a change in their behavior, by guiding them in the correct use of natural resources and how to improve the quality of their lifestyles.
The project entitled "Discovering our Fauna and Flora" takes place in September (celebrating World Tree Day) and in October (because of World Bird Day). In the activity known as "Learning and Practicing", posters, models and other things are made, accompanied by presentations of theater, dance, music, poetry, etc.
During the month of July Alcoa employees and their families have at their disposal a holiday camp, with educational games for two age groups: young children from six to eight years old and older children from nine to twelve. The program includes an Event with Adolescents, with activities linked to the theme of the environment; a Day in the Environmental Park, which takes place on three Sundays every year, but on no fixed date; and Environment Training – Awareness-building, which is aimed at employees and trainees.
Environmental Education Program
In 2008, Alcoa’s Environmental Park launched its Environmental Education Program, with activities focusing on employees and communities located in those areas on which the unit has a direct influence. The program is responsible for developing environmental education activities that have been specifically prepared to cover the different themes and audiences that are related directly to the activities of Alcoa-Poços and to the work it does in environmental
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Picture Gallery
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