Alcoa’s Nursery: Cultivating the Seeds of Renewal

In Poços de Caldas, Alcoa maintains a nursery with the capacity to produce more than 100 thousand seedlings of 70 native species per year. Located within the Alcoa’s Parque Ambiental (Environmental Park), the nursery is part of a private natural heritage preserve, the RPPN Retiro Branco.

Seeds are collected from the region to promote greater genetic variability, local adaptability and successful seedling development. These seedlings are used either in planting in environmental compensation areas, as donations to the local community or in rehabilitation of mined areas. Monitoring carried out in these areas over the last few years has identified more than 250 species of flora and results that indicate maintenance of fauna diversity in the region. 

Through the “Cultivando a Mata Atlântica” (Cultivating the Atlantic Forest) and “Parque de Portas Abertas” (Open Doors Park) programs, we welcome students and the local community to learn and share about environmental preservation. In 2023, the total number of visitors surpassed 106,000 people. 

To support education and environmental conservation in the region, Alcoa established a research partnership with the Instituto Federal Sul de Minas (IF Sul de Minas Institute) and Universidade Federal Fluminense (Rio de Janeiro University) in 2023. The initiative is based at the Environmental Park’s research center.