Known for its highly unique natural condition, the Pratigi Environmental Protection Area (EPA), located in the Bahia Southern Lowlands, was chosen by Odebrecht Oil & Gas to compensate the carbon released by two of its units, located in Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, and Itajaí, Santa Catarina. The inventory of the emissions at these units recorded a total of 639 tons of CO² during the year 2013 and, to compensate these, three water sources located within the Pratigi EPA will be restored with the plantation of approximately 3,000 tree seedlings.

The neutralization of these Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions is the result of a partnership with the Land Conservation Organization (OCT) through the Pratigi Neutral Carbon Program. Renan Kamimura, Environmental Conservation Leader at OCT, clarified that the neutralization did more than simply mitigate climate change. “The action promotes a new territorial development model based on a low carbon economy, seeking to reduce activity-related emissions,” said Kamimura.

Marco Aurélio Fonseca, Senior Officer Responsible for Entrepreneurship Support at Odebrecht Oil & Gas, pointed out that this allows the Business to demonstrate its commitment to resolving problems that originate from the social and economic structure. “The idea is to contribute toward a more harmonious and unified society, with opportunities for everyone, supporting individuals’ productivity, and consequently, helping improve their quality of life, that of their families and the community,” said Fonseca.

OCT is associated with the Bahia Southern Lowlands Environmental Protection Area Mosaic Program for Development and Growth Integrated with Sustainability (PDCIS), supported by the Odebrecht Foundation and public and private partners.

Pratigi Neutral Carbon

The program allows any person or company to measure how their actions impact the environment and seek to compensate these. To calculate the emissions, simply visit the OCT website: www.oct.org.br/calculadora. The result is displayed in numbers of trees and the values in Brazilian reais of how much it would cost to plant these.

The resources acquired finance the reforestation of the Pratigi EPA water sources, with the plantation of seedlings on the properties of family farmers in the Bahia Southern Lowlands region. “We are creating an opportunity through a social and environmental project, encouraging everyone to feel responsible for contributing,” said Volney Fernandes, Environmental Service Leader at OCT.

Program Figures

Some 155 hectares restored with native Atlantic Forest species
97 water sources recovered
Approximately 32,000 tons of neutralized carbon
Each producer earns R$ 1 per unit planted