The Department of Environment and Climate inaugurates the Gávea Forest.

An initiative of the Municipal Secretariat for the Environment and Climate (SMAC) in partnership with PUC-Rio, the Gávea Forest was inaugurated on Wednesday (March 4th) in Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora Square, with the presence of representatives from residents' associations in the city's South Zone. The action, part of the Bosques Cariocas program, promotes the planting of 44 saplings on the site, in addition to an ecological corridor with 30 more saplings, which will connect the newly inaugurated forest to the university's forest. Among the species planted are jerivá palm, Bahia jacaranda, copaiba, grumixama, quaresmeira, pitangueira, and ingá.

The Secretary of Environment and Climate, Tainá de Paula, highlighted the department's commitment to a more sustainable city that provides greater thermal comfort to its residents:

– On the environmental agenda, Rio de Janeiro has been consolidating its work to bring the debate on climate democracy to the forefront with great momentum. We initiated the work on an extreme heat protocol at the City Hall. The call was made and, with great responsibility, all productive sectors understood that the climate issue is urgent in the city of Rio.

Marta Nolding, a member of the Leblon Residents Association and the Verde Leblon group, participated in the planting and highlighted the importance of the Gávea Forest in the vicinity of educational institutions.

– It is a pleasure to plant trees in this emblematic location, at the junction of Lagoa, Jardim Botânico, Gávea and Leblon, and also near three schools, which is fundamental in the area of ​​environmental education. This way, children will understand from an early age the importance of nature for Brazil and for the world.

The president of the Jardim Botânico Residents' Association, Cláudio Barbosa, called on residents to mobilize for the planting of more trees in the city:

– I enjoy participating in these movements and I hope more people will be motivated to invest a little time in what's being done here. This will influence the future of our children and grandchildren. By bringing all these movements together, we can truly contribute to the environment.

Luiz Fernando Martha, vice-rector of infrastructure and services at PUC-Rio, stated that the university also sees caring for its surroundings as a mission:

The role of the university is not only to teach, but to participate in the surrounding community in any way possible. And there is no longer any way to avoid this environmental issue.

Marcelo Motta, environmental management coordinator at PUC-Rio, detailed the project and the choice of Praça Nossa Senhora Auxiliadora to house the Bosque da Gávea:

– We are bringing native species from the Atlantic Forest and spreading the core of the PUC Forest to the Gávea neighborhood. We did research on the neighborhood's heat islands and, obviously, Rua Mário Ribeiro is the driest and hottest place due to the lack of shade. This explains the concentration of seedlings here, extending towards PUC to connect with our central forest.

 

Carioca Woods

The Bosques Cariocas program aims to expand the city's vegetation cover and combat heat islands through denser forestation with species typical of the Atlantic Forest. Inaugurated on February 13th in an area of ​​3.700 square meters on Avenida São Francisco Xavier, under the Mangueira viaduct in the North Zone of Rio, the Bosque do Samba was the first project delivered by the initiative.

The second event took place this week at the Professor Fábio César Pacífico Municipal School in Campo Grande. With approximately 2 square meters surrounding the school, the space features 71 planted saplings of various species, including yellow ipê, purple ipê, quaresmeira, jacaranda, pitanga, and urucum, among others. The school has over 800 students across three shifts, who will benefit from the new green area, as will their families.

Category:

• City
• Environment and Climate
• News

March 4th, 2026

Appointments: Gávea Forest Carioca Woods crow's nest planting PUC-Rio South Zone