Women's Week: City Hall forestry engineer gave up management to return to the field

Cláudia França did not plan on becoming a forestry engineer. The student was unsure whether to study Biology or Agronomy. She ended up choosing the latter and was about to apply for the entrance exam at Cesgranrio when everything changed: when she read a folder left on a bench, she realized that her mission was different.

– I chose the profession on the spot, the day I applied for the entrance exam, in 1988. I was already certain that I would study Agronomy, but when I read what a forestry engineer did, I immediately identified with it: “This is what I want!”. I took the course, graduated from UFRRJ (Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro) and I don’t regret it – said Cláudia, 50, who has been at the City Hall for 25 years, bringing together many stories that make her one of the women who make the city happen and one of the seven civil servants honored in reports that will be published until this Sunday (14/03).

One of these projects was the revitalization of the gardens of Flamengo Park in 1999, designed by Burle Marx, on the occasion of an important meeting of world leaders in Rio de Janeiro: the Latin America and Caribbean/European Union Summit. Passionate about environmental recovery and reforestation, Cláudia threw herself into this project.

– I was invited, along with technicians from the Parks and Gardens Foundation, to work on the inspection of this project to revitalize and treat the landscape of Flamengo Park because of this event. It was a large and detailed job; nothing could escape the Burle Marx project. We did all the revitalization and phytosanitary treatment, because many trees were sick. It was a very rewarding experience – recalled the engineer: – After the Summit, we stayed for a while, a year or two, at Flamengo Park. For me, it was something new and at the same time rewarding. I learned a lot.

Cláudia says that “each reforestation project has its own story” and that “the transformation of the landscape is what she loves most about her work”. It is only natural, then, that her eyes light up when she remembers the action carried out in Jardim Independência, in Anchieta.

– It’s a very difficult area, near Chapadão. The Housing Department, which was running a program to regularize lots, requested the reforestation. They managed to bring together the residents so that they could learn about the project and help. But we had some difficulties from the beginning. There were a lot of animals, fires, trash… Everything was wrong with the project. But we managed it. Having seen that degraded area and seeing what is now consolidated there is priceless – says the engineer, who took 8 years to reforest the area.

In the year in which she celebrates her silver anniversary in the municipality, the civil servant smiles when remembering that she joined the City Hall somewhat by accident.

– I graduated in 1994, I was doing a specialization and then a City Hall competition came up in early 1996. I decided to do it without any expectations. I got in and went straight to the Environmental Recovery Coordination, which no longer exists. I worked with environmental recovery actions, with reforestation… I had already done an internship in this area, in the Madureira mountains, I had worked in the recovery of river basins, in the North of Rio de Janeiro. I was always involved in recovery – says the engineer.

Then, between supervising reforestation projects, inspection, licensing and environmental education, Cláudia saw the opportunity to manage Forest Management, of the Degraded Areas Recovery Coordination, in 2003. She remained in the role until 2016.

– I left because I thought I had done my time as a manager and wanted to give my colleagues the opportunity. But I returned in 2017 and stayed until the following year, when I asked someone else to be trained so I could leave with peace of mind. I felt the need to get back into the field and run the projects. Here, we are more focused on administration, spreadsheets, and managing all the projects. But I continue to provide support – says Cláudia, who currently oversees projects in the Reforestation Program.

Women's Week: municipal guard is passionate about dogs and the well-being of citizens

Women's Week: municipal guard is passionate about dogs and the well-being of citizens

Women's Week: municipal guard is passionate about dogs and the well-being of citizens

Women's Week: municipal guard is passionate about dogs and the well-being of citizens

Women's Week: municipal guard is passionate about dogs and the well-being of citizens

Women's Week: municipal guard is passionate about dogs and the well-being of citizens

Category:

• City
• Environment and Climate
• News

March 13th, 2021