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City Hall promotes activities to celebrate World Environment Day
Published on 05/06/2019 - 19:49 | Updated
A child plants a tree seedling in Barra da Tijuca. Photo? Maurício Val/City of Rio World Environment Day was celebrated this Wednesday, June 05th, by the City of Rio, with a series of educational activities. The program, organized by the Municipal Department of the Environment, included the launch of the publication commemorating the 06th anniversary of the Educational Program in Reforestation Areas (PEAR), at the Rio Art Museum (MAR), in Praça Mauá, and the holding of a cleaning campaign followed by the planting of seedlings, in Barra da Tijuca.
PEAR was created to provide educational support for the actions of the Reforestation Task Force Project, through the work of Environmental Agents in the benefited communities. They carry out socio-environmental diagnostics, household surveys, art-education workshops and clean-up tasks, among other actions.
Secretary of the Environment, Marcelo Queiroz opened the event at MAR and spoke about the book launch.
– The publication commemorating the 20th anniversary of the educational project in reforestation areas tells the story of the transformations that this work, developed by the Environmental Education Center of the Municipal Department of the Environment, brought to the lives of environmental agents and the community as a whole. This program brought us reflections and lessons that showed how important dialogue and interaction between citizens and public authorities are. We want to help form individuals who are more responsible towards the collective and bring into our lives real themes and experiences of sustainability, respect for biodiversity, concern for future generations, in short, love and connection with nature, with our planet – said Marcelo Queiroz
The launch of PEAR was attended by authorities, technicians, park managers and partner institutes. For the director of the Environmental Education Center of the Municipal Department of the Environment, Márcia Costa, the day was one of celebration:
– Today was a day to honor those who were important in this process, a unique program that transformed lives over time. The launch of the 20th anniversary publication of PEAR highlights the work carried out by environmental agents in reforestation areas of the city.
In Barra da Tijuca, yesterday was the day of the “Rio que te quero verde – semeando o futuro” (Green River – Sowing the Future) clean-up campaign, which took place at the Rico Point Kiosk on the waterfront. Volunteers removed waste from the entire stretch of sand on the beach and also planted native restinga seedlings.
For surfer and businessman Rico de Souza, who in 2000 introduced the first project to preserve native vegetation on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, the celebration of World Environment Day was special.
– We had the opportunity to take children from the communities in the West Zone and a group of elderly people from Jacarepaguá to replant native seedlings in partnership with the Environment Department and other groups that support us in these actions – said Rico de Souza, responsible for the Rio que te quero verde Program.
Advisor to the Conservation Units Coordination, Delzio James emphasizes that the objectives of the event in Barra are aligned with the municipality's practices: environmental education for young people and restoration of restinga vegetation, vital for coastal stabilization and habitat for threatened flora and fauna.
The celebrations for World Environment Week continue. On Saturday, there will be a big hug on the beaches of Barra and Recreio dos Bandeirantes. 18 volunteers are expected to join the effort to celebrate World Oceans Day.
