The Vale dos Encantados Private Natural Heritage Reserve project, executed by FADENOR, aims to support the creation of Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs, the acronym in Portuguese) in Cerrado areas within the Serra do Espinhaço Biosphere Reserve.

The specific objectives include the creation of two RPNNs, raising awareness about the importance of creating Private Reserves, and identifying more landowners interested in creating RPPNs in the region.

Meetings will be held in communities with the support of the Municipal Secretary of the Environment to publicize the project. Following these meetings, FADENOR will conduct technical visits to interested properties.

In this stage, flora and fauna will be monitored to demonstrate the ecological importance of the area. Thus, based on the previous information, the institution will map the areas, verify their location in relation to the nearest Conservation Unit, the Sempre Vivas National Park, and connect them with fragments of natural areas.

The project will last 18 months and it is expected that by the end of the project two RPPNs will be created in the municipality of Olhos D’Água, totaling 130 hectares, in order to contribute to the connection of fragments of natural areas within the Serra do Espinhaço Biosphere Reserve. It will also promote interest on the part of other landowners in the future creation of other RPPNs, which will enable the municipality to increase the amount of Ecological Circulation of Goods and Services Tax (Ecological ICMS, the acronym in Portuguese) received, expand ecotourism and achieve environmental gains.