Seven national parks in Minas Gerais will receive a boost through a new project launched in December, aimed at strengthening Protected Areas (PAs) with investments in infrastructure improvements, particularly for visitor facilities. Named G7 National Parks, the project is funded by resources from a 2020 agreement with Vale, which redirected environmental fines imposed on the company following the Brumadinho dam collapse in 2019. The R$66 million investment will support the national parks of Serra do Cipó, Serra do Gandarela, Serra da Canastra, Sempre Vivas, Cavernas do Peruaçu, Grande Sertão Veredas, and Caparaó.

The investments will target key areas of the PAs, including enhancing public use through the development of trails and visitor attractions, as well as strengthening management, enforcement, and fire management efforts. FUNBIO is responsible for implementing the project, which is set to run for three years, with activities scheduled to begin in March 2025.

In addition, FUNBIO will design a financial mechanism to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the parks. The creation of this will launch Phase 2 of the project, which already has R$84 million allocated.

The allocation of Vale’s financial resources follows a ruling by the Federal Judiciary of Minas Gerais, which directed the use of the fine’s proceeds with the approval of the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of the Environment (MMA), and the Brazilian Institute of the Environment (IBAMA).