Monitoring of Ichthyofauna (fish) in the Iitaipu Reservoir and Impact Area. Itaipu's activities in the region have been recognized as excellent examples of "Best Practices" in the effective implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). A land management model is applied from Itaipu to the hydropower reservoir basin.
MANAGEMENT,
MAINTENANCE AND
RESTORATION OF FORESTS IN THE PROTECTED BELT OF THE
These protected areas consist of 101,000 hectares of land in both Brazil and Paraguay in the area of direct influence of the organization along the Reservoir. It found that a large part of the Atlantic Forest on the Brazilian side had been cleared for agriculture and livestock, starting in the 1960s (Eletrobras, 2011). Recognition of Itaipu's protected areas in the Paraguayan and Brazilian territories as core areas of the Biosphere Reserve, granted by UNESCO's "Man and the Biosphere" (MaB) programme.
GENETIC CONSERVATION FOR ECOLOGICAL
RESTORATION
The creation of the forest microplasma banks was mainly motivated by the recognition of the biodiversity risk status in the forest residues of a region in the Paraná river basin, a region covering 28 municipalities and 8,000 km2 in Brazil, and the need to provide, to the extent of medium term, high quality genetic material for the production of millions of seedlings for the ecological restoration of the protected areas of Itaipu and the hydrographic basin in its area of influence. Genetic recovery was done through the collection of seeds from matrix trees in the region, aiming to increase the genetic base of seeds to be used. In these nurseries, more than 20 million seedlings were produced, destined for the organization's protected areas and, currently, distributed in other areas in the Parana Basin region.
The average annual production in the forest nursery is about 1.2 million seedlings of about 90 native forest, fruit and ornamental species. The experience of Itaipu's Nurseries has helped to master the optimization of the activities of seed collection and cultivation and maintenance of seedlings to obtain more resistant plants in their final implementation in the field. Floresta contributed to the publication of the largest collection of information on Brazilian tree species in a series of books entitled Brazilian Arboreal Species (Carvalho, P.E.R., 2003).
In the context of research and development, both the laboratory and the forest nursery are used for the professional development of the technical team and of students in biological sciences and related fields of knowledge, to conduct fundamental research into the solution of everyday problems related to seed technology. Currently, the forest nursery of the Bela Vista Biological Refuge (RBV) is responsible for the production of seedlings of approximately 104 species of the Atlantic Forest biome, meeting all the requirements of the company's environmental programs for the ecological restoration of riparian forests in the region . Paraná River Basin, Region 3. The germplasm bank is monitored annually by Itaipu to track the survival and development of the species.
Forest nursery production is monitored monthly by the organization's technical team, which issues bimonthly reports to the Itaipu Binacional Board of Directors.
MAINTENANCE AND CONSERVATION OF
MEDICINAL, AROMATIC, CONDIMENT AND
NON-CONVENTIONAL FOOD PLANTS
CONSERVATION OF REGIONAL WILDLIFE
Through this initiative, many animals were caught in the area that would be flooded by the formation of the reservoir. CIASI has an agreement with the Institute of Conservation Biology of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, for training in animal nutrition and care. In terms of birds, CIASI has 25 species, 7 of which are threatened categories, accounting for 28% of the collection.
In 1984, the Wildlife Breeding Center was built within the Bela Vista Biological Reserve in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil, to host regional species and host wildlife conservation and research. The economy of the region is based mainly on agriculture and to a certain extent on landscape tourism. Ecological balance and sustainability must be recognized as necessary not only for the protection and longevity of the reservoir, a major natural resource that generates clean energy and wealth, but also for the economic sustainability of agricultural and tourism activities in the region.
Measures are constantly taken to ensure the safety of people and wild animals circulating in the areas of the hydroelectric power plant and other protected areas, demonstrating the concern for balance and environmental sustainability. In recognition of the many efforts on biodiversity conservation, Itaipu achieved the first place in the Benchmarking 2016 ranking with the "Biodiversity - Us. The results of the action are reported internally through monthly and annual reports, and also annually, to the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), and to the public through ITAIPU's Sustainability Report.
The community can access the results of the action through visits to the zoo and participation in environmental education activities.
MONITORING OF
ICHTHYOFAUNA (FISH) IN THE RESERVOIR AND IN
MONITORING OF INVASIVE EXOTIC
AQUATIC SPECIES IN
THE ITAIPU RESERVOIR
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
Since 2002, Itaipu Binacional has been promoting sustainable rural development and reducing the use of pollutants in agricultural activities in water reservoir areas and other areas of interest to Itaipu. Access to the network, which is based on the dissemination of sustainable production practices focused on local production arrangements, is free for all family farmers in the region. Supporting research, development and teaching of family farming and organic farming; training of teachers, researchers and students through agreements with the State University of West Paraná (Unioeste).
Publicizing the benefits of organic production to the population, seeking to create direct social, environmental and commercial links from the countryside. Therefore, with the increase in the number of organic farms, there will be a subsequent positive impact related to this objective. The challenges they face are: increasing the production and consumption of organic food;
A contribution to be highlighted in relation to the success of the practice was the participatory methodology used to develop ATER, agro-industrialisation and market measures and promote integration between them. An active steering committee with broad participation of those involved in the project was essential in this process. There has been a significant development in the quality, quantity and variety of products and organizations dedicated to organic farming.
In the meetings, guidelines, actions and evaluations of the program are built, guaranteeing legitimacy for the results achieved.
INTERLINKAGES WITH OTHER SDGs
Activities related to terrestrial ecosystems, forests and biodiversity (SDG15) can be linked to most of the other SDGs. The strongest connection is related to climate change (SDG13), as the restoration of forests increases the absorption of CO2. The connection is also very strong in relation to water (SDG6), energy (SDG7) and economic growth (SDG8).
Another strong interconnection is related to partnerships (SDG17), given Itaipu's partnerships with international, national, local and regional organizations committed to the protection of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and the pursuit of sustainable development. These activities are also linked to SDG2 for sustainable agriculture and nutrition, SDG 3 for medicinal plants, SDG 4 for education and SDG 12 for sustainable production of agricultural products.
CONCLUSIONS
53 Itaipu's Sustainable Development Strategy and its comprehensive program of activities related to reforestation and the conservation of inland terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems represent an excellent example of implementation on SDG15 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The strong interrelationship between reforestation, water and climate change is evident for Itaipu, and current activities and policies related to reforestation are critical to supporting global efforts to conserve flora and fauna biodiversity. Itaipu is aware of the negative impacts that creating a reservoir would have on local flora and fauna and has been implementing a comprehensive and extensive program of reforestation and restoration in its areas of influence for decades.
Itaipu has also restored habitats that create an opportunity for endangered flora and fauna to reproduce and overcome the threat of possible extinction. Its support for appropriate agricultural practices has resulted in soil conservation and erosion reduction, which helps restore degraded soils. Finally, Itaipu has implemented a comprehensive program of data collection, statistical analysis and parameter simulations that make it possible to assess the status of various species of flora and fauna in the affected areas.
Aquatic species monitoring programs and research activities are extensive and comprehensive in the Reservoir and the Itaipu catchment area. A summary of the specific achievements resulting from Itaipu's reforestation and biodiversity activities is illustrated in the diagram below. The diagram demonstrates Itaipu's integrated and interconnected approach to the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
SDG15 LIFE ON LAND
ADDITIONAL READING SOURCES
Pelo que foi declarada área natural protegida de domínio privado na Reserva Natural Limoy, Pikyry, Pozuelo, Yvyty Rokái, Itabo e Carapa. http://idea.org.py/decretos-reglamentarios/. 2017) Alternativas para diversificação dos sistemas de produção de soja no norte do Paraná. Avaliação ex-ante do índice de qualidade participativo de plantios diretos com produtores do centro-sul do Brasil. Índice de Qualidade Participativo do Plantio Direto e sua relação com produtividade e desempenho econômico de modelos e produção.
Quantificação da quantidade de CO2 armazenado na vegetação integrante da Faixa de Proteção dos Reservatórios da Usina Hidrelétrica de Itaipu – Margem Brasil. Obtido em http://www.itaipu.gov.py/es/energia/generacion Instituto Life – Iniciativa Duradoura para a Terra. Avaliação da proteção da ictiofauna em sete reservas naturais da margem de Itaipú Binacional do Paraguai.
Horta de Plantas Medicinais em Santa Terezinha de Itaipu http://www.stitaipu.pr.gov.br/noticias/item/2221 -horta-de-plantas-medicinais-em-santa-terezinha-de-itai pu.html. Diretor do Plano de Gestão Socioambiental da Itaipu Binacional https://www.itaipu.gov.py/es/medio-ambiente /politica-ambiental. Disponível em: https://www.febrapdp.org.br/peqp3/publicacoes/Validacao_Indicie_de_Qualidade_do_Pl antio_Direto,_2011.pdf.
