An initiative developed over 2 decades ago, with the support of MRN, promotes awareness and environmental education actions
More than 45 thousand chelonians of the species tracaja, iaçah, amazon turtle and Irapuca were released in communities of Oriximina and Holy Land, in the West of Para, by the Pé-de-Pincha Project, in 2025. The initiative, which completed 25 years in Oriximina and 26 in Holy Land, is carried out by universities, environmental agencies and local communities, seeking the conservation of these animals. The action is developed by the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), with the support of Rio do Norte Mining (MRN), the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) and the University of the West of Para (UFOPA), with direct participation of residents of the riverside communities.
In the municipality of Terra Santa, 15,826 puppies were released. In Oriximina, the number reached 29,877. The activities, which began in August last year, involved the monitoring of nests, controlled hatching in chochairs and ended with the release of animals in the wild. Volunteer of the project, Mrs. Maria José participates in the activities in Santa Land from the beginning and commented on the feeling of being an important part in environmental preservation in the West of Para region. “I feel full of happiness. When I do not participate in the collection I am agonized and sad. I am also very happy with the support of Mining on things we didn’t have before and now we have”, she said.
Paulo Cesar Andrade, professor at UFAM and coordinator of Pé-de-Pincha, stressed the importance of active participation of communities. “The project has helped to repopulate these species throughout the Amazon. The comunity is the central link of the project, in a volunteer work and with this they learn the techniques and help nature in this process of protection of these species”, he said.
According to the teacher, in addition to actions with the communities, institutional partnerships, such as the existing one with MRN, are fundamental to the full functioning of the project for more than two decades. “MRN is a first-hour partner of the project and is fundamental to provide logistical support to communities, allowing them to have materials to perform these actions. Without these partnerships, it would be practically impossible to develop the activities”, he added.
For Genilda Cunha, coordinator of the MRN Socio-Environmental Education Program (PES), which Pincha’s foot is an integral part, the interaction between institutions and communities can help overcome challenges that arise, ensuring the preservation of chelonian species. “The Pé-de-Pincha project shows how the union between scientific knowledge and traditional knowledge generates concrete results in environmental preservation. Evolution in environmental awareness and education is visible, especially in the face of challenges such as climate change. But it is the practical experience, the direct involvement of communities, which really makes a difference to the success of the initiative,” he said.