In 2006, RIMA INDUSTRIAL S/A took an important step towards preserving the ecosystem of the Januária region, one of the poorest in the state of Minas Gerais.
RIMA INDUSTRIAL S/A has transformed approximately 15,870.65 ha into a Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN), which has been renamed RPPN Alessandra Bello Vicintin, and is considered the largest RPPN in the state of Minas Gerais.
The region where the RPPN is located is home to a sensitive ecosystem, the veredas, which are typical cerrado environments and are located close to the springs, functioning as drainage routes, contributing to the perenniality and regularity of the watercourses, since they act as collecting basins that are very important for recharging the rivers that flow into the upper-middle São Francisco.
Since its creation, numerous actions have been carried out with a view to maintaining the RPPN, such as: firebreaks around the reserve; training for firefighters and volunteers to prevent and fight forest fires; an environmental education program in the community's schools and lectures on controlled burns for the rural producers' association.
In partnership with the local community, the RPPN is starting social programs for the rational use and sustainable management of the property.
A Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN) is defined as an area of private domain, to be specially protected on the initiative of its owner, on a perpetual basis, considered to be of relevant importance, due to its biodiversity or landscape aspect, or even due to other environmental characteristics or attributes that justify actions for its creation.
Part of the RPPN is contained within the Pandeiros River Environmental Preservation Area (APA), a sustainable use APA created by Law 11.901, of 01/09/1995, with an area of 393,060 ha covering the entire Pandeiros river basin, including the municipalities of Januária, Bonito de Minas and Cônego Marinho, in the north of Minas Gerais.
The Pandeiros River APA, classified as a sustainable use conservation unit, aims to make nature conservation compatible with the sustainable use of parts of its water resources and to protect the biological diversity present in its marginal lagoons, streams, waterfalls, footpaths and the state's only swamp, since the Pandeiros River and its swamp are considered "nurseries of the Velho Chico", and are responsible for 70% of the natural breeding of the fish found in the São Francisco River. Thus, the Pandeiros River, which belongs to the São Francisco River basin (middle São Francisco), is an important tributary on the left bank of this river whose existence and maintenance depends on the veredas that feed it.
The Alessandra Belo Vicintin Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN) is located in the region of the municipality of Januária, in the sub-basin of the Pandeiros River, an ecosystem of notorious environmental interest for the entire middle São Francisco basin. The Alessandra Belo Vicintin RPPN is located between the geographical coordinates: 15°29′13″ and 15°14′47″ south latitude and 45°13′38″ and 44°57′45″ west longitude.
