Proposal aims to connect fragments of native forest, contributing to the protection of the region’s fauna and flora
Jaguar, maned wolf, raccoon, deer, wild dog. These are some of the animals that roam around the Unicamp campus in Campinas. Along with the flora of the Atlantic Forest, the species make up the native beauty of the territory. However, they are at risk due to the advance of urbanization and the clearing of forests. To allow the safe transit of animals and recover flora species, the Ecological Corridors Project on the Unicamp Campus and Region was approved by the University's Institutional Strategic Planning Committee (Copei).
The ecological corridors will reestablish and connect remnants of native forest in the Fazenda Argentina region, an area of 1,4 million square meters acquired by Unicamp in 2014. The connection between forest fragments should allow gene exchange of fauna and flora species , preventing its degeneration. The plan also includes the connection and recovery of water sources.
The forecast is that, in five years, 217.000m² of ecological corridors, 300.000m² of planting area, 92 meters of fauna crossings and 6.500 meters of corridor fencing will be created. Planting is scheduled to begin in the next rainy season, starting in September, and will follow the mapping of native species carried out by professor at the Institute of Biology (IB) Dionete Santin.
The proposal to create corridors and recover springs is part of the International Hub for Sustainable Development (HIDS), created to be a model district in sustainability. The rector of Unicamp, Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles, highlights that the project is aligned with the University's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN). The SDGs propose goals for the elimination of global problems, such as poverty, inequalities, hunger and environmental degradation, to be met by 2030.
“The ecological corridors project is essential for the occupation of the Argentine Farm and, more broadly, the entire HIDS area, to take place in a sustainable manner, reflecting Unicamp’s commitment to the UN’s 2030 agenda”, he points out. Meirelles.
Recovery of native forest and springs
In the area where Fazenda Argentina is located, there are fragments of the Atlantic Forest, a biome that has lost 88% of its native vegetation due to human action. The Barão Geraldo district, where Unicamp's Campinas campus is located, is also characterized by being a transition zone between the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes, which favors a great diversity of species.
According to the coordinator of the Green Areas Service of the Environment Division at Unicamp, Camila Santos, the degradation of the region's vegetation was due to urban expansion and land use for agriculture. The characteristics of degradation make it difficult to regenerate the forest naturally. “There are some factors that prevent the forest from regenerating. For example, here is a rural area with a lot of grass, the soil is very disturbed due to farming. That’s why it’s important to plant crops,” she says.
Another decisive factor for the regeneration of flora is the presence of animals. The passers, in addition to allowing safe circulation, will promote the dissemination of forest species. The project includes upper passers, for arboreal fauna, and lower ones, for terrestrial fauna. “Bottom dowels are deployed when there is an overlap between a corridor and a roadway. transit, so that the animals can make the transition”, explains Unicamp’s Sustainability coordinator, Thalita Dalbelo.
The connection and recovery of springs, also included in the proposal, will be important to provide water to animals. Fazenda Argentina houses part of the Rio das Pedras basin and Ribeirão Anhumas. By restoring the forest along water bodies, erosion and siltation processes are avoided, ensuring improved water quality.
Unicamp's ecological corridors are part of a macro-regional project
The corridors continue the environmental preservation actions of the Unicamp DMA. In 2012, observing the high number of animal collisions, the agency began installing warning signs for drivers and partially fencing the Permanent Preservation Areas (APP) located on the campus. In one year, there was a 70% decrease in pedestrian accidents.
After that, the implementation of corridors that connect patches of forest and APPs began. In 2016, Campinas City Hall established the Municipal Green Plan, whose resolutions were drawn up with the participation of Unicamp. “It was our contribution to the municipality of Campinas and now we will begin this plan”, says Thalita.
The plan foresees connectivity lines for Campinas and the metropolitan region, within which the corridors to be implemented at Fazenda Argentina are included. “We participate in this macro-regional project to integrate our corridors with those outside Unicamp territory to enable the survival of species throughout the region. This way, we will have safe communication between the fragments, preventing animals from coming onto the roads and being run over”, explains the coordinator of the DMA Animal Monitoring Center (CEMA), Paulo de Tarso.
The forecast is that ten years after planting there will already be a mature forest. Monitoring of vegetation growth and use of corridors by animals will be constant.
Proposal contributes to the persistence of species
In addition to connecting forest fragments and recovering them, the corridors contribute to the genetic strengthening of fauna species. When animals are isolated in the same space, loss of adaptability and even extinction can occur. “Enabling animals of the same species to have contact with individuals from other groups allows genetic exchange between them and the viability of these groups in the regional environment as a whole”, says Paulo, creator of the project.
He highlights that the corridors seek to restore a minimum balance to the species, which is relevant not only for them, but also for public health. “Without this, we are subject to problems such as the Covid-19 pandemic. There are microorganisms circulating in wild environments. When we invade and degrade these spaces, they gain access to us”, he points out.
The benefits that natural systems promote, called ecological services, can be strengthened through the project. Among them, reducing temperature and improving air quality. “The implementation of corridors aims to reduce the impact of fragmentation, promoting greater connectivity. We may never have a continuous forest again, but we can mitigate the problem. As long as they exist, the corridors will be able to guarantee a minimum exchange of genes between populations of plants and animals and allow fauna and vegetation to walk through the corridors, which promotes the maintenance of ecological services”, explains the HIDS heritage coordinator and professor of Zoology at the Unicamp Biology Institute, Wesley Silva.
Ecological corridors are part of the HIDS mission
The Ecological Corridors Project is the responsibility of the Executive Directorate of Integrated Planning (DEPI) and has the contribution of several Unicamp bodies. In addition to the Environmental Division of the University City Hall, there is the participation of the Executive Directorate of Human Rights (DeDH) and teaching units. The involvement of multiple areas to use the space as a living laboratory is encouraged by the Rectory.
Integrated into HIDS, the proposal aligns with the University's concern in strengthening actions aimed at sustainability. The coordinator of the physical-spatial component of HIDS and professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism at Unicamp, Gabriela Celani, indicates that the project for the occupation of Fazenda Argentina is being prepared taking into account the protection of ecological corridors and APPs. Reducing the density of buildings in regions close to corridors and buffer zones are measures that she cites as possibilities.
“The HIDS and corridors project can serve as a model for other universities. We know that many campuses are in peri-urban areas like ours and are implementing knowledge regions, areas where there are technology parks and business incubators. With the approach of research and development institutions, an urbanization process occurs. Our example of how to deal with environmentally fragile situations could be a reference for other universities,” she says.
