On October 31, Belém will host two relevant events in the field of sustainability: BRC Seminar - Biodiversity Research Consortium (Biodiversity Research Consortium Brazil-Norway) - which will take place at the Emílio Goeldi Museum, and the Ethos Conference, which will happen in the state for the first time.

In addition to these two important events, the date was also chosen for the signature of the renewal of the collaboration agreement that renews the investment in BRC for another five years. The partnership involves the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), the Rural University of the Amazon (UFRA), the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, the University of Oslo (UiO) and the company Norsk Hydro. & Nbsp;

International biodiversity research collaboration

Since 2013, the initiative proposed and mediated by Hydro, a global aluminum company, with three companies installed in Pará - Hydro Alunorte and Albras, in Barcarena, and Hydro Paragominas - has already achieved unprecedented results in the Northeast of the State - region where the company operates bauxite mining - with a focus on forest rehabilitation and species surveys, among fungi, insects, aquifers and mammals.

In the first stage of the agreement, in the last four years, studies supported by the BRC recorded two new species of insects in the Amazon: a wasp and a bug. In addition to enabling the discovery of three new species of fungi, eight new occurrences of species of fungi in Brazil and three new occurrences of species of fungi for the Amazon.

The partnership also generated thirteen approved research projects, related to several themes: greenhouse gases, fungi, crustaceans, fish, birds, mammals, flora, botanical soils, insects, among others. In total, about 100 professionals participate in the agreement: doctors, master's students, undergraduate students and technicians, who have been producing scientific papers, with five completed master's dissertations and another 22 researches, which will be published later this year.

“Hydro is aware of its commitment to sustainable development & nbsp; and long-term. Therefore, we believe the importance of this agreement that promotes collaboration, seeking solutions that recover degraded areas and returning nature to an environment equal to or better than that found before a mining operation ”, believes Silvio Porto, Executive Vice President, Bauxita & amp; Hydro's Alumina.

For the renewal ceremony of the BRC consortium, the ambassador of Norway, Nils Martin Gunneng, the leaders of Hydro in Brazil, authorities of the State Government and the rectors and directors of the research institutions, who sign the agreement and make the program feasible for another five years, demonstrating Hydro's efforts to establish research in the Amazon.

Ethos 360 Conference - Sustainability and Social Development under discussion

In line with Hydro's efforts to contribute to the development of sustainable solutions for the aluminum chain in Pará, the company is one of the sponsors of the Ethos 360 Belém Conference, the first edition held in the capital of Pará, which will take place on the same day as signing of the BRC agreement, next Tuesday, 31, at the Hangar.

The Ethos Conference is one of the most important forums for discussion and engagement of companies in the country, bringing together successful cases of responsible enterprises.

Hydro will participate in three panels to discuss socio-environmental issues. Starting with the panel Major works, growth and social and environmental impacts, exchanging experiences alongside other large companies operating in the State, and leaders of traditional communities. & Nbsp; “Hydro's commitment to the state of Pará is long-term and this leads us to an unremitting search for the development of techniques and solutions that result in a responsible operation, which gives sustainability to the projects and develops the surrounding communities”, said de Domingos Campos, director of HSE & amp; CSR of Norsk Hydro's operations in Brazil.

In the afternoon, Hydro presents the panel Territorial governance: a path to sustainability and community engagement, taking the examples and challenges of operating responsibly one of the largest bauxite mines in the world and the largest alumina refinery on the planet , Hydro Alunorte.

To end participation in the Conference with a flourish, Hydro presents the panel. Encouraging research and forest rehabilitation, biodiversity and climate initiatives bringing together experiences of companies in the area of knowledge about the Amazon, with members of the BRC itself, which in the past four years has presented relevant results, and which has been contributing to the development of studies on forest recovery in mined areas. “At the moment we live in Brazil, we believe that it is even more important to obtain support from researchers, especially with a focus on a topic as relevant as reforestation in the Amazon,” adds Domingos.

Hydro and Pará - Forever

Hydro is a global aluminum company, with a substantial history in Pará. Although headquartered in Norway, the company's largest and most important assets are in the state of Northern Brazil: in Paragominas, southeastern Pará, is the mine of bauxite and, in Barcarena, in the northeast region, there is the alumina refinery Hydro Alunorte and the primary aluminum plant Albras. Together, these companies are one of the strongest examples of verticalization in the state today.

In 2014, Hydro presented its strategic positioning, “Para Semper”, and the commitment to stay in the state that hosted the company. & nbsp; Hydro has invested around R $ 9.5 billion in the last 12 years in Pará, and currently employs - directly and indirectly - 8,500 people in the Hydro Paragominas, Hydro Alunorte and Albras units.

& nbsp;