The expansion and maintenance of green areas which shelter native species, in addition to the maintenance of Legal Reserves and Permanent Preservation areas, contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and are further proof of Gerdau's commitment to the environment and to the future of new generations.
Out of a total of 16,000 hectares owned by the company, 2,300 hectares are Legal Reserve or Permanent Preservation areas and approximately 7,700 hectares are Native Vegetation.
Natural Heritage Private Reserve (NHPR)
The main preservation initiative was the creation of a Natural Heritage Private Reserve (NHPR) in Serra de Ouro Branco (state of Minas Gerais, Brazil). With a total of 1,247 hectares, the reserve houses endangered wild animals, such as the maned wolf and the Brazilian porcupine. There are also important types of Brazilian flora within the region, including the Vriesea minarum, a type of bromeliad – on Brazil’s endangered species list –, and the Aspilia caudata, a rare type of daisy. The reserve is the result of a partnership between Gerdau and Sisema (The State Forest Institute of the State of Minas Gerais Environment System).