MARAEY, the biggest sustainable tourism-real estate development in Brazil, built in Maricá, began together with the State Institute of the Environment (Inea) in the process of creating the Private Reserve of Natural Heritage (RPPN), committed to the first phase of the project whose works will begin this very year. With 440 hectares, which correspond to more than half of the development area, the RPPN will be the second largest in the state of Rio de Janeiro and the fifth largest in Brazil, with the guarantee of comprehensive and perpetual protection of the local ecosystem.

Once the project begins, MARAEY will also begin work to recover another 165 hectares of native restinga vegetation therefore expanding the area of preserved vegetation in relation to the situation prior to the project. The protection of this large extension, the conservation of the fauna and flora of the Maricá restinga, the preservation programs, management and monitoring programs, together with the creation of a nursery for the production of cuttings of native vegetation. This will guarantee the preservation of the endangered species that live in the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of Maricá.

With a building occupation of just 6.6% of the land which is half the limit allowed by the Management Plan decreed for the region. MARAEY promises to go further and, for that, it will have various environmental programs to carry out research on protected species of the APA, as well as recovery and reforestation of currently degraded areas within the APA.

The executive director of MARAEY, David Galipienzo, explains the project’s academic agreements with the Environmental Reference Center (CRA): “It is important to note that, in addition to the RPPN, also in this first phase of the project, we will create an environmental research center -with the support of the most recognized universities in Brazil, such as UFRJ, UFF, UFRRJ, UFES and FURG- that will implement a monitoring program as well as various scientific studies, to better understand the ecology of the endemic and/or endangered species of the APA ”.

With more than 800 animal species -including 67 types of mammals, 223 birds, 61 reptiles and amphibians, 368 insects and 84 aquatic species- in addition to 522 different species of flora, the conservation unit will be open to the public. “MARAEY has always had absolute respect for biodiversity and for the conservation of the APA and in turn the designed MARAEY project always respecting the APA zoning. Also prioritizing the conservation of the best preserved areas. As an example, after the environmental diagnostic studies of the APA for the EIA/RIMA, the company adapted the project to avoid the occupation of flooded areas, dunes and arboreal restinga areas”, concludes the executive.