MARAEY, the most important sustainable tourism-residential development in Brazil, is the first project to earn the seal of approval as a strategic undertaking for the state of Rio de Janeiro. The concession of the title took place within the framework of the new Environmental License System and other Control Procedures (Selca), launched in August last year by the State Government, with the aim of de-bureaucratizing and streamlining environmental licenses without losing rigor in the environmental feasibility analysis.

Selca was built with the participation of technicians from the State Institute of the Environment (Inea), representatives of the State and Federal Public Ministry, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama) and the Federation of Industries of the state of Rio de Janeiro (Firjan), among other entities. A public consultation was also carried out that received 384 contributions, of which 124 were used.

The CEO of Maray, Emilio Izquierdo, held the recognition as a strategic entrepreneurship. For him, the decision ratifies the sustainability parameters that had already been recognized outside of Brazil:

“It is, above all, a recognition of the sustainability of our project. The criteria used are fully aligned with those of important certifications that we have already received, such as Biosphere and SITES GOLD, in addition to the 2021 Leadership Award for Latin America, granted by the U.S. Green Building Council. We are very proud to be the first to obtain the seal of approval. We will work with great responsibility to build an enterprise totally oriented to the sustainable use of natural heritage, in support of the culture of the local community and development with a positive impact for the state”.

The seal of approval as a strategic entrepreneurship is an important asset for the sustainable development of Rio de Janeiro, and it brings security and agility for the State to assume the prominence of a new development model. The Maray project, fully framed within these new values, will contribute to an important transformation of the territory, with proposals focused on social and environmental responsibility, as well as fostering economic growth.

For Nicola Miccione, Secretary of State for the Civil House, the new Licensing System and the granting of the title of strategic entrepreneurship to MARAEY represent the commitment assumed by the government for the resumption of growth:

“This set of initiatives proposed by Selca and the seal of a sustainable project of this magnitude are essential engines for the economic development of the state”, he said.

The new licensing system defines a strategic undertaking as one that generates a positive environmental impact, with the capacity to create jobs, boost the economy, integrate the local population, increase tax collection in the state of Rio and improve public infrastructure. The environmental body will prioritize the processing of environmental license processes for projects covered by this classification.

The MARAEY project was conceived based on high sustainability standards.

In the environmental area, it will create assets such as the second largest Private Reserve of Natural Heritage (RPPN) of restinga in the state of Rio (and fifth largest in Brazil) and an academic research center to deepen the knowledge of the ecosystems of the region. The project will preserve 81% of the total area, with a building occupation of just 6.6%. The native vegetation recovery program will mean an increase of more than 120 hectares of restinga, compared to the previous situation.

As for the social aspect, among other actions, MARAEY will promote the cadastral regularization of Zacarias, with definitive transfer of property titles, through agreements signed with the Maricá City Council, for the 200 families of the fishing community. The company IDB Brasil, responsible for the undertaking, has already signed agreements and collaborations with the aim of creating conditions to prioritize the hiring of local labour.

The economic impact is significant for the entire state. It has four five-star hotels, a luxury residential area, a Hotel Management and Haute Cuisine University, a hospital and school of excellence, sports centers and a shopping center, in addition to various other services. The planned private investment is around 11 billion dollars, with a tax collection of 7.2 billion dollars during the first 14 years (construction and sales consolidation) and more than 1 billion dollars per year in operation. . The forecast is to generate more than 50 thousand in the construction phase and 36 thousand in full operation.

The executive director of MARAEY, David Galipienzo, thanks the seal of approval granted by the state and guarantees that the project will be very positive:

“We are going to consolidate an innovative tourism, residential and service development pole in the eastern region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, with a project that has the mission of becoming a world reference in sustainability. We have always shown a total commitment to the preservation of the Maricá restinga and with the Zacarias Community. We feel very honoured that it is being recognized by society, with acts as important as this one. We will maintain full commitment to sustainability and technical rigor in obtaining a license and in the implementation of MARAEY, as we have always done. We will act locally, but the scope will be global for both the venture and the state of Rio”.