Paulinia Site

About the Program
Located about 75 miles north of Sao Paulo, Brazil lies the Rhodia Paulínia site where chemicals like phenol, solvents and silica are manufactured. This site is part of Solvay Group, an international chemical company headquartered in Belgium. They manage both forest and water habitats totaling nearly 60 acres. Efforts along the Atibaia and Anhumas Rivers are designed to prevent devastating erosion and enable fish species to access upstream breeding habitats. Wildlife projects aim to relocate targeted species to these neighboring habitats, removing them from hazards of the site. Education projects aim to enhance student conservation awareness and concern for local habitats and develop their ability to innovate with conservation in mind, in addition to increasing teachers' understanding of habitat and wildlife conservation topics and scientific applications to improve the student experience.

Practices and Impacts

• The Legal Reserve project is a reforestation project where native plant species were planted on 38.3 acres of land. In collaboration with an agronomist, plantings began in 2017 in phases; to date, 8,500 native seedlings have been planted. Invasive species control is conducted through both organic and inorganic fertilization applications. A species inventory was conducted in 2021 to identify the amount of successful native species on the site. Every two months, the site is monitored on the success of the plantings, and any dead plantings are replaced with new ones. Annual aerial photos are taken annually of the site to monitor overall success of the reforestation project. 
• The Recmar project works to improve river banks on the site to reduce erosion. In 2013, maintenance was conducted which included compacting the soil, putting in support structures, laying a geotextile blanket, implementing gabion construction and placing large stones at the bottom of the bank. Photos were taken before, during, and after project maintenance. In 2021, the team gathered flora and fauna data found along the rivers to monitor the site.
• The Open Doors project works with local technical colleges to educate students on conservation objectives on the site (specific to chemical industry), including habitat and water conservation. These include in person and online presentations, as well as on-site tours for local students to provide hands-on learning experiences. At the end of each activity, surveys are administered to understand success of project logistics.
• The Inovar project works with local students to assist in the development of innovative conservation projects that work to mitigate environmental impacts or create alternative products that are better for the environment. These projects ensure that the local community and habitats are preserved. The team provides assistance and lab equipment to help ensure the success of the projects. The team has a panel that evaluates the projects at the end, where the one with the highest points is awarded the winner.
• The EducAção project works with local teachers in the community to train them on conservation efforts related to the chemical industry. Teachers are then able to take this information to their students on the various topics addressed. Each year, teachers are consulted with on what their topics of interests are. Once the topics have been determined for the year by the team, the team creates a learning presentation for the teachers. After the presentation, teachers are brought to the site for hands-on learning experiences on the conservation efforts by the team related to the topics, including access to appropriate lab equipment.