25 Mar Green Gold Bahia Program: an example of balance between environmental sustainability, scientific research, social development and economic growth

Learn about the fantastic work led by Kevin Flesher at the Michelin Ecological Reserve. Known and recognized for its rich biodiversity, the Atlantic Forest in southern Bahia is characterized by being one of the last remaining portions of the original forests from the times of colonial Brazil. Even though its space has reduced over time, it is an extremely diverse, colorful and mysterious environment, which many appreciate, but few know well. The scene is undoubtedly stunning: ancient trees, some over 30 meters tall, intertwine with the undergrowth, painting the landscape with deep shades of green and sheltering an infinite number of animal species.

Given the obvious importance of conserving this landscape, an ecological reserve covering 3,386 hectares was created between the Bahian municipalities of Igrapiúna and Ituberá, 140 kilometers from Salvador. The initiative, which is part of the “Michelin Ouro Verde Bahia Program”, was created by the Michelin Group with the aim of protecting and enriching the biodiversity of the Atlantic Forest, one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. Since its activities began in 2006, the ecological reserve has provided material for the publication of 121 scientific articles.

The Forest Restoration program, led by the American ecologist based in Brazil, Dr. Kevin Flesher, has yielded good results in the Michelin Ecological Reserve. Through the work of Flesher and his team, 107,000 seedlings of 275 different species were planted in the area and more than 2,000 species of fauna and flora were catalogued.

According to the ecologist, “restoration is not reforestation. It is much more complex. We study the original forest and apply the knowledge to devastated areas.”

Let us now see a little more about the forest restoration program.

Forest Restoration Program

Forest restoration is the process of planting trees and other native vegetation with the aim of recreating the original forest ecosystem of the species and the interactions that maintain it.

Within the Michelin Ecological Reserve area, the REM team conducts a series of initiatives that aim, in general terms, to accelerate the forest restoration process and increase the carrying capacity of the forests for wildlife.

One of the main research projects developed by the Center for Biodiversity Studies within the reserve is the long-term study of the phenology of the fruiting of the forest trees. This is a study that seeks to understand and ensure the availability of food for wildlife over the years. It is believed that this research is vital to understanding the steps of ecological restoration.

For this study, 107,000 trees of 275 different species were planted on 300 hectares of abandoned rubber plantations. After analysis, it was observed that 72% of the planted trees survived, bore fruit and reached between 4 and 18 meters in height. Among the species used in the study, there was a focus on endemic species, with high conservation value, and on those threatened with extinction, whose populations need to be increased.

This data is essential for developing strategies to restore abandoned rubber trees in the reserve, and also for creating ecological corridors between the forests, transforming the reserve into a single forest block.

Discovery and recovery of species

According to Kevin Flesher, in the last ten years there has been a 117% increase in the abundance of fauna in the ecological park, with the return of endangered species, such as the Southeastern curassow, the yellow-breasted capuchin monkey, the wild cat, the brocket deer and the black hedgehog. This increase was due, first of all, to protection. The Southeastern curassow, for example, was a bird that many believed to be extinct.