Our commitment to the preservation of biodiversity
Neoenergia is committed to respecting the biodiversity of ecosystems, establishing the adoption of sustainable projects that foster coexistence in harmony with the environment, conservation, protection, development and growth of natural heritage.
The Group endeavors to continuously improve its standards for protecting biodiversity, with the aim of reaching, in 2030, a positive balance in all the new energy infrastructures it implements, applying the principles of the mitigation hierarchy and, whenever possible, avoiding projects in protected areas.
Accordingly, when executing any works, the company applies an array of environmental plans and programs that enable to know, in details, the entire composition of the wild life and flora in the surroundings. This allows the definition of ecosystem preservation actions.
For example, when developing Baixo Iguaçu hydro power plant, which started operations in 2019, the company agreed with the environmental agency the creation a biodiversity corridor that will contribute to the preservation of species and the improvement of quality in the region. Thus, native species will be planted, interconnecting the remaining forestry areas, permanent preservation areas and those protected by the Iguaçu National Park. During the environmental licensing process for hydro power plants, substations, distribution lines, transmission lines and wind parks, Neoenergia has already planted more than 2.5 million native species.
BIODIVERSITY POLICY
In line with the guidelines of Iberdrola, the Spanish group of which it is a part, Neoenergia has a policy exclusively dedicated to biodiversity. In the document, launched in 2018 and approved by the Board of Directors, Neoenergia undertakes to integrate the protection and conservation of biodiversity in decision making during the planning, implementation and operation phases of the structures belonging to the Group. This commitment also extends to actions that help raise awareness of the importance of this issue.
Aiming to materialize in practice all the established guidelines, Neoenergia has an Action Plan for the management of aspects related to biodiversity, following the four priority lines of action of the Biodiversity Policy:
• Prevent, reduce and offset impacts.
• Investigate and preserve the surroundings.
• Collaborate with interest groups for the conservation of biodiversity.
• Communicate and raise awareness.
The commitments acquired in terms of biodiversity and the environment are thus transferred to the environmental management of the Group's companies through their systems, most of which are certified by ISO 14.001: 015. In these systems, the Group's companies have a better control over legal requirements, aspects and impacts of their activities, compliance with environmental conditions, as well as the execution of projects and programs in line with the principles of Action Plans necessary to comply with certain items.
ENVIRONMENTAL PRACTICES
As part of its business strategy, Neoenergia carries out and supports projects that directly contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as the Flyways project, which seeks to ensure the conservation of birds and their habitats, contributing to the preservation of species at the hemispheric level.
It is also worth mentioning the partnership entered into between Neoenergia and Instituto LIFE, in 2019, for acting in the construction of a diagnosis on biodiversity in generation companies. This year, pilot projects will be carried out to apply the methodology to hydro power companies and Termopernambuco, thus reinforcing the Group's commitment to the theme of biodiversity and the preservation of natural resources. It is also worth mentioning the partnership entered into between Neoenergia and Instituto LIFE, in 2019, for acting in the construction of a diagnosis on biodiversity in generation companies. This year, pilot projects will be carried out to apply the methodology to hydro power companies and Termopernambuco, thus reinforcing the Group's commitment to the theme of biodiversity and the preservation of natural resources.