Biodiversity around the Itaipu hydroelectric plant, on the Brazil–Paraguay border, has surged dramatically over the past forty years, according to a recent survey of its conservation areas.
The research, undertaken between March and September 2024 in partnership with Brazil’s agricultural research body, revealed that the number of tree and shrub species in the preserved belt surrounding the reservoir has nearly tripled since the project began, reports
Agencia Brasil.
Initially home to 139 planted species, the area now boasts 397, forming a forested corridor stretching 1,300 kilometres and covering 30,000 hectares, close to the size of the city of Belo Horizonte.
Specialists note that vegetation is essential in shielding the reservoir from degradation. Without this natural buffer, sediment build-up could drastically reduce the reservoir’s lifespan, undermining one of South America’s most important sources of clean energy.
Photo: tifonimages /
iStock
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