Dec 18, 2020

 Seven conservation units administered by the Government of Minas Gerais were included in the Program for Structuring Concessions of State Parks, launched by the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES). The term includes provision of technical support services, evaluation, structuring and implementation of projects, aimed at the concession of visitation services to the private sector. The operator will conduct the revitalization, modernization and maintenance of touristic activities and, mainly, support environmental protection in the selected parks: Rio Doce, Itacolomi, Serra do Rola Moça, Ibitipoca, Rio Preto, Biri Biri and Pico do Itambé. The contract with BNDES was signed by the State Forestry Institute (IEF), an agency of the State System of Environment and Water Resources (Sisema), responsible for the management of state conservation units.

“We have high expectations that the concession will encourage tourism in the conservation units, also impacting the surroundings, with tourist attractions and small hotels. That is our goal,” said Marília Melo from the State Office for Environment and Sustainable Development of Minas Gerais. According to the General Director of IEF, Antônio Malard, the seven units included in the contract with BNDES will undergo concession feasibility studies.

The expectation is that the seven units will be already granted by the second half of 2022. “Currently, BNDES has a prominent role in the modeling of concession projects, besides having a team of high technical specialization, which ensures the quality of the model that will be developed,” Malard said.

The General Director also stressed that BNDES’s performance in the natural park market will put the sector at a high level of development. “Now, there will be the potential to attract foreign investors and more consolidated companies in the concession sector, which directly contributes to the success of our State Park Concession Program,” he added.

“Minas Gerais is building a portfolio of robust privatization projects with BNDES in strategic sectors, such as sanitation and highways. Now, with the inclusion of natural parks, we have further strengthened this partnership,” explains Pedro Bruno Barros, Deputy Managing Director of Government Relations of BNDES. “With the concession of the parks package, we hope to contribute to an important agenda of sustainable development, focusing on environmental preservation, sustainable tourism, income generation and regional development,” he adds.

Barros also pointed out that BNDES’s model of action has been developed along with strategic partners, such as the Semeia Institute, and it is based on a broad dialogue with the main agents of the sector. “The model counts with the formation of a robust portfolio of park projects at national level, attracting new investors to leverage the agenda of the sector and raise resources for the maintenance, sustainable exploration and conservation of parks.”

About BNDES – Founded in 1952 and currently linked to the Ministry of Economy, BNDES is the main instrument of the Federal Government to promote long-term investments in the Brazilian economy. Its actions focus on socio-environmental and economic impacts in Brazil. BNDES offers special conditions for micro-, small- and medium-sized companies, in addition to social investment lines, aimed at education and health, family farming, basic sanitation and urban transport. In crisis situations, BNDES acts in an anticyclical manner and assists in the formulation of solutions for the resumption of economic growth.

About Sisema – The State System of Environment and Water Resources (Sisema) is formed by the set of environmental agencies of the Government of Minas Gerais, under the leadership of the State Office of Environment and Sustainable Development (Semad). In addition to Semad, Sisema includes the Minas Gerais Water Management Institute (Igam), the State Forestry Institute (IEF), the State Environment Foundation (Feam) and the Regulatory Agency of Water Supply and Sanitation Services (Arsae). The State Council for Environmental Policy (Copam) and the State Council for Water Resources (CERH) are collegiate agencies of broad popular participation that are also administratively linked to Sisema.

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