OLYMPIC GOLF COURSE EXPANDS MARAPENDI BIODIVERSITY
June 16th, 2016
O Campo Olímpico de Golfe foi inaugurado em novembro de 2015 (Foto: Rio 2016/Alex Ferro)
The growth of vegetation in an environmentally protected area, provided by the construction of the Olympic Golf Course, secured the return of different species of animal and the expansion of biodiversity in the previously degraded area of Marapendi, in the west of Rio de Janeiro, as proved by a forensic report disclosed by the Court of Justice.
The inspection was conducted in December last year, at the request of a public civil action filed by state prosecutors who questioned the environmental impact of the work, and involved prosecutors, legal advisors and technicians environmentalists.
The Rio 2016 Committee has followed the changes in the region since the beginning of the works, in 2013.
“The environmental gain in the region with the construction of the golf course is visible. In addition to the flora, which increased extensively, we can observe the different animal species that have returned to the area.”
Carina Flores, Rio 2016 Sustainability Coordinator
Among the described environmental gains the highlight is the increase of 167% in the vegetation of the region, which led to “a positive spiral for the development of wildlife.” Records indicate the presence of 263 animal species in the region currently, as opposed to 118 mapped before construction.
“At the moment when the area regains its biodiversity, it becomes an important mainstay of maintaining biodiversity and, consequently, an agent that induces this biodiversity”, says the report, which points out that the land is frequented by different species of birds and mammals.
Before the start of work, about 80 per cent of the total land area was degraded due to sand extraction, and manufacturing and storage of pre-cast concrete. “The mischaracterisation of the natural environment, between the mid 1980s and early 1990s, led to the emergence of an extensive anthropogenic area, or rather, without vegetation,” the document said.
The report also highlights that the Marginal Band of Protection (FMP), returned to the Marapendi lagoon, also was not affected.
A capivara é uma das diferentes espécies de animais que podem ser encontradas na região. (Fotos: Rio 2016)
On 8 March, the Olympic Golf Course hosted the Aquece Rio de Golfe challenge, a test event ahead of the Rio 2016 Games. During the competitions the Sustainability, Accessibility and Legacy Committee teams actively seek to prevent environmental incidents, guiding teams and contractors.