DNA, grafting and hormones in seedlings: learn about the technique used to reforest Brumadinho after tragedy

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Method developed by the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) is also used in other places where forest recovery is urgent, such as the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant, in Pará. Learn about the technique used to reforest Brumadinho after the tragedy The collapse of the Brumadinho dam, in Minas Gerais, on January 25, 2019, left marks that will not be forgotten: it caused more than 270 deaths and destruction in the environment, affecting almost 300 hectares. Half of this area was mainly occupied by agriculture and livestock, while the other half was native forest. The destruction was total and required the removal of almost 10 million cubic meters of waste that leaked from the dam. The Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) is using a method called DNA rescue and induction of early reforestation in native forest species. The idea is to preserve the genetics of plants that survived the tragedy with the use of hormones and, thus, accelerate the recovery of the area. DNA rescue The recovery work begins after firefighters inspect the so-called tailings, material discarded from mining that was stored in the dam that collapsed. The researchers’ expectation is that by 2030 these areas will be clean and in the process of environmental recovery. The DNA rescue technique is also being used in other places where forest recovery is urgent, such as the Belo Monte hydroelectric plant, in Pará. The first DNA collections began in June 2020, when Vale entered into a partnership with UFV . Currently, more than 30 species are mapped, such as Jacarandá, Ipê and Jequitibá. Multiplication of seedlings The multiplication technique used by researchers is grafting, which joins two plants to make one. One is at the bottom, called the “horse” or “rootstock”. She is responsible for the development of the roots. The one at the top is called “horseman” or “graft”, which will give rise to the aerial part of the new plant and is what is collected in Brumadinho. Application of hormones It takes around four months for the graft to stick and the crown to reach 80 centimeters in diameter. It is at this moment that the application of hormones comes in, which anticipate the flowering of the seedlings. When they are already flowering, they go to Brumadinho. The project runs until October 2024, with the objective of planting 6 thousand seedlings produced from the DNA rescue process. Of the 300 hectares impacted by the tragedy, only 3 have been cleared by firefighters so far. Check out the full report in the two VIDEOS ABOVE. See Globo Rural’s most watched videos

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