What have you done towards a more sustainable city?

Rafael Tamashiro, Augusto Cruz, Chafick Fair Luedy and Alexandre Nakano work in different Businesses and areas of the Odebrecht Group, but one subject in common is part of their daily activities: to transform their surroundings into a better place to live.

This week, as we celebrate World Environment Day (June 5), we have placed on the agenda a current topic for us to reflect on: sustainable cities.

Read how these team members are making a difference in the different places and cities where Odebrecht is present and get inspired!

: )

Rafael Tamashiro and the cute rodent Dinomys branickii, a species found only in the tropical forests of South America

“Development and environmental preservation must go hand in hand.” This is what drives the work of team member Rafael Tamashiro, a biologist at Odebrecht Latinvest, who is responsible for biodiversity and reforestation management programs at the Chaglla Hydroelectric Plant. The assessment of environmental and social risks is one of the highlights of the Chaglla Hydroelectric project, built on the Huallaga River in Peru.

“The environmental management work at the Chaglla Hydroelectric is internationally recognized. The project has contributed, for instance, to expanding the scientific knowledge of biodiversity in the Andean region with the discovery of new species. We’re also committed to reforesting 308 hectares of the basin. It’s a huge responsibility and a source of immense satisfaction to be part of a program of this size and impact.”

Augusto Cruz in one of his favorite settings, the beautiful city of Salvador

“We don’t live in houses or apartments, we live in cities.” This is the mindset that motivates team member Augusto Cruz of the Odebrecht Foundation to take a proactive approach every day and help transform his city, Salvador, into a more sustainable place.

“I’m an amateur athlete and I organize running events in the city, always neutralizing the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of each event. I receive assistance from the Earth Conservation Organization (OCT), one of the institutions supported by the Odebrecht Foundation. It’s simpler than it seems, but it makes a huge difference for the environment. This way, I not only promote the use of urban spaces for physical activities, but also raise awareness about the impacts on the environment.”

Chafick with one of the youth from the Youth Patrol Battalion in the Little Forest project

“We play a pivotal role in the communities where we operate.” This was Chafick Fair Luedy’s conclusion when he took on the challenge to be Atvos’ People and Administration manager at the Taquari Complex, which includes the Costa Rica and Alto Taquarim units, in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) and Mato Grosso (MT), respectively.

“One of our flagship projects is Florestinha (Little Forest), implemented in partnership with the Environmental Military Police and the municipal government of Costa Rica. The program currently benefits 60 children in a socially vulnerable situation, who make up the Batalhão da Patrulha Mirim (Youth Patrol Battalion). They work as multipliers of environmental concepts and guidelines in the city. I am proud to participate in and support an initiative like this, which makes a difference for a better world.”

Alexandre Nakano and the daily challenge of transforming cities

“We can no longer think of real estate projects simply from the walls inward.” Alexandre Nakano, a team member at OR, lives every day the challenge of seeking solutions that bring value to cities and communities that receive the real estate projects. In the real estate sector, it is essential that companies and professionals be aware that their work changes the urban fabric of cities and their relations with people.

“Before we think of a project, we are concerned about understanding the dynamics of the surrounding community. A recent example of this was the Vila Butantan project, which is adjacent to the Odebrecht São Paulo Building (EOSP). The space that is now Vila Butantan would have been a simple parking lot, benefiting only the owners of the cars parked there. Instead, we managed to build a space for public use, which is democratic and joyful for the local community and residents of the city to enjoy with their friends and family. The place receives more than 60,000 people per month, boosting the local economy.”