During event, methodology used by Fundo Vale to measure soil quality in areas undergoing restoration was presented
The Soil Quality Index, a methodology developed by the Vale Institute of Technology (ITV) to qualitatively and quantitatively measure soil quality in areas of habitat undergoing restoration, was presented at the 11th National Seminar of the Brazilian Monitoring and Evaluation Network. The event took place from June 24 to 26 in Belém, Pará, and its theme was “How to integrate knowledge to identify and promote sustainable development.”
ITV uses the Soil Quality Index methodology to assess the increase in soil quality generated by management practices in initiatives to restore areas of habitat financed with Fundo Vale’s support, as part of Vale’s 2030 Forest Goal, which voluntarily aims to restore 100,000 hectares of degraded forests and protect another 400,000 hectares.
“The technique consists of analyzing genes and proteins from soil samples associated with carbon cycling and fixation, as well as the availability of macronutrients essential for soil and ecosystem health. With the support of pre-existing databases of species native to the region, it is also possible to analyze the diversity of flora and fauna in a given area,” explains Rafael Valadares, a researcher at ITV.
The seminar featured a series of panels, talks, mini-courses and thematic sessions to present papers. The aim was to promote the exchange of ideas and the development of innovative solutions and practices to evaluate the results of initiatives involving environmental sustainability, education, job and income generation, social justice and measures to strengthen the startup ecosystem, among other areas.
ITV’s methodology was presented during a thematic panel discussion called “Social and environmental indexes and indicators applied to monitoring and evaluation.”
“The National Seminar of the Brazilian Monitoring and Evaluation Network is an excellent initiative, as it contributes to the dissemination of evaluation and monitoring tools and methodologies, which are essential for adjusting strategies and improving decision making. In addition, these practices increase transparency and accountability for investors and other stakeholders, reinforcing the credibility of initiatives and fostering a virtuous cycle of continuous improvement,” says Juliana Vilhena of Fundo Vale’s Strategy, Management and Impact Area.