Jaguar standing on a large piece of wood, surrounded by green foliage. With a golden-yellow coat marked by black rosettes, the animal appears to be in motion, mouth slightly open and tail curved upward.
Photo: Vale Archive
A dense tropical forest with tall, slender trees and lush green foliage. In the foreground, there is a body of water reflecting the surrounding vegetation.
Photo: Bob Wolfenson

40 Years of Vale’s Operations in the Amazon

One of Vale’s main commitments is to support the conservation of the Amazon, one of the most important biomes on the planet. We understand that this mission is a collective effort, and therefore we work together with local communities, specialists, scientists, and organizations.

We recognize the human dimension of the biome: the region is home to around 28 million people, equivalent to approximately 13% of Brazil’s population.

We believe it is essential to value and promote real opportunities for local populations. That is why we work to foster the Amazon bioeconomy and create a business environment that supports the conservation of native forests.

Mining allied with protection

The Amazon region is vital to our business: around 60% of all Vale’s iron ore production comes from the Amazon, driving the economy and generating thousands of jobs. Even with this production scale, our operations occupy about 2% of the area, demonstrating our commitment to the responsible use of land.

Our socio-environmental commitment goes beyond the areas where we operate directly.

We contribute to the protection of approximately 800,000 hectares of natural environments in the Carajás Mosaic, in Pará — the equivalent of 800,000 soccer fields. This conservation effort is carried out in partnership with ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation), joining forces to protect nature and promote science, culture, and the bioeconomy in the region.

Dense forest with a tall tree bearing pink blossoms at the center of the image. Surrounding green trees form the landscape, which extends to hills in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

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Partnerships and investments

The Strategic Role of Fundo Vale in the Amazon

For us, conserving the Amazon means strengthening those who live in it. For 15 years, Vale Fund has operated as a voluntary investment vehicle dedicated to the biome.

Fundo Vale’s objective is clear: to drive solutions with positive socio-environmental impact that promote a sustainable, fair, and inclusive economy. We seek not only to protect the forest, but also to support businesses that keep the forest standing.

We know that transforming complex realities requires collaboration. That’s why we have built a network of more than 80 institutions, including governments, NGOs, research centers, and startups.
This joint effort has already mobilized investments of approximately R$ 270 million.

Two vibrant red parrots are facing each other. Their feathers are predominantly red, with orange and yellow hues around their heads and necks. Their beaks are large and curved, with a pale upper part and a black lower part. The blurred background highlights the details of the parrots' plumage.

Photo: Ricardo Teles

Fundo Vale in the Last Decade

More than investing resources, our goal is to generate autonomy and prosperity for those who live in the Amazon. 

The results of Fundo Vale’s work over the past decade demonstrate the scale of this commitment. Not just funding projects — we are accelerating a new economy.

See the direct impact of our partnerships and acceleration initiatives:

  • 100+ Projects: we have supported more than 100 structuring socio-environmental projects in the region.
  • 200 Businesses: we have accelerated 200 businesses with positive socio-environmental impact, leveraging the strength of partner organizations to help these enterprises grow.
  • 29,000 People: the most important figure for us. We have directly benefited 29,000 people, including smallholder farmers, extractivists, and their families, ensuring dignity and income through a standing forest economy.

Vale’s Actions for Environmental Conservation

We implement projects that integrate biodiversity protection with the generation of scientific knowledge and environmental education.

Discover our main environmental conservation initiatives in the region:

A benchmark in species protection and environmental education, BioParque is located in the Carajás National Forest, in Pará. Created in 1985, it covers 30 hectares of native forest and allows the free movement of various species within its visitor areas.
Technical document that guides our operations to avoid, mitigate, restore, and compensate for environmental impacts. Its goal is to ensure the conservation of fauna, flora, and essential ecosystem services for future generations.
The Vale Institute of Technology conducts research focused on sustainable development. Among its initiatives, the Natural Capital project stands out, studying the forest’s carbon stock and microclimate regulation, contributing to the projection of scenarios related to climate change.
Conservation Areas

Protecting the Amazon requires vigilance and cooperation. We work in partnership with the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) to ensure the integrity of one of the largest continuous forest areas in the southern and southeastern regions of Pará.

The map below illustrates the result of this effort: a vast protected green area, even in the face of external pressures.
This conservation goes beyond local boundaries and directly contributes to addressing climate change.

By keeping the forest standing, we preserve an important stock of forest carbon, preventing greenhouse gas emissions that could result from deforestation or degradation.

The map highlights forest areas, rocky fields, water bodies, pasture, mining zones, urban and protected areas, allowing visualization of land use changes and progress in environmental conservation.
Fundo Vale in the last decade

Supported more than 100 social and environmental projects 

Accelerated 200 businesses with a positive social and environmental impact through partner organizations 

Benefited 29,000 people, including rural farmers, extractive producers and their families

Close-up of a toucan, a bird known for its large, colorful beak. The toucan has a predominantly black beak with a yellow stripe near the base. Its head and upper body are black, while its throat and chest are bright yellow. Below the yellow chest area, there is a red band that transitions into darker feathers. The blurred background highlights the toucan as the main subject of the image.

Photo: Ricardo Teles

Support for the Creation of the PrevisIA Tool

We believe that innovation is a powerful ally of conservation. That is why, through Fundo Vale and in partnership with Microsoft and Imazon, we supported the creation of the PrevisIA tool.

Launched in June 2021, the platform uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to analyze complex data — such as topography, unofficial roads, and urban infrastructure — in order to anticipate areas of the Amazon at greater risk of deforestation and wildfires.

Combating deforestation requires transparency. The data generated by PrevisIA is public, allowing government agencies and organizations to plan preventive actions with greater precision.

Find out more: 

Horizons Project

We understand that protecting isolated forest fragments is not enough; they need to be connected.

In 2020, we partnered with ICMBio to launch the Horizontes Project. Its goal is to expand the restoration of areas surrounding the Carajás protected areas, creating green connections between different forest fragments.

Our restoration strategy uses agroforestry systems, which establish ecological corridors with multiple benefits:

  • Environmental protection: they contribute to soil and river conservation.
  • Social impact: they generate income for local communities through sustainable cultivation.
  • Climate: they help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A serene outdoor scene with a small pond surrounded by lush green trees and vegetation. The water in the pond is calm, reflecting the surrounding greenery. On the far side of the pond, there is a grassy area, and sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground and water.

Photo: Ricardo Teles

Amazon Live Today and Always

We believe that cultural mobilization should generate concrete results for those who care for the forest every day.

Therefore, Amazônia Live Hoje e Sempre went beyond the concerts: through a private grant call, six socio-environmental initiatives were selected and awarded a total of BRL 2 million, creating a lasting legacy for the project and strengthening civil society organizations operating in the region.

Six initiatives were selected and received a total of R$ 2 million, ensuring that the resources reached priority socio-environmental actions.

Floating stage shaped like a large glowing lotus flower in the middle of a lake. Inside the structure, an orchestra and a singer are performing. In the background, trees are lit with colorful lights, and the phrase “SAVE THE PLANET” appears in the foliage.

Photo: Vale Archive

Título do carrossel

ASCOMQUISC - AmazLive

Instituto Peabiru - AmazLive

Areciclananin - AmazLive

Asflora - AmazLive

AmazonCred - AmazLiv

Mulheres de Barro

Mulheres de Areia

Dinam

Instituto Tecnológico Vale - GBB

Eco Canaã

Imazon e Previsia

Filhas do Mel

Preciosidades

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Learn more about other initiatives in the region

Our presence in the Amazon is multidimensional. In addition to major conservation and bioeconomy projects, we maintain initiatives focused on culture, education, and environmental restoration.

Explore the details of each area of work by expanding the topics below:

We carry out the reforestation of pastures acquired in Serra Sul, Canaã dos Carajás (PA). We have already planted 1,045 hectares and have another 3,853 hectares under regeneration, forming ecological corridors for wildlife.
Our Forest Nursery produces around 200,000 seedlings per year from 120 native species, ensuring revegetation with the original biodiversity of the Carajás National Forest.
We maintain two important spaces in the region: the Centro Cultural Vale Maranhão and the Casa da Cultura de Canaã dos Carajás. Our focus is on valuing traditions and artists from Northern Brazil.
Find out more: 
We operate in 32 municipalities in Pará and Maranhão, focusing on literacy, learning, and strengthening primary health care.
A strategic partnership to implement the UNICEF Seal agenda in the Legal Amazon, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for children and adolescents.

In partnership with BNDES and Hydro, we support this initiative, which reaches public networks in 8 of the 9 Amazonian states, engaging young people in decisions about the region’s future.

Frequently asked questions

No. Vale’s operations occupy a minimal fraction of the territory and ensure the protection of the vast majority of the area. Although the Carajás region (PA) accounts for about 60% of our iron ore production, our operations occupy only around 2% of the total area. The remaining portion (over 98%) is preserved.
We help protect approximately 800,000 hectares of native forest in the Carajás Mosaic, an area equivalent to five times the size of São Paulo city. We work in long-standing partnership with ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation) to ensure monitoring, research, and conservation of this area. In addition, we maintain spaces such as the BioParque Vale Amazônia, which covers 30 hectares of native forest open to visitation and environmental education.
By investing in the bioeconomy through the Vale Fund. We understand that the forest only remains standing if it generates income for those who live in it. The Vale Fund has been fostering socio-environmental impact businesses (such as açaí, cocoa, and honey supply chains) for 15 years. Over its trajectory, the fund has supported more than 100 projects and accelerated 200 businesses, benefiting around 60,000 people, including rural producers, extractivists, and their families.

Yes. We have the ambitious goal of restoring 100,000 hectares of degraded land by 2030. Practical examples include:

  • Recovery in Serra Sul: planting over 1 million native seedlings in acquired pasture areas.
  • Horizontes Project: a partnership with ICMBio to implement agroforestry systems that create ecological corridors and generate income for local communities.
  • Forest Nursery: produces about 200,000 native seedlings per year to support these efforts.
Vale values Amazonian culture and uses its voice to amplify the global climate agenda. Through the Instituto Cultural Vale, we maintain the Casa da Cultura in Canaã dos Carajás and sponsor the preservation of regional traditions. In 2025, Vale was the main sponsor of Amazônia Live Hoje e Sempre, bringing the music and culture of Pará to the world while raising awareness about the urgent need to protect the forest.

Interlinked sub-projects

Environmental licensing

Strengthening knowledge management regarding environmental licensing will enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of the conditions required for forest conservation initiatives.

Land use diversification

Expanding the region’s economic base through agroforestry and extractive activities will generate income for small farmers.

Conservation of water resources

To work with the Itacaúnas River Basin, it is important to address various types of land use in a sustainable way.

Land tenure reform

Effective land use management is essential to address challenges related to land occupation.

Biodiversity monitoring

Work in this area expands our understanding of Conservation Areas and promotes research.

Find out more