The Atlantic Forest depicted in recycled crafts delights at Rio+20.
The installation is located at Tom Jobim International Airport in Rio de Janeiro, in an area restricted to international arrivals; it will only be open to the public between the 22nd and 24th.
Agência Brasil - Lady's Slipper, Monstera deliciosa, and Swamp Cane. These are some examples of typical Atlantic Forest flora that make up the scenic forest set up at Antonio Carlos Jobim/Galeão International Airport. Entirely constructed from recycled material, the installation occupies an area restricted to the disembarkation of delegations arriving in the city to participate in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20.
According to the Brazilian Airport Infrastructure Company (Infraero), the exhibition will only be open to the public after the event concludes, between the 22nd and 24th of this month.
In addition to the vegetation, there are also replicas of animals, such as toucans and macaws, and a system activated by presence sensors that reproduces the sounds of birds, crickets, and frogs. According to set designer Sergio Marimba, responsible for the work, recyclable materials were collected from the waste produced at Galeão Airport over two months. In total, 5,000 PET bottles, 1,000 pallets, 500 meters of plastic, and 200 kilograms of cardboard were used in the composition.
"It was an intense job, but one that will surprise visitors because, although it is a simple work, it has a good quality finish and represents part of the local biodiversity," he said.
At the end of the exhibition, the material will be donated to a non-governmental organization that serves students in the public school system and promotes environmental awareness activities.
Even with the arrival of more than 50 delegations in Rio scheduled for this Tuesday, according to information from the city hall, for much of the morning, none of them passed through the exhibition area. The Infraero press office reported that the delegations were in reserved areas of the airport waiting for traffic conditions around the terminal to improve.
Heads of State and Government receive preferential treatment and are attended to in an exclusive area, leaving the airport, with Army support, through undisclosed locations for security reasons.
The Red Line, an expressway that provides access to the airport, today gained an exclusive lane for the movement of delegations. This change, along with others that are part of the special plan put in place by the city government, caused disruptions for drivers in various parts of the city.