The Government of the State of São Paulo, through the Secretariat for Partnerships in Investments (SPI), has included in the Paranapanema Lot concession notice the requirement to implement 22 wildlife crossings along the 282.3 km of highways to be granted to the private sector, between the municipalities of Ourinhos and Itapetininga.
Within the first two years of the contract, the concessionaire must present a Biodiversity Action Plan (PAB), which includes the installation of overpasses and underpasses to support wildlife movement, construction, adaptation and maintenance of these corridors, identification of hotspots—critical areas with a high number of wildlife collisions—as well as the threat level of species near the concession highways.
According to a survey by Artesp, between 2019 and 2023, more than 36,000 wild animals were hit by vehicles on São Paulo’s concession highways, with a 4.37% decrease in incidents recorded in 2022. Currently, there are 415 wildlife crossing structures in operation and 121 more planned for implementation on state highways under concession.
“The installation of wildlife crossings is an effective solution to reduce animal collisions, protect native species, and make roads safer,” says Raquel Carneiro, director of Companhia Paulista de Parcerias (CPP).
The Paranapanema Lot crosses a region of Atlantic Forest rich in biodiversity, home to wildlife that inhabits the riparian forests around reservoirs used for electricity generation. The Paranapanema Ecological Station, located at kilometer 244 of the Raposo Tavares Highway, has recorded the presence of species such as the giant anteater, coati, capybara, paca, and puma in areas covered by the Paranapanema Lot.
For the Government of São Paulo, protecting local biodiversity along road corridors is a firm commitment. Projects like Rota Sorocabana and Nova Raposo also foresee the implementation of 50 additional wildlife crossings, with R$ 16.9 million allocated for these ecological corridors.
With a total investment of R$ 4.7 billion, the Paranapanema Lot covers 282.3 km and benefits 13 municipalities in the Sorocaba region: Angatuba, Bernardino de Campos, Buri, Campina do Monte Alegre, Canitar, Chavantes, Ipaussu, Itaí, Itapetininga, Ourinhos, Paranapanema, Piraju, and Tejupá.
State Partnership Program (PPI)
The Paranapanema Lot is part of 1,800 km of highways qualified under the São Paulo State Partnership Program (PPI-SP), which aims to expand opportunities for investment, employment, and socioeconomic, technological, environmental, and industrial development across the state.
Focusing on the areas of highways, mobility, social development, and water/energy, the PPI-SP is delivering the largest and most comprehensive private investment program in São Paulo’s history, benefiting the state’s population and driving regional economic growth. In total, 29 projects have already been qualified, representing a portfolio of more than R$ 494 billion.
Photo: Divulgação