This project was conducted under the auspices of the Florida Center for Environmental Studies (CES) at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) for the benefit of Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD) for environmental data reviews of the site that is projected to be used for building a steel mill on the island of Sao Luiz in the State of Maranhao in Brazil. The proposed CVRD mill is to be located in an area designated for industrial use. Mangrove areas, regulated by the Brazilian government exist within the area, where the proposed mill is to be located. Indigenous people currently use the resources from the mangroves for various economic and social needs and the mangroves serve several biological functions.
The objectives of the Independent Review and Tendency Analysis of CVRD Site Data in Sao Luiz, Brazil were to: (1) review existing data obtained by CVRD on the Sao Luiz CVRD site and make recommendations as to its validity; and (2) conduct a tendency analysis of the site’s historical, current, and future land uses including the mangrove areas. As the Project Manager, Dr. Boukerrou leads a team of experts from FAU, FIU, UF, and USF in the implementation of the two project phases: (1) Data Review and Recommendations; and (2) Land Use Review and Recommendations.