Brazil's minister of the Environment, Carlos Minc, launched on Monday (April 6) a programme (Revitalização do Complexo Turístico e Ambiental do Corcovado e seu Entorno) to recuperate the Mount Corcovado tourist and environmental complex, in the Tijuca National Park, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The idea is to protect this world-renowned carioca scenery from any further damage.
One of the programme's initiatives will be the recuperation of the old Hotel das Paineira's abandoned building, turning it into a centre for tourism and environmental education, amongst other uses. A working group was established in order to present, in 30 days, a project to explain the actions which are to be implemented.
A contest will be launched this month by the Brazilian Institute of Architects (Instituto dos Arquitetos do Brasil/IAB) for reconstruction of Hotel das Paineiras, which - after being closed for 25 years - will now have a panoramic restaurant, tourist information centres and other attractions. The Brazilian minister of Tourism, Luiz Barreto, suggested that 30 rooms be maintained as fully-functioning hotel rooms.
Another makeover will occur in the old Silvestre restaurant, situated next to a Corcovado train station.
The recuperation of the tourist complex also includes social and safety initiatives in Guararapes and Cerro Corá slums, both in the Cosme Velho neighbourhood, considered strategic by those who are responsible for the park.
According to Minc, the actions which will be carried out in these two carioca communities are extremely important to guarantee that tourists who visit the area may do so in complete safety.
Tijuca National Park - Tijuca National Park (Parque Nacional da Tijuca, in Portuguese) is a mountainous, partially hand-planted rainforest in Rio de Janeiro. It is considered by many the world's largest urban forest, covering some 32 km². The park is home to hundreds of species of plants and wildlife, many found only in the Atlantic Rainforest (Mata Atlântica, in Portuguese).
This green spine of Rio also contains the colossal sculpture of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) on Mount Corcovado, with the stretch of road closed to vehicular traffic leading to it called Paineiras; the Cascatinha Waterfall; the Mayrink Chapel with murals painted by Cândido Portinari; the light pagoda-style gazebo at Vista Chinesa outlook; and the giant granite picnic table called the Mesa do Imperador. Amongst its impressive peaks is Pedra da Gávea.
Formerly called the Tijuca Forest, the area was declared a National Park in 1961.
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