The Jardim Gramacho landfill in Rio de Janeiro was one the largest landfills in Latin America, holding 80 million metric tonnes of trash in a 150 acre space. The Rio Municipal Cleaning Company has slowly transformed the landfill into a massive forest of mangroves— a tree that is essential to combating pollution due to its ability to store large amounts of carbon. Now, the Jardim Gramacho is home to over 120 acres of mangroves that have brought biodiversity back to the area. The mangrove forest has created new opportunities for local fishermen and has made the area a pleasant, thriving environment instead of a toxic landfill.
Image via Good News Network
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