Nature-based education: Motiva launches largest private program in municipal schools with support from BH Airport

Motiva, the largest mobility infrastructure company in Brazil, has just launched – through its Institute and with the support of BH Airport – the largest private program to promote nature-based education in the country. Called Nature-Based Schools, the initiative offers free ongoing training and teaching materials to elementary school teachers and administrators in municipal schools throughout the country. The program, which has the Crescer Institute and the Alana Institute as educational partners, is already present in 280 cities in the five regions of Brazil, benefiting more than 3.5 million teachers and 170 thousand students indirectly.

Aligned with the National Education Plan (PNE), the National Common Curricular Base (BNCC) and the National Environmental Education Policy (Law No. 14,926/24), one of the initiative's goals is to expand and strengthen the concept of Nature-Based Education in Brazilian schools. The program trains educators to develop pedagogical practices that place nature at the center of student learning. The 40-hour course is 100% distance and online and is open to any educator in the country.

During the course, teaching professionals are introduced to the fundamentals of Nature-Based Education, the concept of the climate crisis and its impacts on education, and the importance of contact with nature for the integral development of students. In addition, the course encourages educators to reflect on how to integrate nature-based solutions into the school environment and to discuss the reality of Brazilian schools, as well as to develop a practical project on how the concepts can be applied in educational institutions. The course and teaching materials will be available free of charge starting in June, through the website: www.escolasebn.com.br.

The development of the program is based on the diagnosis that education in Brazil lacks a greater connection with nature. Research conducted by MapBiomas, the Alana Institute and Fiquem Sabendo, released at the end of last year, showed that four out of 10 schools do not have green areas, that 1.5 million students study in educational institutions that do not have squares and parks within a radius of approximately 500 meters and that six out of 10 schools are located in territories that are at least 1º Celsius above the average temperature of their capitals. Another alarming fact revealed by the survey is that 370 thousand children study in areas at risk of disasters, such as landslides and floods (access the full study here).

Raising awareness, experiencing and influencing

Based on the premise that schools play a central role in connecting children with the environment and in building new climate solutions, the program was structured in three phases: raising awareness (2025), experiencing (2026) and influencing (2027). In the first stage, the goal is to introduce the concept of Nature-Based Education and develop the connection between educators and students with nature, through distance learning courses and games, projects and educational proposals that raise awareness of the topic.

In the second stage, in 2026, students are encouraged to propose solutions to climate challenges through hackathons and other practical methodologies. In the last phase, the initiative foresees the mobilization of schools and communities to implement environmentally impactful actions in their areas, in connection with the concept of sustainable cities.

“The CCR Institute’s mission is to be a driver of the development of inclusive, resilient and sustainable cities in Brazil. To face the major challenges of urban centers, investing in education is a key element due to its multiplier effect. Investing in schools and education means building a less unequal future with more opportunities for all. Through Nature-Based Schools, we are helping to overcome the current challenges of education in Brazil and helping to develop citizens who are protagonists in the climate agenda,” says the president of the CCR Institute, Renata Ruggiero.

Nature-Based Schools Award

To expand the program’s reach and attract new schools and more educators, the Nature-Based Schools Award will be launched, which will recognize five public schools that already participate in the program and have outstanding projects in environmental education. In total, the award will allocate R$500,000 to carry out the projects in schools, with the support of pedagogical mentoring, technical advice and specialized consultancy in sustainable school architecture. Applications for the award are scheduled for June, and the winning schools are expected to be announced in July. The goal is to recognize initiatives that transform the school environment, such as the creation of naturalized playgrounds that have, for example, spaces connected to the biomes of the territories, furniture made with natural materials, rain gardens, vegetable gardens with intentionality.

The launch of the Nature-Based Schools project took place during the fourth edition of TEDx Amazônia, which was held in Belém (PA) between June 6 and 8. Motiva, through its Institute, was one of the sponsors of the event, which aimed to promote reflections on the paths to preserving the Amazon and the planet.

“The concept of Nature-Based Education (NBE) proposes a transformation in pedagogical practices, in school spaces and their surroundings", says Paula Mendonça, education specialist at the Alana Institute. "The idea is to make the school environment a driver of climate adaptation and resilience actions, linked to curricular strategies that prioritize access to Nature, invest in creating a bond between students and it and in skills that prepare them to seek solutions to complex socio-environmental challenges", says Paula Mendonça, specialist in education, nature and culture of children at the Alana Institute.

Reformulation of Pathways to Citizenship

Nature-Based Schools was created by reformulating the former Pathways to Citizenship program, an initiative launched in 2002 by Motiva. The change in the scope of the initiative is linked to the new role of the CCR Institute, which will direct its efforts towards the theme of sustainable cities and communities. In 2024, Pathways to Citizenship, which focused on Citizenship Education, impacted 6,014 educators in 1,700 schools in 280 municipalities, indirectly benefiting 176,970 elementary school students. The reformulation of Pathways to Citizenship and the launch of Nature-Based Schools are part of the R$71 million investment that the CCR Institute will allocate to long-term social impact projects from 2025. In 2024, the year in which it completed 10 years of history, the entity contributed a record amount of R$72.1 million, a growth of 33.5% compared to 2023.

The Nature-Based Schools course and teaching materials will be available free of charge on the website: www.escolasebn.com.br.

Heading to São João: discover 5 June destinations with direct flights from BH Airport

June marks the beginning of the traditional São João festivities throughout Brazil, with cities transforming into true celebration scenes, filled with music, traditional dances and irresistible cuisine. For those who want to enjoy this tradition, BH Airport offers direct flights to cities that hold some of the most traditional festivities in Brazil, such as Campina Grande (PB), Aracaju (SE), Recife (PE), São Luís (MA) and Salvador (BA). The terminal is also preparing to receive tourists interested in the Arraial de Belô and other traditional festivities in the interior of the state.

The Connectivity and Aviation Manager, Clayton Begido, highlights that the terminal is prepared for an increase in passenger volume in June, both because of the festivities and because of the Corpus Christi holiday. The expectation for the month is that more than 1 million passengers will pass through the terminal, 200 thousand of which will be during the long holiday. To meet the growing demand, airlines have scheduled 157 extra flights. Traditional destinations such as Salvador and Recife, which are major hubs for the June festivities, are among the most sought after.

“From our terminal, we have many direct flight options to destinations that experience the June festivities intensely. Today, BH Airport is the second airport in the country in terms of the number of national destinations and the terminal with the largest number of destinations in the Northeast, one of the regions where São João is celebrated most intensely. In addition, we expect a volume of passengers coming to Minas Gerais to enjoy the events in Belo Horizonte and the interior,” says Clayton.

Learn more about the June festivities destinations with direct flights from BH Airport:

Campina Grande (PB)

Hosts the famous "Biggest São João in the World", with a whole month of festivities, forró shows and an infrastructure set up especially for the celebration.

Aracaju (SE)

Hosts Forró Caju, one of the largest June festivities in the Northeast, bringing together musical and cultural performances on the city's waterfront.

Recife (PE)

It has an intense São João program, which takes place both in the capital and in the interior of Pernambuco, with square dance performances and shows spread across various locations.

São Luís (MA)

It combines June traditions with the bumba meu boi, making the festival even richer and more representative of Maranhão culture.

Salvador (BA)

Although it is best known for Carnival, it also celebrates São João with parties spread throughout the city and events that attract tourists from all over Brazil.

BH Airport anticipates investment of around R$11 million in works to reopen another arrivals area

O BH Airport anuncia a reinauguração do Desembarque 1, que vai ampliar seu atendimento aos passageiros e trazer mais eficiência aos processos operacionais. Previsto para outubro, o espaço modernizado conecta a área restrita, próxima ao portão 2, ao saguão público, localizado atrás da rampa em caracol, próximo ao check-in 1. O investimento na obra é de cerca de R$ 11 milhões, aporte que foi assumido pela concessionária que administra o aeroporto, mediante a reembolso da Infraero, que é a responsável financeira pela reforma.

Com design atualizado e infraestrutura aprimorada, o Desembarque 1 volta a integrar plenamente a operação do aeroporto, que retoma a configuração de 2022: dois desembarques para voos nacionais e um para voos internacionais. Com a ampliação, os passageiros passam a contar com mais um elevador, duas escadas rolantes e um conjunto de banheiros (masculino, feminino, prioritários, família e espaço baby). Além disso, o número de esteiras para restituição de bagagem vai quase triplicar, passando de três para oito, tornando o processo mais ágil e mais confortável para o passageiro.

O CEO do BH Airport, Daniel Miranda, destaca a importância da obra para a melhoria de eficiência da operação e para a experiência dos viajantes. “Trabalhamos para que todos os pontos da jornada do passageiro no nosso terminal sejam os mais agradáveis possíveis, mas também sabemos que o desembarque e a restituição da bagagem são momentos que merecem ainda mais atenção, uma vez que o viajante já está cansado e ansioso para chegar ao seu destino. Essa reforma vai melhorar justamente esse processo, ampliando nossos serviços de atendimento, melhorando o fluxo de passageiros, reduzindo o tempo de deslocamento em muitos casos e deixando a restituição de bagagem mais rápida e simples”, afirma.

Cerca de 150 profissionais estão envolvidos nas atividades da obra, que engloba uma área de 1.800 metros quadrados. As melhorias ainda incluem a modernização da sala de desembarque com substituição de piso, sistemas elétricos, sistema de climatização, acabamentos e revestimentos, iluminação, sistemas eletrônicos e restabelecimento de equipamentos eletromecânicos. Os serviços de mobilidade urbana disponíveis aos passageiros, como táxis, ônibus e carros de aluguel e aplicativos, também serão adequados para atender ao novo fluxo de desembarque.

Histórico das obras

A reforma do Desembarque 1 faz parte de uma série de obras previstas como exigência para a realização da Copa do Mundo em 2014 e que estavam sob a responsabilidade da Infraero, que operava o terminal na época. Desde que assumiu a operação assistida do aeroporto, em 12 de agosto de 2014, a concessionária responsabilizou-se por essas obras, mediante reembolso dos valores gastos, e entregou diversas melhorias. Entre as obras entregues estão a reforma do Terminal de Passageiros 1, a adequação do Sistema Viário, a reforma e a ampliação da Pista de Pouso e do Sistema de Pátios e a implementação de infraestrutura para o fornecimento de serviços essenciais.

A partir de 2023, as obras foram interrompidas devido a entraves contratuais com o poder concedente. Desde então, a concessionária segue engajada no diálogo com o poder público para retomar as intervenções o quanto antes, garantindo que as melhorias previstas possam beneficiar os milhões de passageiros que utilizam o terminal.

“O BH Airport é um dos maiores hubs de conexão do país e um dos terminais que mais cresce em movimentação de passageiros. Sabemos que as melhorias em infraestrutura são essenciais para garantir nossa eficiência e estamos comprometidos com essa defesa. Como bons mineiros, queremos e vamos receber os passageiros com acolhimento e uma casa muito bem arrumada”, afirma Daniel.

Crescimento acima da média

O BH Airport vem se destacando no cenário nacional com crescimento em movimentação de passageiros acima da média. Em 2024, o terminal recebeu 12,3 milhões de passageiros, um crescimento de 18% em relação ao ano anterior, superando em quase quatro vezes mais a média nacional de crescimento do setor.

O ano de 2025 também começou otimista: 3,1 milhões de passageiros circularam pelo BH Airport no primeiro trimestre, o que também representa um crescimento de 18% em relação ao mesmo período no ano passado. Considerando a comparação do primeiro trimestre de 2025 sobre 2024, o setor em Minas Gerais cresceu duas vezes mais do que a média do mercado em outros estados (8%).

Corpus Christi and traditional festivals bring excitement to BH Airport in June

June promises to be a busy month at BH Airport: more than 1 million people are expected to pass through the terminal. In total, there will be 9,306 landings and takeoffs, a 5% increase compared to the number of aircraft movements in 2024. The highlight is the Corpus Christi holiday, when passenger volume increases. Between June 18 and 23, almost 200 thousand passengers are expected to circulate through the airport, which represents a 5% increase compared to the same holiday last year.

To meet the demand for Corpus Christi, airlines are preparing 157 extra flights at BH Airport. As this is a cold season, the most popular beach destinations are mainly in the northeast: Porto Seguro, Maceió and Salvador. In addition, extra flights are planned for Manaus, due to the Paritins Folklore Festival, which takes place at the end of the month, and for Recife, which is very popular at this time of year due to the São João festivities.

The COO of BH Airport, Rodrigo Côrtes, emphasizes that the terminal is prepared for the growing volume of passengers. “In addition to the holiday, the month of June is usually busy due to the traditional São João festivities, including here in Minas Gerais, where we have many cities with an extensive schedule. At BH Airport, we have a dedicated team to ensure that the operation occurs efficiently and safely, in addition to a comfortable and agile experience for passengers,” he says.

With the expectation of increased movement, the COO also reinforces the importance of planning for travelers. The recommendation is that passengers arrive at the terminal in advance, use the airlines' digital channels to check in and pay attention to the guidelines regarding baggage and documentation. Seasonal routes in sight

With the arrival of winter in the southern hemisphere, BH Airport is preparing for new operations in the coming months. In June, Minas Gerais residents will once again be able to connect to Santiago, Chile, with the resumption of the route operated by Sky Airline – voted the best low-cost airline in South America. A new international destination will also be launched: Bariloche, in Argentina, with direct flights by Azul. In July, the same airline will resume direct flights between BH and Fort Lauderdale, in the United States.

BH Airport signs partnership with Confins City Hall and FdG to strengthen public education in the municipality

The start of the work to strengthen municipal education in Confins has been given: BH Airport, the city government and FdG – Fundação da Gide – signed, this Friday (6), a partnership agreement to support two elementary schools in Confins: Escola Municipal de Tavares and Escola Municipal Afonso José da Silva. Through the contribution and support of the Minas Gerais international terminal, the Integrated Education Management (Gide) methodology will be implemented in the units, which diagnoses the school and applies a development path together with managers to improve educational results. The project will initially last 12 months.

All the work begins with the identification of the causes of undesirable results in the teaching-learning process (measured by Ideb - Basic Education Development Index). From there, the design of a strategy to solve or block these causes and improve student performance begins. This is a simple, focused management path that is fully adapted to the school's language. Gide has already been applied in nine thousand schools in 12 states of the country, training one million educators and benefiting 10 million students.

BH Airport CEO Daniel Miranda celebrates the partnership. “When we learned about the methodology and realized how effective it was in other schools, raising the Ideb and transforming the lives of teachers and students, we understood that BH Airport could be part of this transformation, supporting schools that are so close to us. It is a joy to join the City of Confins in this project, which reinforces our purpose of shortening distances and connecting destinations. Strengthening public education in our region is a way of shortening the distance these students reach their dreams and life goals and connecting their destinations to new possibilities”, he says.

Confins Mayor Geraldo Gonçalves dos Santos (Pezão) talks about the importance of the initiative for the city. "The partnership represents an important step forward for public education in Confins. By joining forces between the government and the private sector, we are able to bring concrete management tools to our schools that will directly contribute to improving our students' learning. This partnership is a strategic step towards more efficient education with better results for our city," he says.

FdG CEO Rodrigo Godoy also highlights the integrated work between the government, private sector and third sector. "We believe that transforming public education requires the union of different forces, and this partnership with BH Airport and the City of Confins is a clear example of how the private sector and the government can work together towards a common goal: ensuring real opportunities for children and young people. Bringing the Gide methodology to these schools is taking a concrete step towards more efficient and fair education with results that impact lives," he says.