Brazil Launches First Sabo Barrier in Nova Friburgo

The new barrier will be erected on the Morro das Duas Pedras. This specific location was chosen due to historical events; in 2011, a debris flow traveled approximately 600 meters in this area, threatening a hospital, a highway, and a local community. The choice highlights the targeted nature of the intervention to prevent a recurrence of past tragedies.

According to the Governo Federal, the barriers to be built in Brazil utilize two main models: permeable metal structures and impermeable concrete walls. In addition to Nova Friburgo, the city of Teresópolis will also receive a similar structure in the Campo Grande neighborhood, another area heavily impacted during the 2011 disaster.

The construction is part of the "Projeto Sabo" (Project for the Improvement of Technical Capacity in Structural Measures against Gravitational Mass Movements with a Focus on the Construction of Resilient Cities). This project was initiated in July 2021 with the objective of saving lives, protecting property, and reducing the destructive power of extreme weather events.

Local and federal officials emphasized the importance of this initiative for urban resilience. Johnny Maycon, the Mayor of Nova Friburgo, highlighted the municipality's commitment to infrastructure. "In recent years, we have invested approximately 200 million reais in 20 major containment, slope stabilization, drainage, and environmental recovery works," he stated. He further noted that there are plans to invest approximately 350 million reais in the coming years to ensure the city becomes increasingly resilient.

The ceremony included a minute of silence in homage to the victims of the January 11, 2011 tragedy. Frederico Seabra, acting Director of Prevention and Mitigation of Disasters at the National Secretariat of Protection and Civil Defense, explained why Nova Friburgo was selected. He mentioned that following the 2011 disaster, the federal government monitored the municipality closely due to the high number of deaths caused by debris flows and the positive history with the "Projeto Gides." He stated, "We took the Serrana region, not only Nova Friburgo, but Teresópolis, as pilot municipalities for the execution of these Sabo barriers."

Wolnei Wolff, Secretary of National Protection and Civil Defense, also recalled the severity of the 2011 catastrophe. "In 2011, in the Serrana Region of Rio de Janeiro, almost a thousand people died and hundreds remain missing; it was a catastrophe," he said, attributing the disaster to debris flows triggered by intense rainfall.

The Sabo technique consists of structures designed for the retention of debris flow, acting in the prevention and mitigation of disasters caused by mass movements. Japan is a global reference in projects aimed at natural disasters, possessing approximately 42,000 Sabo dams according to 2017 data.

There are two primary types of barriers being implemented:

• Permeable barriers: These feature embedded metal structures to retain coarse material, such as large blocks and rock fragments, while allowing the natural flow of the riverbed, reducing environmental impact.
• Impermeable barriers: These contain sediments with finer granulometry, such as sand and clay.

Yoshita Kinoshita, Consul General Adjunct of Japan in Rio de Janeiro, expressed optimism about the project. "This project is the pilot project to prevent natural disasters and is quite important. Japan also suffers from many natural disasters, but Japan has resilience. From Japanese technology here in Brazil, here in Nova Friburgo, I hope that this city will have more resilience," she highlighted.

The project is expected to be completed by June 2026, serving as a pilot initiative for technical cooperation between Brazil and Japan to increase the country's capacity in structural measures against natural disasters.