Many elements caught our attention as soon as we arrived in Germany. Aiming to understand the differences between Brazil and Germany, we used to talk with the locals, who explained the details of the elements that aroused our curiosity. The hills of the Ruhr region are part of these stories that we recorded on video.

The Ruhr Valley developed with the exploitation of coal. The region is a fairly flat landscape from which emerge small mountains. This shape does not look natural. And in fact, it is not: the small mountains were artificially created with the mining waste materials. Many of them were reshaped and restored. They became preservation and leisure parks, and some have also been adorned with a landmark or work of art. The small mountains are part of the landscape and the history of the region, integrating the Industrial Heritage Route. It is worth remembering that the Ruhr Valley develops a strategy for reinventing the region through environmental preservation and culture.

Similarly, other activities that end up degrading the landscape also need to plan the environment they will leave for the future. We found a good example in the same region: the population no longer wanted the quarry to continue its activities on site. A recovery was already planned, but the community felt that compensation was not enough. There was a negotiation period and the company presented the project with its legacy. A beautiful park, with proper environmental recovery, but also with extensive leisure areas. Thus, the company can remove stones for a further period and the community was pleased with the new uses and perspectives for that area.

In Brazil, the companies also must present the projects for the recovery of degraded areas. Models and references of good projects should be part of the solutions to better plan the city in which we will live in the future.

Check out the video recorded on the Ruhr region: