Knowledge production in ecology and biodiversity conservation in Brazil

Rejan R. Guedes-BruniRejan R. Guedes-BruniJardim Botânico do Rio de Jardim Botânico do Rio de

JaneiroJaneirorbruni@jbrj.gov.br

Ary Gomes da SilvaAry Gomes da SilvaUniversidade de Vila VelhaUniversidade de Vila Velha

arygomes@uvv.brarygomes@uvv.br

Atlantic Rain Forest: original coverture and remnants

(Source: Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica 2008)

Diversidade, Endemismos e Espécies Ameaçadas da Mata Diversidade, Endemismos e Espécies Ameaçadas da Mata Atlântica (MA) e Campos Sulinos (CS).Atlântica (MA) e Campos Sulinos (CS).

Scientific events and Policies for Atlantic Forest

• 1945 – first bird and plant inventories in Atlantic Forest (Davies 1945; Velloso 1945)

• 40’ and 50’ – flora and fauna studies• 1980 – returning to Atlantic forest

studies (Martins 1980)• 1989 – National Research Council

(CNPq) promote a specific programm pointing the Atlantic Forest as a priority for botanical studies

1937 – First National Park (Itatiaia)

60’th – Creation of Parks and Reserves

70’ th – ONU Conference for Environmental (Stocolmo, 1974) and the begining of Brazilian ambientalism

1982 – First Seminar, promoted by an NGO, for Atlantic Forest conservation

1985 – Preservation of Serra do Mar

1988 – Reconized as National Patrimony by Brazilian constitution

1992 – The regulation for the use, cutting, and conservation of the Atlantic forest was published (Decreto 750, Feb 10, 1992)

2007 – Atlantic Forest Law (Lei 11.428, Dec 22,2006)

Collecting scientific data production

• Emails to 30 leaders researchers about central theory to support conservation policies Theory of Island Biogeography

• Period: 1945 to 2008 (major of them out of digital data basis)

• Sources: Libraries, Scielo and Web of Science basis, Lattes Databases

• Key-words: Atlantic forest; biodiversity, flora, fauna, inventory, succession, diversity, biological conservation, management; sustainability; local people

Standardizing: building a data basis

Standardizing: building a data basis

Results: far from the exhaustionResults: far from the exhaustion

• Papers recovered: 2894

– Brazilian journals: 867

– International journals: 2027

• Journals: 510

– Brazilians: 178

– Internationals: 332

Improving our knowledgeImproving our knowledge

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Initial Start PointsInitial Start Points

• Brazilian scientific production Brazil 20th position in bibliographic citations (Scarano 2007);

• From 1990 on papers published grew more than 20 times

• Publication in international journal is still insipient, because in many cases the papers are classified as of local interest

Challenges for nowChallenges for now

• In the core of the knowledge construction there are some fundamental problems to be solved, such as sampling, replication, validation, accuracy, and representation

• The knowledge that has been produced until now was made on a disciplinary way. Thus, it has been fragmentary in its origin, kept apart by the disciplines boundaries.

One step: One step: Brazil Biodiversity Research Brazil Biodiversity Research Programme (PPBio)Programme (PPBio)

(Ministry of Science and Technology – MCT,2004)

• Was conceived in accordance with the principles of the Convention of Biological Diversity and the directives of Brazil's National Biodiversity Policy;

• Is part of the federal government's Multi-year Plan (PPA) and aims to create a strategic institutional plan to efficiently expand and manage biodiversity knowledge:

(1) studies of biodiversity need to be integrated and conducted over large areas;

(2) scientific information on biodiversity is important for education, environmental modelling and to support public policies

Changing signsChanging signs

• Ministry of the Environment (Dec 2007) National Consultation Meeting for Creating a Scientific Advisory Mechanism Regarding Policy Decisions on the Scope of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Brazilian Government:– Obstacles to communication between government and scientific

community– Actions to improve communication between government and

scientific community– Mechanisms to implement actions to improve communication

between government and scientific community– Mobilization of the scientific community