Botanical Garden Museum holds forum on biodiversity conservation

The first edition of the "Biodiversity Forum" features the participation of researcher Mercedes Bustamante

With the aim of deepening the debate and disseminating knowledge about biodiversity conservation, climate emergencies and other contemporary issues, the Botanical Garden Museum is launching the "Biodiversity Forum". The first edition of the event will feature Mercedes Bustamante, a scientist recognized for her contributions to the ecological knowledge of threatened tropical ecosystems. The event will take place on May 21, the week of International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22), at 2:30 p.m. in the museum's Multipurpose Room.

"I'm going to talk about the biodiversity crisis. My idea is to give an overview of the current panorama, what the main determinants are, our dependence on biodiversity and its relationship with the climate crisis and, finally, what the solutions might be," explains Mercedes Bustamante, who is a full professor at the University of Brasilia. The researcher's work includes contributions to syntheses related to the impacts of nitrogen deposition on plant diversity and the effects of deforestation, fire and drought in savannas and tropical forests.

The president of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Research Institute (JBRJ), Sergio Besserman Vianna, will open the meeting, which will be mediated by researcher Marinez Ferreira de Siqueira, director of the National School of Tropical Botany (ENBT/JBRJ).

Conceived by a curatorial board made up of JBRJ specialists, the "Biodiversity Forum" is the Botanical Garden Museum's new monthly activity and each edition will feature the participation of a specialist who will present reflections, research results and studies from publications on biodiversity conservation. The meeting is aimed at specialists, researchers, students and interested people. Admission is free. There are 50 places, on a first-come, first-served basis. The forum will also be broadcast on JBRJ's YouTube channel.

Mercedes Bustamante is a full professor at the University of Brasilia (UnB). She was one of the authors of the 5th and 6th Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the First Regional Assessment for the Americas of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). He is an elected member of the Brazilian Academy of Sciences and the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS); an international member of the US National Academy of Sciences and an honorary member of the Association of Tropical Biology and Conservation (2020).

The Botanical Garden Museum has master sponsorship from Shell Brasil and management from IDG - Instituto de Desenvolvimento e Gestão. Inaugurated in March 2024, the new space presents to the public, through exhibitions, interactive content and cultural programming for all ages, the pioneering work of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Research Institute for the knowledge and conservation of Brazilian flora.

Biodiversity Forum with Mercedes Bustamante: May 21 (Tuesday)
Time: 2:30 p.m., in the Multipurpose Room - 1st floor of the museum
Places: 50, on a first-come, first-served basis
Live broadcast on JBRJ's YouTube channel
Botanical Garden Museum
Visiting hours: Thursday to Tuesday (closed on Wednesdays) / 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. / Free admission with a ticket via jbrj.eleventickets.com
Access via Rua Jardim Botânico, 1008 - Jardim Botânico