Environment Week at the Rio Botanical Garden highlights the important role of science in facing social and environmental crises

From June 1 to 7, the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden is hosting Environment Week, which invites the public to reflect on “The role of science in the face of socio-environmental crises.” Inspired by World Environment Day—celebrated on June 5 and established by the UN in 1972 during the Stockholm Conference—the program brings together initiatives that combine scientific knowledge, experiences in the arboretum, and environmental awareness.

Throughout the week, the public can participate in workshops, exhibitions, roundtables, and guided trails, in activities that bring together science, education, and environmental conservation. All activities are free, and no admission ticket to the arboretum is required.

Check out the full schedule:

June 1, Monday

9 a.m. - What is biodiversity and why does it matter?

Workshop on biodiversity, its importance, and the threats it faces, featuring a guided tour of the arboretum and exclusively for students from the Benjamin Constant Institute

Location: Multipurpose Room of the Thematic Collection of Medicinal Plants.

9:00 a.m. - Plants in the Culture of Biomes

This activity aims to explore the diversity of plant species found in Brazil’s various biomes, relating them to the broader concept of culture. In addition, it invites reflection on how indigenous, quilombola, riverine, and rural communities use and value plant species in their food, medicine, construction, rituals, and other cultural practices.

Location: Environmental Education Service (SEA).

9 a.m. - The Animal Detective

This activity invites participants to engage in a scientific investigation inspired by the work of researchers who study wildlife. Through a playful and interactive approach, the activity introduces the public to wildlife monitoring practices and encourages reflection on the importance of biodiversity and species conservation.

Location: Galpão das Artes.

9 a.m. and 2 p.m. - Botanical Illustration Workshop

Location: Galpão das Artes

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Hands-on Workshop on Legume Evolution (Taxonomy and Ontogeny)

Location: Galpão das Artes

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Botanical Art Exhibition

Location: Galpão das Artes

10 a.m. – The Path of the Araceae: The Mystical Flowers of Jorge Tadeu

A guided walk through the species of the Araceae botanical family in the Botanical Garden’s living collection, exploring their taxonomy and unique characteristics, ornamental potential, culinary and artisanal uses, and their role as protagonists in soap operas and other media contexts. In addition to a demonstration of the work of a field biologist, from collection to herbarium preparation.

Location: Arboretum

Meeting point: Visitor Center

10 a.m. - Observation of stingless bee nests

Guided tour of the arboretum to observe nests of different species of stingless bees and learn about their characteristics, plus a visit to the meliponary to see the inside of hives of different species, their nests, honey pots, and pollen aromas.

Location: Arboretum

Meeting point: Visitor Center

10 a.m. - Trees that regulate the climate: a science experience at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden

Hands-on activity to demonstrate how trees contribute to carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. Participants will learn, in a simple and interactive way, how to measure the diameter of tree trunks and observe basic characteristics used in forestry studies. Based on these measurements, it is possible to understand how scientists estimate biomass and the carbon stored in trees using allometric equations. The event will also discuss the importance of urban trees for climate regulation, improving the environmental quality of cities, and conserving biodiversity.

Location: Arboretum

Meeting point: Visitor Center

1:00 PM - EcoRota: Choose Your Path

In the Game of Decisions, the audience takes on the role of decision-makers facing situations involving urban development and environmental conservation. In each round, participants choose between different paths: build or preserve, plant native or exotic species, expand the city or protect natural habitats. The scenarios presented are inspired by real-life cases in Rio de Janeiro, such as the loss of the Copacabana sandbank due to urbanization, the environmental impacts of the Barra da Tijuca subway, and the conservation of iconic species, such as the golden lion tamarin.

Location: Galpão das Artes

1:00 PM – Poetics of the Land

This workshop, designed for children up to 12 years old, offers a sensory and creative experience with clay, a material formed by the union of earth and water. Through the observation of seeds, leaves, and other natural elements, participants are invited to explore textures and forms found in biodiversity, creating small clay compositions.

Location: Galpão das Artes

2:00 PM – Negritude em Foco Forum

“Environmental Management and Coloniality,” speakers Ana Carolina Barradas and Bia Nunes

Location: Botanical Garden Museum

3:00 PM – Poetics of the Land

This workshop, designed for children up to 12 years old, offers a sensory and creative experience with clay, a material formed by the union of earth and water. Through the observation of seeds, leaves, and other natural elements, participants are invited to explore textures and forms found in biodiversity, creating small clay compositions.

Tuesday, June 2

9 a.m. – Botanical illustration workshop

Location: Galpão das Artes.

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Plants in the culture of biomes

Location: Environmental Education Service (SEA)

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – The Animal Detective

Location: Galpão das Artes.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Botanical Art Exhibition

Location: Galpão das Artes

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Hands-on workshop on the evolution of legumes (taxonomy and ontogeny)

Location: Galpão das Artes

10 a.m. - Endangered Species Trail

Guided tour of the arboretum where visitors can observe specimens of Brazilian plant species at risk of extinction and, therefore, the focus of conservation efforts. Among the 17 featured species are the rosewood (𝘊𝘦𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢 𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘢), the jacaranda-caviúna (𝘋𝘢𝘭𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘢 𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘳𝘢), the pink jequitibá (𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴), heavily exploited for its wood, the Brazil nut (𝘉𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘢 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘢) and the juçara palm heart (𝘌𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘴), among others.

Location: Arboretum.

Meeting point: Visitors Center

10 a.m. - Guided activity for species identification

Presentation of innovative projects for identifying cultivated species along the biome trails through the Inaturalist\JBRJ project, and information contained in QR codes affixed to the signs in the Pampa and Caatinga areas.

Location: Arboretum

Meeting point: Visitors Center

1:00 PM - EcoRota: Choose Your Path

Location: Galpão das Artes

2:00 PM – Botanical Illustration Workshop

Location: Galpão das Artes

2:00 PM - Trees That Protect the Climate: A Science Experience at the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden

Hands-on activity to demonstrate how trees contribute to carbon storage and climate change mitigation. Participants will learn, in a simple and interactive way, how to measure tree trunk diameter and observe basic characteristics used in forestry studies. Based on these measurements, participants will learn how scientists estimate biomass and carbon stored in trees using allometric equations. The activity will also discuss the importance of urban trees for climate regulation, improving the environmental quality of cities, and conserving biodiversity.

Location: Arboretum

Meeting point: Visitors Center

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM – Seminar “Graduate Research in the Face of Current Socio-Environmental Crises”

In light of the worsening current socio-environmental crises, the production of scientific knowledge plays a central role in the search for solutions to the challenges at hand. The initiative aims to reflect on the importance of scientific research conducted at the graduate level, highlighting the contributions of research by master’s and doctoral students at the National School of Tropical Botany/JBRJ.

Location: Museum in the Middle of the Botanical Garden

Wednesday, June 3

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – “Plants in the Culture of Biomes”

Location: Environmental Education Service (SEA)

9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. – Animal Detective

Location: Galpão das Artes

9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Hands-on workshop on the evolution of legumes (taxonomy and ontogeny)

Location: Galpão das Artes

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Botanical Art Exhibition

Location: Galpão das Artes

10 a.m. - The Path of the Araceae: The Mystical Flowers of Jorge Tadeu

A guided walk through the species of the Araceae botanical family in the Botanical Garden’s living collection, exploring their taxonomy and unique characteristics, ornamental potential, culinary and artisanal uses, and their role as protagonists in soap operas and other media contexts. The tour also includes a demonstration of a field biologist’s work, from specimen collection to herbarium preparation.

Location: Arboretum.

Meeting point: Visitors Center

10 a.m. - Observation of stingless bee nests

Guided tour of the arboretum to observe nests of different species of stingless bees and learn about their characteristics, plus a visit to the meliponary to explore the interior of hives of different species, their nests, honey pots, and pollen aromas.

Location: Arboretum.

Meeting point: Visitors Center

10 a.m. - Art and Nature: Mangroves

The “Mangrove Mosaics” activity offers an interdisciplinary experience combining art, natural sciences, and environmental education, based on the observation and depiction of mangrove ecosystem landscapes. Participants will be invited to learn about the ecological importance of this ecosystem, its characteristic species, shapes, and textures, and to create handmade mosaics inspired by this environment.

Location: Gardens of the Botanical Garden Museum.

1:00 PM to 5:00 PM - EcoRoute: Choose Your Path

Location: Galpão das Artes

2:00 PM – Environmental Education: A Dialogic Agenda

Discussion on educational practices as drivers of biodiversity conservation.

Location: Arboretum.

Meeting point: Visitor Center

2:00 PM – Roundtable “Brazilwood: Science, Art, and Traditional Knowledge”

Experts from various fields of knowledge discuss advances in Brazilwood conservation, involving the integration, recovery, and dissemination of knowledge for the conservation of biocultural diversity.

Location: Auditorium of the Association of Friends of the Botanical Garden.

Thursday, June 4

10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. - Educational tour: Amazonian BioOCAnomy

At the Amazonian BioOCAnomy exhibition, visitors are invited to navigate the waters of the Amazon, learning a little more about its riches and potential; discovering a bit of the forest’s ancestral grandeur; delve into a vast library of ancestral knowledge, ways of life, and technologies; experience a day in the Amazon; learn about the potential of new products, prototypes, and processes from a green and sustainable industry; and reflect on the rights of the forest.

Meeting point: Reception Room | Botanical Garden Museum

June 5, Friday

10:30 AM - Botanical Games: Sustainability in Action

The game challenges participants to find solutions that balance urban growth with nature conservation, protecting endangered species and their habitats. Inspired by the National Action Plans (PAN), the game encourages participants to think about ways to implement, monitor, and develop sustainable strategies.

Location: Multipurpose Room | Botanical Garden Museum

2:30 PM - Art and Nature Workshop: Invention Lab in the Garden

The evolution of plants and insects has occurred in harmony; this living relationship has produced an explosion of shapes and colors. In this workshop, we will take a close look at the relationships between insects and plants, creating inventions that blend art, science, and technology to produce fantastic creatures.

Location: Multipurpose Room | Botanical Garden Museum

Saturday, June 6

10:30 AM and 2:30 PM - Art and Nature Workshop: Colors of the Amazon

This activity invites participants to explore elements such as seeds and leaves in the creation of paints, in dialogue with ancestral practices that arise from a direct relationship with the forest and its cycles.

Location: Multipurpose Room | Botanical Garden Museum

June 7, Sunday

10:30 AM and 2:30 PM - Educational Tour: Amazonian BioOCAnomy

The tour introduces the Amazon and its grandeur through the installations and interactive elements of the temporary exhibition Amazonian BioOCAnomy.

Meeting point: Welcome Room | Botanical Garden Museum