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Students from the Acre Federal Institute (IFAC) participated, between August 20 and 21, 2025, in the course “Collection and Herborization: supporting the documentation of sociobiodiversity in the Amazon”, held at the Zoobotanical Park of the Federal University of Acre (UFAC).
IFAC Reproduction
The initiative is the result of a partnership between IFAC, UFAC and Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (JBRJ), with the objective of bringing students closer to collection and herborization practices, fundamental tools for the registration and valorization of the biological and cultural diversity of the Amazon region.
The course is part of the postdoctoral project in ethnobotanic applied to sociobiodiversity, developed by Professor Rosana Cavalcante, professor at IFAC, in collaboration with the postgraduate program of the National School of Tropical Botany (ENBT/JBRJ). Also participating in the articulation were researchers Viviane Fonseca Kruel (JBRJ) and Almecina Balbino, from UFAC.
Forest in evidence – The activity was connected to the program of the event “Forest in Evidence”, held on August 20, which brought together students, teachers and researchers in a space for reflection and exchange of knowledge. At the time, two lectures marked the discussion: “Climate Justice and Academic Production in the Amazon”, with Professor Andréia Rocha, from UFAC; and “Ethnobotany in the Amazon: the importance of collection and herborization in the documentation of sociobiodiversity”, with researcher Viviane Kruel of JBRJ.
Meetings and field visit – The program also included moments of practical integration: on August 19, a meeting was held with project fellows at the IFAC campus, located in the transacreana; And on August 22, there was a field visit to the region’s agroforestry backyards, organized by Layane Furtado, representative of the Peasant Women’s Movement.
The visits contemplated the spaces of farmers Solange Maria da Silva (km 47), Helena Luiza Ferreira (km 58); and Maria da Nativity, known in the community as Dona Lora (km 26). “These women are true guardians of agrobiodiversity. They preserve seeds, cultivate food, keep the knowledge about medicinal plants alive and strengthen the food security of their communities. Their backyards show that traditional knowledge and forest preservation make all the difference in facing climate change,” says researcher Rosana Cavalcante.
After visiting the Transaecrean region, researcher Viviane Fonseca Kruel made an assessment of what she observed. “This visit has brought me clear perceptions: the health of communities is directly linked to environmental health. Climate change is not theory here, but a visible reality. I saw burned and deforestation, which replace the native forest with pasture, affecting air quality. The saddest part was perceiving people and animals getting sick with breathing problems, such as dogs with difficulty breathing.”
The researcher also showed concern about water and the health of local communities. “As a source of life, water is also at risk. It is worrying to see families already buying mineral water, when they can, because local water no longer seems safe for consumption. Observing the backyards and talking to residents about plants has revealed the urgency of facing health and well-being integrated into the health of our planet. It is a reminder that the evidence of climate change is fine in front of us,” Viviane Kruel said.
Amazon formation and appreciation – According to the organizers, the course, lectures and field visits reinforce the importance of scientific formation combined with environmental preservation and the valorization of traditional knowledge. “For IFAC students, the experience represented not only direct contact with field techniques, but also understanding the relevance of sociobiodiversity documentation for the conservation of the Amazon,” concluded Rosana Cavalcante.
(With information and photos of the event organizers)
