Brazil (Part VIII, English version) - Convention on Biological Diversity

First national report for the <strong>Convention</strong> on Biological Diversity - BRAZILThe Co-ordination of Studies and Research(Coordenadoria de Estudos e Pesquisas) has four laboratoriesto support the research programmes:The Nursery (Horto Florestal) produces seedlings of ornamentalplants, palm trees and fruit trees, with specialemphasis on threatened species. It also serves as a supportlaboratory for programmes and research projects on ex situconservation and the cultivation of exemplars sent in by theprogrammes. In addition, it offers technical guidance for therecovery of degraded areas and urban tree-planting,maintains interchange with similar institutions, and sellsseedlings to the public.The Seed Laboratory (Laboratório de Sementes) supportsinstitutional programmes carrying out research on seedecophysiology. It includes a Seed Bank for, on average, 150tree species stocked in the short term, collected from the Riode Janeiro Botanical Gardens Arboretum (JBRJ) and protectedareas. Seed stocks are exchanged with a number of similarinstitutions, both in <strong>Brazil</strong> and abroad through the IndexSeminum.The Laboratory of Plant Anatomy (Laboratório de AnatomiaVegetal) supports research programmes and projects,preparing permanent slides of plant and wood anatomy, usingboth optical and scanning electron microscopes. It is theonly laboratory in the state of Rio de Janeiro which has a(xylotheca) of wood samples from <strong>Brazil</strong> and abroad.The Geoprocessing Laboratory (Laboratório deGeoprocessamento) plans, executes, evaluates, and mapsvegetation surveys using remote sensing and geoprocessingtechniques in collaboration with floristic survey projects.The Arboretum occupies an area of 67 ha (67,000 m²), andhouses native and non-native species of inestimablescientific value including plants from a number of <strong>Brazil</strong>ianecosystems (Amazonia, tropical forest, Cerrado and Caatinga)and non-<strong>Brazil</strong>ian species (Asian and Mexican flora). Inall, the arboretum contains some 8,200 species and 40,000specimens (July 1993) and six hothouses (Cactus,Insectivorous Plants, Orchidarium, Medicinal Plants andBromeliarium). The area cultivated extends into a forest reserveof 147.06 ha, adjacent to the Tijuca National Park.The Co-ordination of Cultural Activities (Coordenadoriade Extensão Cultural) plans, co-ordinates and executeseducational activities and environmental interpretation, andpublicises the Institute’s activities and research. There areeight components as follows.The Environmental Education Programme, the objectiveof which is to change behaviour and attitudes towardsenvironmental questions. This programme has two Projects:The ´Knowing Our Botanic Garden´ Project (Projeto ´ConhecendoNosso Jardim´): this gives specific guidance toteachers of the full educational potential available for schoolvisits the Arboretum. The ´Basic Route´, the first phase ofwhich has already been set-up, trains teachers ofkindergartens, primary and secondary schools. As they aretaken round the huge hothouses of the Arboretum theyreceive information on plant species, the history of theinstitution, and the regulations for public use, along withhints as to how to maintain the children’s attention. A videotape is available (´Stories of the Botanical Gardens´) and abooklet ´Notebook l- Basic Route´ produced by the Nucleusfor Environmental Education. The training programme alsostimulates the teacher to develop environmental educationalactivities, suited to the level of the classes they work with.The teachers receive a certificate which allows them toprogram school outings.The “Teaching Laboratory” Project (Projeto ´LaboratórioDidático´) offers schoolchildren space to develop educationaland creative games in natural history for the discussion ofideas and experimentation. Educational activities aredeveloped, based on a particular theme and presented in theappropriate environment with a children’s book on thesubject. They include: making up stories, looking at botanicalmaterial, painting and artistic activities, educational games,and the use of videotapes and books from the library. Openairactivities are also encouraged, such as the observation ofplants and specimens, workshops for recycling and re-usingmaterials, and other activities which increase the awarenessof the children.The Environmental Interpretation Programme provides fora dynamic communication between the natural and culturalresources of the Arboretum and its public; its educationalcontent enriches public visitation and stresses theimportance of the conservation of the Botanical Gardens,and consequently, conservation of the environment as awhole. It includes the following components: InterpretativeSigns Project (Projeto ´Placas Interpretativas Itinerantes´)help the visitor to identify and know the important naturaland cultural resources available in the Arboretum, whichdiffer in the four seasons of the year. The Visitors’ CentreProject (Projeto ´Centro de Visitantes´) offers the visitor animmediate broad view of the natural and cultural resourcesavailable in the Arboretum. The ´Data Bank´ Project (Projeto´Banco de Dados´) identifies and describes elements ofsignificant natural and cultural interest in the Arboretum, inlanguage appropriate to the various target audiences. The´Guided Visit´ Project (Projeto ´Visitação Guiada´) trainsuniversity students and also poor children as guides on thenatural and cultural resources of the Arboretum.123