Biologist from Mangal das Garças to be honored as Professional of the Year at the V Seamas Congress

The biologist Basílio Guerreiro, technical manager of the Zoobotanical Park Mangal das Garças, a space managed by the Social Organization Pará 2000 in Belém, has been chosen as Biologist of the Year and will be honored during the V Seamas Congress: Amazon Week on Wildlife, which will take place from October 1 to 4 in Ananindeua.

For Guerreiro, the recognition gains even more significance at this moment. "It is a great satisfaction to receive the honor and recognition of Biologist of the Year by Seamas, especially since it is the year of the COP in Belém, as the organization of the event will address very relevant topics such as environmental disasters and their consequences for environmental conservation and, consequently, the impacts on wildlife," he emphasizes.

Graduated in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Basílio Guerreiro holds a postgraduate degree in Environmental Management and Sustainable Development from the International University Center and is a doctoral candidate in the Animal Science Graduate Program at UFPA. Throughout his career, he has worked as a teacher in both public and private networks, coordinated the More Education Program of the Federal Government (2011–2016), and accumulated experience in the fields of Zoology and Ecology, with an emphasis on mammals. He is currently an environmental analyst at Semas-PA, an environmental project consultant, co-author of the book Butterflies of Brazil, and works on the butterfly project at the Science Center of Luanda, Angola.

At Mangal das Garças, Basílio is directly involved in the management and reproduction of birds and lepidopterans, strengthening projects that unite research, conservation, and environmental education. The biologist's work reflects the commitment of the Social Organization Pará 2000, responsible for managing the park, to promote initiatives that value Amazonian biodiversity and bring the population closer to science and environmental preservation.

Located on the banks of the Guamá River, Mangal das Garças is considered one of the main postcards of Belém. In addition to housing various Amazonian species, the space is the stage for actions that integrate tourism, culture, and conservation, establishing itself as a reference for environmental and educational initiatives in the region.

In addition to honoring professionals like Guerreiro, the V Seamas Congress will focus on Environmental Disasters: Impacts on Health and Conservation of Wildlife in the Amazon. For the biologist, this debate is urgent and needs to be expanded. "These discussions can change the way science is done and how the environment is treated with a more holistic view, as scientific production has become increasingly compartmentalized into boxes of knowledge areas. It is almost impossible today to address the damages caused by imbalance without listening to the stakeholders, such as the communities that suffer directly," he emphasizes.

With a diverse program, the congress will bring together specialists from various fields, featuring lectures, mini-courses, scientific paper presentations, and moments of integration. Guerreiro emphasizes that the event will also be a space to propose sustainable pathways. "It is important to discuss the social, environmental, economic, and political aspects to make progress on goals and resolutions, presenting project proposals with the development of the circular economy and the sustainable management of natural resources," he concludes.

Text: Beatriz Santos/Ascom OS Pará 2000