Event organized by USP, Fapesp, and the National Museum of Natural History of France was a part of the France-Brazil Season 2025
The National Museum of Natural History of France (MNHN), the São Paulo Research Foundation (Fapesp), and USP held the meeting Forests, Biodiversity, and Human Societies in São Paulo. The event is part of the France–Brazil Season 2025, a joint program of cultural, scientific, and academic activities organized by both countries to celebrate 200 years of diplomatic relations.
The meeting aimed to discuss forest biodiversity, ecosystems, and their relationship with human societies, with a focus on strengthening scientific and cultural cooperation between Brazil and France. The event brought together scientists, public officials, museum professionals, students, and representatives of civil society in conferences, roundtables, and debates, as well as institutional visits. The role of museums was also a central theme throughout the discussions.
The opening session took place at the Fapesp Auditorium on Wednesday, October 1, with the participation of the Foundation’s president, Marco Antonio Zago; USP’s Provost, Maria Arminda do Nascimento Arruda; MNHN’s president, Gilles Bloch; the Consul General of France in São Paulo, Alexandra Mias; and several Brazilian and French authorities.
“Natural history museums trace their origins to the 17th century, when plants, animals, and artifacts from different continents were collected and sent to European centers to supply the famous cabinets of curiosities of the nobility. Many of these cabinets eventually became the great biological and ethnological collections that gave rise to emblematic museums such as the National Museum of Natural History in Paris and the British Museum in London. Given this background, it is not surprising that this model of knowledge production and communication was later criticized for its structural ties to colonialism. Nevertheless, these museums continue to play a central role in education and research,” recalled Maria Arminda.
She also commented on the project currently underway for USP’s future Museum Square, which will bring together collections from the Museum of Zoology (MZ) and the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (MAE). “In Brazil, natural history museums are closely linked to the emergence of scientific research in the country. The University of São Paulo holds unique museological, scientific, and cultural collections—among the largest in the world. We are committed to our museums and these collections, and that is why we are building a new space, with a remarkable design by renowned architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha. This new museum will be a landmark for the entire city, for Brazil, and for the world,” said Maria Arminda.
Marco Antonio Zago highlighted the importance of forest areas for scientific development: “Approximately four million square kilometers of our country – an area corresponding to about 40% of Europe’s size – are covered by the Amazon Rainforest. But this immense forest also extends into French territory, in French Guiana. Thus, we Brazilians and French share responsibility for this forest, one of the largest biodiversity reserves on the planet. Its fate may well determine the fate of humanity,” he said.
“Scientific interest in this region is increasingly shifting from a focus on the characteristics of the biome—its role in the climate and its biodiversity—to an understanding centered on the relationship between the forest and humans. Humans and the forest form an inseparable pair that has shaped the region’s history since time immemorial, and this relationship is not limited to the past. On the contrary, it is alive and continues to shape the present and future of the forest. More than 20 million Amazonians live among rivers, streams, forests, and mountains, but also in large metropolitan areas, with hundreds of Indigenous groups sharing a complex and diverse territory. It is easy to understand the scientific interest in this, but it is also clear that science can serve as the foundation for more rational decisions and public policies aimed at preservation with sustainability—based on models created by our own science, not by the replication of foreign ones,” Zago added.
Gilles Bloch emphasized that “the environmental challenges shared by France and Brazil are extremely serious, and the MNHN is deeply committed to addressing these issues with determination. This forum is highly ambitious and strengthens the long-standing collaboration between the MNHN and USP. All the agreements we are celebrating during this visit are a great honor for us and will facilitate the implementation of joint actions within a networked framework. During the past few days, I had the opportunity to visit the MZ and MAE, and I was deeply impressed by what I saw. The collections are extraordinary treasures, and their researchers and technical staff are passionate people with a true vocation for nature and its preservation,” he said.
Panels and debates
The program for the first two days, which was open to the public, began with two lectures: one by Professor Carlos Augusto da Silva, from the Federal University of Amazonas (Ufam), on the forest and human presence in ancient and contemporary Amazonia; and another by researcher Jane Lecomte, from the National Museum of Natural History of France (MNHN), on preservation and coexistence with forest ecosystems.
Silva presented the concept of “human fingerprints” in the Amazon – subtle traces of coexistence between humans and the forest throughout different periods. These traces, he explained, reveal how each component of the ecosystem plays a role in what he describes as “environmental services carried out in a network.” Understanding these roles, he argued, is key to achieving harmony between humans and nature and ensuring environmental preservation.
Lecomte’s lecture focused on the dynamic variations among different types of forests and the importance of integrating the wealth of local knowledge from each ecosystem to gain a deeper understanding of how these environments function — and to increase awareness of our interdependence with nature.
The next session presented the outcomes of the roundtables held in Paris in June, during the first part of the France–Brazil Season program.
In the afternoon, introductory sessions addressed Brazil–France scientific exchanges on the study of forests and their peoples, followed by a roundtable on scientific cooperation between French Guiana and Brazil, with participation from researchers from Brazilian universities, the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), and the MNHN.
The second day opened with lectures on forest socio-biodiversity and the challenges posed by global changes to biodiversity conservation. Brazilian and French researchers discussed topics such as environmental monitoring, climate risks, and conservation strategies. In the afternoon, the program featured a lecture on Amazonian biocultural knowledge and cultural and biological diversity, followed by a roundtable on cultural relations between humans and forests. Participants included specialists in psychology, archaeology, biology, and anthropology, as well as representatives of Indigenous communities, such as the Guarani people from Aldeia Jaraguá.
Institutional meetings
In addition to the public program, parallel meetings were held between scientists, leaders, and members of Brazilian and French research groups to exchange experiences and strengthen the continuity of the cooperation initiated in Paris.
On September 30, Gilles Bloch was received by President Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior at the President’s Office. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Provost for Cultural and Extension Affairs Hussam El Dine Zaher, and by the directors of the Museum of Zoology (MZ), Luís Fábio Silveira, and the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (MAE), Eduardo Góes Neves, along with several other leaders and delegation members. On that occasion, the group shared experiences on the management of scientific museums, with special emphasis on challenges related to collection management and public engagement.
The President of USP, Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior, highlighted the Museum Square project and the importance of integrating the collections that will occupy the new space. “Each of these heritages, on its own, is already immense. There are millions of items. And their importance goes beyond the numerical aspect, as these are collections of immeasurable scientific and historical value. Bringing them together in a shared physical space will foster connection among researchers and further stimulate collaboration and innovation,” he explained.
On the evening of October 1, following the day’s activities at Fapesp, a memorandum of understanding was signed at the Consulate General of France in São Paulo between the MNHN, Museum of Zoology (MZ), and Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (MAE). The document establishes the expansion of academic, scientific, and cultural collaboration among the institutions.
The areas of cooperation include the development of joint research projects, the exchange of researchers and students, the organization of academic and cultural events, and initiatives for the preservation and promotion of collections. The memorandum also provides for joint exhibitions and scientific outreach activities for the general public.
On October 3, forum participants met again at the President’s Office and took part in a series of debates and exchanges of experiences on topics such as mobility programs and research funding. Representatives from museums, universities, and diplomatic institutions shared successful examples of collaboration and networking, as well as proposals for new joint initiatives. The delegations’ program concluded with a technical visit to the Butantan Institute, where the group was welcomed by the institute’s director, Esper Kallás.
English version: Nexus Traduções, edited by Denis Pacheco
