Pedro Brancalion, from USP’s “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture (Esalq), develops viable, inclusive, and scalable forest restoration approaches applied to the Atlantic Forest and other tropical regions
.
Professor and researcher Pedro Henrique Santin Brancalion, from the Department of Forest Sciences at USP’s “Luiz de Queiroz” College of Agriculture (Esalq), was one of the recipients of the 2025 Theodore M. Sperry Award. The honor recognizes individuals or organizations that have made significant and lasting contributions to the advancement of ecological restoration science. The award was presented during the 11th World Conference on Ecological Restoration (SER2025), organized by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) and held from September 30 to October 4 in Denver, United States.
According to Brancalion, the award highlights the excellence of the work being carried out at Esalq and in Brazil. “Through a broad collaborative network, we have developed impactful solutions that contribute both to achieving national environmental goals and to advancing the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. I am grateful to everyone who contributed to this achievement and who continues to work hard with me toward a better world,” said the professor.
The conference, themed “Turning Restoration Commitments into Action,” recognized researchers for developing new methods, techniques, tools, or strategies for restoration, as well as for innovative approaches to engaging the public in restoration efforts.
Brancalion is the first Brazilian to receive this distinction. His work stands out for its focus on tropical forest restoration, with the development of economically viable, socially inclusive, and scalable strategies aimed at the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and other tropical regions. He employs innovative methods to reestablish native vegetation, finance large-scale restoration projects, and monitor outcomes that benefit both ecosystems and local communities.
“Working at such a broad scale, with experimental plots of one hectare and restoration targets reaching millions of hectares, provides a concrete response to the magnitude of the ecological crises we face. His work has earned tremendous respect and admiration from his peers,” said Keith MacCallum, SER Program Coordinator, who described Brancalion’s work with the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact as both inspiring and ambitious.
Adapted from a text by Alicia Nascimento Aguiar, Esalq Communication Division
English version: Nexus Traduções, edited by Denis Pacheco
