VIRGILIO VIANA

Expert in Amazonia, in climate change, forest and agroforestry management, environmental conservation, certification and sustainable development. He graduated in forestry engineering at the Luiz de Queiroz High School (ESALQ-USP), has a postdoctoral degree in Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University and has completed postdoctoral studies in sustainable development at the University of Florida. He was a professor at the Faculty of Forest Sciences of ESALQ / USP (1989-2009), with dozens of books and hundreds of articles published in Brazil and abroad.

He has participated in the structuring of the Center for International Research (CIFOR), the Institute of Ecological Research (IPE), the Terra Institute and also the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (FUNBIO). He was president of the Brazilian Society of Ethnobiology and Ethnoecology (SBEE), Paulista Association of Forest Engineers (APAEF), and vice president of the Brazilian Association of Secretaries of State for the Environment (ABEMA). In 2003, he became the first Secretary of State for the Environment and Sustainable Development of the Amazon. In this role (2003-2008), he coordinated the design and implementation of the Sustainable Development Program “Green Free Zone” of the Bolsa Floresta program and the first Brazilian Climate Change Law. During this period, deforestation was reduced by 70% and the State’s protected areas increased by more than 135% (creation of 12 million hectares).

He is currently the general superintendent of the Sustainable Amazon Foundation (FAS). The FAS operates in the development and implementation of solutions for sustainable development in 581 communities located in 16 protected areas. In addition, the FAS implements a payment program for environmental services (Bolsa Floresta) and develops the REDD + program (including the Juma Project), education and public health program, and the international cooperation program (including SDSN) with support from 118 partners.