Virtual Café – Role of field stations in conservation efforts

Event Time is 11 am-12 pm Eastern Daylight Time

Via Zoom

Biological field stations play a multifaceted role in advancing ecological research and conservation efforts. Field stations provide researchers access to diverse ecosystems, essential infrastructure, and logistical support, enabling them to conduct field studies, long-term monitoring, and experiments. Field stations serve as educational hubs, offering training programs, workshops, and field courses for students and professionals. They provide hands-on learning experiences and foster a deeper understanding of ecology and environmental science. They generate valuable data on biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, and environmental change, which inform conservation policies and management strategies. Finally, field stations often engage with local communities, fostering partnerships and promoting environmental awareness.  By facilitating research and education, field stations contribute to conservation efforts. Although the relevance of field stations for conservation efforts is undeniable, balancing research and conservation priorities can be challenging.

Some of the kinds of issues/questions that will be addressed include:

• How do biological field stations balance their research and conservation priorities?
• Are these research and conservation needs complementary?

Meet the Panelist: Professor Ricardo Solar

Professor of Ecology at the Department of Genetics, Ecology and Evolution at the Federal University of Minas Gerais, and Center for Ecological Synthesis and Conservation (CSEC-UFMG) member. Ricardo‘s research is mainly focused on Community Ecology, his scientific objective is to understand the main causes and consequences of the dynamics and maintenance of biodiversity in environments modified by human activity, with a focus on Tropical environments. Ricardo has been doing research in reserves and conservation units, frequently national parks.

“My work shares a symbiotic relationship with biological field stations, drawing upon their crucial role in facilitating data collection and fostering a deeper understanding of ecosystems. Field stations serve as invaluable hubs for ecological research, offering infrastructure, logistical support, and a conducive environment for scientific inquiry. In my case, as a researcher primarily focused on field data collection, my connection to biological field stations is fundamental. These stations provide essential resources and access to diverse ecosystems, including the Serra do Cipó, Furnas, and various urban green areas. These environments serve as living laboratories, where I can directly observe and gather data on ecological processes, species interactions, and environmental dynamics. Finally, I try to make my collaboration with biological field stations beyond data collection. It involves engaging with local communities, sharing knowledge, and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship. Through outreach programs and educational initiatives hosted by these stations, I have the opportunity to bridge the gap between scientific research and public awareness, promoting conservation values and sustainable practices.?