2026 Environment Week

In celebration of World Environment Day on June 5, the Western Pará Environmental Research Program (POPA) held the second edition of Environment Week, an outreach initiative aimed at communities located near the program’s permanent research plots.

The activities took place on June 8, 10, 15, and 19, 2026, at schools in the Alter do Chão and Eixo Forte Environmental Protection Areas (APAs). Participating in the program were the Borari Indigenous School, the Sagrado Coração de Jesus School, the Helena Mafra School, and the Boaventura Queiroz School.

The event included the participation of researchers from laboratories at the Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA) affiliated with POPA. Educational activities were conducted, along with exhibitions of teaching materials and specimens from biological collections.

The initiative aimed to bring knowledge production closer to society, promoting environmental education and the appreciation of biodiversity. It serves as an important way to give back to the community the results of research conducted in the region, while also inspiring children and adolescents to engage in scientific inquiry. In this way, knowledge returns to the community from which it originated and can be generated by those who are part of it.

The activities involved children, teenagers, family members, and teachers, fostering opportunities for the exchange of knowledge. During the event, many participants noted that they were already familiar with some of the plants and animals on display.

Among the accounts, Adriana, the mother of a student at Helena Mafra School, said that her son was fascinated by the animals during the exhibition and now says he wants to become a biologist.

Lourdes Mara Pimentel Ribeiro, principal of Sagrado Coração de Jesus School, highlighted the importance of the initiative for the students:

“This event is very important for the school because it helps the children learn more about our wildlife. They were very interested, as these are experiences that aren’t part of their everyday school life, and I’m sure this moment will remain etched in their memories forever.”

Teacher Zenilda Mafra, from Helena Mafra School, emphasized that:

“This project’s activities in schools make learning much more engaging for our children and also help them appreciate the biodiversity we have in our Amazon rainforest. This will help awaken their desire to learn about and care for our environment through conservation.”

We thank everyone who made the 2nd Environment Week possible: our partner schools, teachers, students, participating laboratories, and the entire organizing and support team.