Focused on strengthening the scientific basis for the conservation of Carajás flora, the project establishes taxonomic, ecological, and evolutionary parameters for endemic, rare, and/or threatened plant species, supporting environmental monitoring, management, mitigation, and compensation processes in mining influence areas. Activities include describing new species in strategic regions, resolving taxonomic issues, and characterizing key species morphologically, with an assessment of the impacts on their reproduction and persistence. Expected outcomes include generating technical data to support decision-making, improving conservation strategies, and supporting the development of management plans, as well as future restoration and plant translocation projects.
Biosystematics and evolution of critical plants
Parauapebas-PA
Research Group
Biodiversity and Environmental Solutions
Area of activity
Biodiversidade
Vigência
Jan2026 to Dec2028
Coordinator
Maurício Watanabe
PhD in Biological Sciences
Researchers
PhD in Biology
PhD in Plant Biology
Maurício Watanabe
PhD in Biological Sciences
Maurício Watanabe holds a PhD and a master’s degree in Science (Botany) from the University of São Paulo (USP), and a teaching degree (Licenciatura) in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) (2005). He completed a sandwich doctorate at the Field Museum of Natural History. As a researcher at ITV DS, Watanabe focuses on taxonomy, systematics, molecular phylogeny, and morphometry, especially in the Eriocaulaceae family.
Docente em
Graduate studies
Professional Master’s Degree in Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Tropical
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Plant Endemism and Distribution
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Biosystematics and evolution of critical plants
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PVA – Population Viability Analyses Applied to the Conservation and Management of Endemic and Threatened Species
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Rare, endemic, and threatened plants of the Carajás FLONA
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Valéria Tavares
PhD in Biology
Valéria Tavares holds a PhD in Biology (Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics) from the City University of New York / American Museum of Natural History (CUNY/AMNH), a master’s degree in Ecology, Conservation and Wildlife Management from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), and a bachelor’s degree in Zoology from the same university.
As a full researcher at ITV DS, she leads the Biodiversity and Environmental Solutions group. A lecturer and advisor in graduate programs at various institutions, she has experience in phylogenetic systematics, taxonomy, mastozoology, ecology, and conservation, with a focus on bats (Chiroptera), geographic diversity, faunal monitoring, and community ecology analyses.
Docente em
Graduate studies
Professional Master’s Degree in Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Tropical
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Systematic Reviews and Evaluation of Target Taxa in Licensing Processes
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Santelmo Vasconcelos
PhD in Plant Biology
Santelmo Vasconcelos holds a PhD in Plant Biology, a master’s degree in Genetics, and a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, all from the Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE). He completed internships at the Missouri Botanical Garden and the Royal Botanic Gardens (Kew). He has been a researcher at ITV DS since 2015, with experience in genetics, molecular biology, metagenomics, phylogenetic systematics, and genomic evolution, focusing on vascular plants and cave-dwelling invertebrates from the Amazon.
Docente em
Graduate studies
Professional Master’s Degree in Sustainable Use of Natural Resources in Tropical
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Biosystematics and evolution of critical plants
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Rare, endemic, and threatened plants of the Carajás FLONA
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Social and Environmental Business
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