Challenges for biodiversity conservation facing climate changes, pollution, land use and occupation (PDIp)

Abstract

The Plan of Research Development presented by the Institute of Botany (PDIP-IBt) aims, through advanced technical-scientific studies, to evaluate the impact of anthropic actions and climate changes on urban and peri-urban forests, in order to propose and/or validate predictive models for the biodiversity conservation and restoration of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems of the State of São Paulo. To achieve this goal, the IBt needs to promote greater integration of its technical staff, modernize its institutional infrastructure and increase its capacity for technological innovation, as well as invest in human resources training. The reference area selected for the study is the São Paulo Green Belt Biosphere Reserve (RBCV-SP), reconized by UNESCO in 1993 and of great importance for the State of São Paulo because it includes remnants of Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, urban natural parks, state reserves, ecological stations, areas of protection of freshwater and wildlife and urban areas. The proposal foresees the accomplishment of observational and experimental diagnoses, in two scales (ecosystems/communities; populations/species), focusing on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems present in RBCV-SP. The results obtained in the observational diagnoses will support the experimental studies, and the obtained results will support the proposition/validation of predictive models of changes in the biodiversity facing environmental stressors associated to the land use and occupation, to give support to proposed actions for education and public communication of science. The results will also contribute to actions related to public policies of the State Secretary for the Environment, helping to establish parameters to facilitate planning, evaluation, monitoring and environmental licensing. They will also provide subsidies to the municipalities of São Paulo in the fulfillment of biodiversity conservation plans of the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado, in the actions of recovery of springs and environment and in the actions of environmental education. The PDIP-IBt also aims to increase our capacity for cooperation with other research institutions and companies, sharing human, and infrastructure resources, as well as obtaining new sources of financial support, in line with the priorities of the state and national policies of science, technology and innovation. Ali these actions will be made possible by the effective fulfillment of the goals proposed for the IBt Center for Technological innovation. Thus, PDIP-IBt is aligned with the government's demand for modernization of the research infrastructure for Science and Technology of the São Paulo State, the new federal and state Science, Technology and Innovation policies, which aim to stimulate development of research, scientific capacity-building and technological innovation. (AU)