This document discusses a project to raise awareness of below-ground biological diversity through educational outreach. The project involves developing publications in multiple languages about soil biodiversity and its importance. These publications have been distributed to schools and indigenous communities. The project aims to educate both the scientific community and general public on soil biodiversity and its role in ecosystem services like plant productivity and nutrient cycling. It highlights the work of various scientists studying different aspects of soil biodiversity, from microbes to insects to fungi. The ultimate goals are to increase understanding of soil biodiversity's complex roles and foster its conservation through informed stewardship.

1. 5/27/2010
Portuguese, Spanish and English version for downloading
www.biosbrasil.ufla.br www.dcs.ufla.br
Launching at the regional meeting of
Brazilian Society for
The Progress of Science
The objective of this project is to enhance March 2009, Tabatinga
awareness, knowledge and understanding of below‐
.
ground biological diversity (BGBD), important to ..
Whom?
scientific community (also capacity building: future
scientists) ‐Papers, chapters, books, etc.
scientists) Papers chapters books etc
Who will conserve biodiversity in practice? Also launched at XXXII Brazilian Congress
Society in general of Soil Science, August 2 ‐7, 2009,
Fortaleza.
Science must be “translated” to society
It was distributed in all schools of
the benchmark area and in schools
p
of other Municipalities: free.
Booklet being distributed in the indigenous
Communities of the benchmark area
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2. 5/27/2010
Climate
SOIL
Plant productivity
Physical Management: e.g. no tillage
Physical attributes
Ph i l tt ib t
Chemical Atributtes
Biological attributes
Boy and girl‐ children curiosity, like the stimuli and motivation of science,
regardless gender.
BGBD conservation
Chemical Management: e.g fertilizers, lime
Biological Management: e.g. inoculants
Complex, heterogeneous & dinamic
Elaine C.C. Fidalgo‐ remote sensing and
Ieda Amaral‐ Botany
geoprocessing
Hiroshi Noda‐ Agronomy
Mauricio R. Coelho‐ pedology
Ronald Zanetti – Entomology‐ ants
Julio N.C. Louzada‐ Entomology‐beetles
Reginaldo Constantino and Agno N.S. Acioli‐ Entomology‐termites
Sonia S. Alfaia‐ soil fertility, nutrient cycling
Soil processes: organic matter decomposition, dung removal, soil pedoturbation
secondary seed dispersion and biological control
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3. 5/27/2010
José Wellington de Morais‐ mesofauna
Juvenil E. Cares‐ nematologist
Neliton Marques‐ entomologist/
Fruit flies
Alcides Moino‐Jr‐ Microbiogical
Control of insects
Ludwig Pfenning‐ Mycology –phytopathogenic fungi
José O. Siqueira and Sidney Stürmer‐ Microbiology‐ mycorrhizal fungi
– Gosh!! It is really important to know about biodiversity. The
soil organisms are true super heroes!
– They truly are, Curumim. Now, the ones you watch on
television doing amazing things are make believe. That is all
special effects. In nature, the activities of the organisms are
real and they help the plants, the ecosystems, such as the Valuating BGBD
forest, and
us, the human beings, to exist. This is why we have to help
preserve them and let them keep working.
Curumim, Cunhantã, and the other kids asked all at the same
time:
– Can we also help the biodiversity??
– Of course, you can. You can learn more about it, as you have
done today. This is the first step. Who knows there are future
Fatima M S Moreira scientists among you who will help to do that? The next steps
Microbiology
Microbiology‐ symbiotic are to preserve the biodiversity, as you already do here to
p y, y y
some extent, and to use it to our benefit, but always respecting
Nitrogen fixing bacteria nature.
The kids got up all excited and said:
– We’re going to get started right away.
Mother earth and father sky smiled in their own way, very
happily.
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4. 5/27/2010
The booklet is not only about soil
Biodiversity, it is also about human
y
diversity and how these
Scientist stereotype biodiversities can help each other.
Credibility.
Next step: evaluate the impact on
society awareness by interviewing
teachers and students of schools
that received the booklet
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