Welcoming at Utinga State Park marks the beginning of Ideflor-Bio's Volunteering Program

The Institute for Forest Development and Biodiversity of Pará (Ideflor-Bio) welcomed the first participants of the Utinga State Park Volunteering Program on Monday (1st) in Belém. The meeting took place in the auditorium of the Park's Reception Center and brought together the president of the agency, Nilson Pinto, the manager of the Administrative Region of Belém, Júlio Meyer, the technical team, and the selected volunteers to join the initiative.

During the program, the president of Ideflor-Bio highlighted the importance of societal engagement in strengthening the management of conservation units and thanked the volunteers for their willingness to collaborate with the Park. He also emphasized that the initiative represents an opportunity for learning and practical experience for the participants, aligning academic knowledge with socio-environmental commitment.

“This program is born to create bridges between public management and civil society, offering volunteers the chance to learn, collaborate, and transform. Utinga State Park is just the beginning. Soon, we will expand the experience to other conservation units in Pará,” said Nilson Pinto.

Sophia Borges was one of the selected volunteers to join the program. For her, participating in this activity represents a unique opportunity to combine academic knowledge and socio-environmental practice, directly contributing to the conservation of one of the main natural heritage sites of the Metropolitan Region of Belém.

“Being a volunteer at Utinga State Park is more than an experience; it is a commitment to nature and future generations. Environmental education is a powerful tool to awaken in people the care and respect for Amazonian biodiversity, and I am very happy to contribute to ensuring that this message reaches every visitor, especially students, who are the protagonists of the transformation we want to see in the world,” she emphasized.

Action - Focusing on environmental education and public use, volunteers will directly assist visitors, especially public school students, developing activities to raise awareness about the importance of Amazonian biodiversity. The action foresees the integration of different areas of training, such as biology, pedagogy, tourism, and natural sciences, promoting dialogues and educational practices aimed at environmental conservation.

The manager of the Administrative Region of Belém at Ideflor-Bio, Júlio Meyer, reinforced that the experience will be enriching for both the participants and the management of the park. Additionally, the conservation unit was recently considered one of the most sought after and visited in Brazil and also plays an essential role in climate regulation and water supply for the Metropolitan Region of Belém.

“With the implementation of the Volunteering Program, Ideflor-Bio reinforces its commitment to environmental education and increases societal participation in the preservation of this natural heritage. Each volunteer will be a multiplier of care for the environment, helping to convey the message of preservation to thousands of people who visit Utinga every year,” he stressed.

Period - This first stage of the program will take place from September 2025 to September 2026. The schedule will be organized according to the availability of the volunteers, occurring in the morning or afternoon shifts, from Monday to Friday. At the end, all will receive a participation certificate issued by Ideflor-Bio, officially recognizing the experience.

Among the prerequisites for joining the program are basic knowledge about ecosystems, biodiversity, sustainability, impacts, and environmental legislation. Interested individuals were evaluated based on a curriculum analysis, considering academic training, previous experiences, and participation in courses or projects related to environmental themes.