Rita Mesquita

Rita Mesquita is a distinguished environmental scientist and policy expert who has dedicated over 40 years to Amazon conservation and research. After graduating in Biological Sciences from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, she joined the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA) in 1985, where she has made significant contributions to forest ecology and conservation. Her academic credentials include a Master's in Biology (Ecology) from INPA and a PhD in Ecosystem Ecology from the University of Georgia. Throughout her career, she has held several influential positions, including coordinator of the Professional Master's Program in Protected Areas Management in the Amazon, technical director of the Museum of the Amazon (MUSA), and head of outreach at INPA since 2017. Her research has focused on forest regeneration, climate change impacts, and the development of environmental policies, including pioneering work on equations for calculating emissions from degraded forests. In 2023, she was appointed Secretary of the National Secretariat of Biodiversity, Forests and Animal Rights at Brazil's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, where she oversees critical departments including forest management, animal rights protection, biodiversity conservation, and protected areas. Her expertise extends to science communication and public engagement, having led significant initiatives at the Manaus Botanical Garden and developed innovative approaches to environmental education and scientific outreach during the pandemic era.