The project “Amazon Revisited” was a study of the effects of climate change and human factors in the regions Campina and Campinarana Amazonica. I was excited and scared about it at the same time.

The Project was divided into three parts.

1.       Study of the impact of climate change and human factors in Campina and Campinarana, by comparing the situation now to when I previously visited in 2009 (also supported by an ASBA Artist Grant).

2.      Teaching botanical art to the local community, teenagers and adults in the Amazon forest (My original idea was only a children’s class, but the demand was great among young people and adults.)

3.      Paint a lifesize watercolor of the enormous leaf of a newly identified tree, Coccoloba gigantifolia, measuring 250 x 144 cm (8 x 5 feet). 

1.       To study the impact of climate change and human factors

To study the effects of climate change and human factors in Campina and Campinarana, I revisited five places to register the species previously found in the same location in 2009, to evaluate the ecological changes occurring in the last 14 years.

·      Science grove. Amazonian Research Institute

·      Ducke Reserve - Primary Forest reserve, which extends over 100 km2 on the outskirts of the city of Manaus, where the Musa - Amazonian Museum and the Amazonic Botanic Garden are also located.

·      Campina Reserve - Located on Podzolic soil, and representative of the area of influence of the Rio Negro with a type of plant formation that differs significantly from imposing Amazonian forests.

·      Presidente Figueiredo region - Located about a three-hour drive from the city of Manaus.

·      Amazon Ecopark - Located on the edges of the Tarumã River, a tributary of the Rio Negro, surrounded by Campina, Campinarana and the Amazon Forest.

During the field work the rain was stronger and more frequent than in 2009, but despite that I managed to accomplish what I had planned. From 20 species I had found in 2009, I found 18, plus several others not seen before. The species that I could not find again occur in a place that was impossible to visit in 2023.

Some challenges had to be overcome. I did not have the biologist Dr. Carlos Ferreira who had accompanied me in all the field work on the first project in 2009. He had recently suffered two strokes and unfortunately passed way in September 2023. I had no local guides available to help in the field work; I had to make marks in the sand in the Campina Reserve so that I would not get lost on the way back!  

The main threats found in the study areas caused by human factors were: Cut bush, deforestation, pollution, fire and trash left by tourists. The main effect caused by climate change has been the amount, intensity and timing of rainfall in the Amazon River and tributaries changed over the years. The highest water measurements are taken in the port of Manaus. In the last twelve years, there have been six of the ten biggest floods in recorded history. Among the main risks to Campina and Campinarana are the human activity that contributes to ecosystems vulnerability, and wood, charcoal and sand exploitation, and also the rainfall pattern. My conclusions are neither too good nor very bad. Climate change is a fact, but at the same time especially when it comes to the Amazon, awareness has changed and several initiatives have been taken. Society has been changing its perception regarding the importance of preserving ecosystems, especially among the younger people. We have to believe that every small change makes a difference!

2.      Teaching botanical art to the local community

I gave three all day classes, including children (most came with their parents who also attended the classes), teenagers and adults. The youngest child was eight months old and the oldest adult was an 80 year old woman, who had attended the first workshop 14 years ago and had liked it so much that she wanted to do it again. The classes were taken near INPA - National Institute for Amazonian Research and the Amazonian Museum - Adolpho Ducke Reserve. All classes were planned to be held outdoors in the forest, but again the weather showed its signs of changing, there were strong storms, so we had to run some classes indoors when it rained and in the field only when the rain stopped. In the end, everything worked out wonderfully.

 At the beginning of each class I asked the students to make a short presentation, talking a little about themselves and what brought them to the illustration workshop. During classes, in addition to teaching related to illustration and its role in valuing flora, we discussed the richness and importance of preserving the environment and respect for all world and Amazonian biodiversity. Everyone was involved and curious to learn about botanical ilustration and work with the plants in the middle of the forest. Concentration, inspiration and beautiful works were the result. One of the most emotional moments of the workshop was when the whole class was walking on the forest trail in the Ducke Reserve in search of plants to illustrate and started singing in 'Kokama', their native language.

Here are some beautiful testimonials from the workshop students:

·      I’m the teacher Laura Kokana from the Center of Science and Traditional Knowledge Kokana “Green Moon” from the village of Kokana in Manaus. My students and I are grateful for the opportunity to participate in this workshop, because we love nature and art.  It was a privilege to observe every detail with an artistic eye and transfer what we observed to paper.

·      I'm Priscila Cordeiro de Oliveira. My family and I come from the Brasilheirinho branch of the Project Água Branca, which borders the Igarapé Forest. We had already participated as a family in the Project Art and  School in the Forest with a teacher of the Kokana language, Nora, and it was through her that we received the invitation to the botanical illustration workshop. As my children like to draw things from nature, we accepted the invitation and came as a family to participate in the course.

·      My name is Aldenice. I am from the Baré ethnic group. I was born in the interior of Santa Izabel on the Rio Negro upper Amazon. My native language is Kokana. I am 34 years old and raise four children alone. I have completed high school and I am waiting the result of public notice from the Federal University of Amazon for an indigenous vacancy in the Pedagogy University.

·      My name is Nora Harlischwirth. I work with my husband in our Project Art and School in the Forest in the agroforestry training center of the Amazon Museum, in the Água Branca settlement, in the ecological corridor. We work with “PANCs” Unconventional Edible Plants, agroforestry systems and participatory agriculture with a collective of artists, farmers and teachers.  We work with food safety and technical assistance. I came with an invitation from Isabella from the Amazon Museum, who has already helped us to plant many trees. We came with our dear neighbors who always participate in our activities. I loved the class and the observations. Teacher Alice, come back to Manaus always!

Before showing my project results at the ASBA Conference in Mobile in October 2023, I gave a lecture about botanical illustration and conservation held at a elementary public school in the interior of Rio de Janeiro State, where I had studied as a child. I talked about the Project, botanical illustration, preservation, ecological awareness and small but important actions that everyone can incorporate into their daily lives. One of my objectives in the lecture was to show that despite the few opportunities they have in a public school, they must believe in their ability and fight to achieve their dreams and goals in life.

3.      To paint a lifesize watercolour of the Coccoloba gigantifolia

The last part of the project was for me to paint a life-size watercolor of the enormous leaf of a newly identified tree, Coccoloba gigantifolia measuring 250 x 144 cm, (8 x 5 feet), described by Dr. Carlos Ferreira in 2019. It is in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest leaf of Dicotyledons in the world. Collecting the huge Coccoloba gigantifolia leaf for the watercolor studies and references was very challenging due to the height of the tree, but I was able to count on the support and help of the entire staff and research team of the Amazon Research Institute. To paint the big leaf, I joined two canvas panels and attached a three meter sheet of Saunders paper on the panel!