Science for
the conservation
and sustainable
use of biodiversity

Who we are

Relva is an institute that builds bridges between science and decision‑making to support the conservation and sustainable use of tropical biodiversity.

With a team of scientists, policy specialists, and communicators, we produce robust knowledge and engage in strategic arenas so that, in the face of urgent global challenges and crises, decisions can increasingly be grounded in evidence.

Based in Brazil, Relva is a private, independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit organization.

Mission

To conserve tropical biodiversity and promote its importance by generating, consolidating, and disseminating applied scientific knowledge, and by engaging in technical and political arenas to strengthen society’s interest in and capacity for the conservation and sustainable use of nature.

Values

Innovative and interdisciplinary knowledge production:

investigating topics at the frontier of scientific understanding and seeking solutions to challenges in biodiversity and ecosystem services through the integration of multiple disciplines, overcoming conceptual and methodological barriers, and advancing on complex issues.

Open science:

producing research grounded in open access to publications, data, source code, and public engagement, increasing the visibility and impact of scientific work and fostering integration across diverse data platforms.

Transparency:

actively and accessibly sharing information about the institution’s objectives and operations, the projects undertaken, and the data and information generated.

Independence:

ensuring technical, decision‑making, and operational autonomy, guided by the institute’s mission and supported by a clear governance structure.

Collaborative approach:

prioritizing the collective development of proposals and solutions, combining diverse areas of knowledge and individual expertise, and establishing partnerships as a standard mode of action.

Commitment to Brazilian and tropical science:

valuing partnerships and collaborations with institutions in Brazil and across the tropical belt, promoting the transfer and consolidation of knowledge within Global South institutions.

Recognition of Indigenous Peoples’ and Traditional Communities’ sciences:

fostering active listening, dialogue, collaboration, and respect, seeking to broaden the participation of other knowledge systems in conventional scientific and decision‑making processes.

Promotion of social well‑being:

producing science and implementing actions focused on improving quality of life, generating income, and ensuring the fair distribution of benefits arising from the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

Strategic Pillars

Environmental Monitoring
and Intelligence

Water–Food–Energy
Nexus

Socioeconomic Benefits
of Biodiversity

Intercultural Sciences
and Dialogues

The origins of Relva

The Relva initiative emerged from an effort to promote the importance of tropical biodiversity in its many dimensions, positioning Brazil as a leader in this field. The first steps were taken in 2024 through a pilot project supported by the Serrapilheira Institute, involving experts in hydrology, biodiversity, ecology, mathematics, climate science, archaeology, anthropology, public policy, economics, and communication.

This work resulted in the creation of the Kapé Platform, which quantifies environmental services related to water, biodiversity, and carbon, initially focusing on the Brazilian Amazon. The tool is in the final stages of development and will be publicly launched soon.

Data analysis also led to the publication of a technical report demonstrating that the preservation of Indigenous Lands is essential for water and food security across much of Brazil.

Biodiversity conservation and sustainable use

are at the heart of Brazil’s natural vocation. The country is home to unparalleled landscapes and forms of life, from the Amazon and Cerrado to the Caatinga, Pantanal, Pampa, and Atlantic Forest, as well as a vast marine and coastal heritage that plays a vital role in global climate stability.

Biodiversity conservation and sustainable use

can strengthen the stability and resilience of productive systems in a changing climate, serving as drivers of sustainable economic development rather than constraints on growth.

Biodiversity conservation and sustainable use

depend on the knowledge, stewardship, and leadership of Indigenous Peoples, Quilombola communities, and other traditional communities. Their meaningful participation is a non-negotiable condition for lasting solutions.

Biodiversity conservation and sustainable use

remain underrepresented in political and economic decision-making, despite their strategic importance for enhancing well-being, generating income, and supporting long-term prosperity.

Biodiversity conservation and sustainable use

require closing critical gaps in the generation, integration, and dissemination of knowledge. While significant knowledge already exists, it must be better connected, communicated, and translated into impact.

Team

Direction

Hugo Aguilaniu - Chief Executive Officer
Marina Hirota - Scientific Director
Gabriel Lui - Policy Director

Science

Marina Hirota

Scientific Director

Tayara Tavares

Operations Associate

Caio Mattos

Scientific Coordinator

Luis Cattelan

Researcher

Maria Luiza Busato

Researcher

Geiziane Tessarolo

Scientific Coordinator

Iago Simões

Researcher

André Junqueira

Scientific Coordinator

Paulo Bernardino

Scientific Coordinator

Policy

Gabriel Lui

Policy Director

Kamila Borges

Policy Coordinator

Carolina del Lama

Policy Coordinator

Communications

Ana Beatriz Siqueira

Communications Coordinator

Larissa Noguchi

Communications Specialist

Administration

Joel Amaral

Administrative Manager

Administrative and Finance Team

This team provides administrative and financial support to Relva’s executive leadership and is integrated with Brasil Warrant (BWSA), an investment management company.

Luciana Varella

Director of Administration and Finance

Murilo Ricci

Administrative and Finance Manager

André Cardoso

Financial Analyst

Carlos Paixão

Financial Analyst

Carlos Araújo

Legal Lead

Vitória Ribeiro

Administrative and Finance Intern

Victor Cruz

Information Technology and Information Security Lead

Gabriel Viana

Information Technology and Information Security Specialist

Board of Directors

Eduardo Góes Neves

Chair

Thelma Krug

Vice Chair

Ane Alencar

Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board, currently being established

Beto Verissimo

Luiz Orenstein

Pedro Wongtschowski

Tereza Campello