The next “Free General Studies”, promoted by the Manuel Viegas Guerreiro Foundation, will take place this Saturday, July 15th, starting at 18 pm, in Querença, and will discuss “The World of Insects”.
The “Free Class” will be given by Maria Rosa Paiva, full professor of ecology, DCEA (Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering), NOVA FCT, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, and researcher at CENSE (Research Center for Environment and Sustainability).
The lecture is entitled “Insects: Environmental Engineers and life support on Earth” and will highlight the importance of these living beings, which make up more than half of the species with which we share the Earth, protagonists of pollination, biological control of pests and diseases , decomposition, soil formation, water purification and food for other living beings.
«We found that almost all types of environments were colonized by insects, from the human body to caves, from lake systems to soil, fungi, plants, animals and even sewage pipes. In each type of habitat, Insects perform specialized functions, like engineers of the environment, thus ensuring the continuity of life on the planet», assures Maria Rosa Paiva.
A 2020 United Nations report estimates that more than a million species are in danger of extinction in the coming decades. With regard to insects, some studies carried out in the more developed regions, Europe and the United States, point to very substantial declines in their abundance.
The debate around the severe decline in biodiversity will be moderated by José Carlos Fernandes, environmental engineer.
«The decline in insect populations is of concern to those who are aware of the role they play in natural ecosystems, but it should also worry those who tend to see them only as pests to be exterminated, since the vitality of agriculture also depends on them» , it says.
On the other hand, funding for research and conservation of insects by countries such as Germany, Sweden, Costa Rica and the United States increases. On the other hand, there is a greater number of initiatives promoted by civil society that raise awareness of this scourge, trying to center the world of insects in their daily lives.
The Querença initiative will feature a large-scale artistic exhibition of insects. 'Arthropod' has the signature of photographer Vítor Martins.
«Insects, gifted with ingenious adaptations, are displayed here through brilliant examples of color and shape, almost impossible to imagine», he says.
The photographer highlights the exhibition's options: «these photographs bring us a little closer to these animals, elevated by the lens as well as by the artistic graphics, where we can discover rarely observed details».
'Artrópode' debuts the 'Manuel Gomes Guerreiro Eco-Botanical Route' (PEB-MGG) as an exhibition space, fulfilling its cultural dimension. As in the 'in situ' garden, recently inaugurated by General António Ramalho Eanes, we will also be able to observe these images at the Foundation's headquarters and in the village.
After the lecture and debate around the theme, Vítor Aleixo, mayor of Loulé, closed the session. This is followed by the inauguration of the exhibition consisting of 20 macro images, on display in the Foundation's library, in the “Centro de Estudos Algarvios Luís Guerreiro”, in the village of Querença and in the PEB-MGG.
This will be the third “Free Class”, after the reactivation of Free General Studies at the 4th International Literary Festival of Querença, promoted by the Foundation in 2019. The first guest was Francisca Van Dunem, magistrate and, at the time, Minister of Justice.
The 2nd Class took place after the pandemic, in partnership with the José Saramago Foundation, on the centenary of the birth of the Portuguese Nobel Prize in Literature. Both “classes”, by the former minister and Pilar del Río, are available in paper form at FMVG.
This initiative has the support of the Algarve Regional Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Loulé City Council and the Parishes Union of Querença, Tôr and Benafim.
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