Virgilio Mauricio Viana

Director General of the Sustainable Amazon Foundation (FAS)

Virgilio Mauricio Viana is Director General of the Sustainable Amazon Foundation (FAS), which works in the development and implementation of sustainable development solutions in 581 communities located in 16 State protected areas. Prof. Viana is an expert in Amazon, climate change, forest and agroforestry management, environmental conservation, certification and sustainable development. In 2003, he became the first Secretary for the Environment and Sustainable Development of State of Amazonas (2003-2008). As a State secretary, he coordinated the process of designing and implementing the Sustainable Development Program “Zona Franca Verde”, the Bolsa Floresta Program and the first Brazilian Law on Climate Change. Prof. Viana holds a PhD in evolutionary biology from Harvard University and post-doc in sustainable development at University of Florida.