Amazon – Together,
We Make a Difference.
fazemos a diferença
What is Vale’s role in research and the bioeconomy in the Amazon? 
da floresta

Singer Gaby Amarantos and photographer Bob Wolfenson reflect on time as a transformative element of the forest. Accompanied by Tereza Giannini, a researcher at the Vale Technological Institute, they visit a cacao plantation that has thrived for over 120 years.

Vale has been present in the Amazon for over four decades—learning, conducting research, and contributing to its preservation. We invest in scientific studies such as those on cacao pollinators and their impact on sustaining agroforestry systems—one of the projects led by Tereza. Understanding the rhythms of the forest is one of the key paths to preserving this vital ecosystem.

Making a difference for the Amazon — together. That’s what Vale is about.

Discover more stories

Pessoas da Floresta
Por dentro da floresta
Bob Wolfenson
2025
Forest Cassava
Forest  Science
The Brazil Nut Tree 
Forest Mead 
Teaser - Gaby & Bob
Tereza Giannini
Researcher at the Vale Institute of Technology (ITV), she leads studies that deepen our understanding of the various elements that make up the natural capital of a standing forest and how these resources provide essential benefits to humanity. She is a biologist.
Suelen Cruz
Suelen Cruz, a forestry engineer at Vale and a graduate of UFRA, works on the Amazon Endangered Species Reforestation Project. With daily dedication to our forests, she contributes directly to environmental preservation and has devoted her life to sustainability.
Paulo Reis
Paulo Reis is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Manioca, a company that values Amazon’s biodiversity. He is also the president of Assobio (Amazon Sociobioeconomy Business Association), an initiative supported by Fundo Vale.
Ana Lídia Zoni
Ana Lídia Zoni, a production engineer and founder of Hidromel Uruçum da Amazônia, leads a company that produces beverages made from the honey of native bees. With her knowledge and cultural background, she enriches our project by helping to highlight the value of local biodiversity.
Ana Prudente
Ana Prudente, a renowned zoologist and herpetologist, is a specialist in reptiles and amphibians. She currently works as curator at the Emílio Goeldi Paraense Museum and collaborates with Vale's Institute of Technology. As the protagonist of one of the remarkable stories we share, she inspires others with her knowledge and dedication to science.
André Noronha
Holding a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Strategic Management and Innovation Ecosystems, he is the coordinator of Jornada Amazônia, a program that fosters local entrepreneurship based on the standing forest, strengthening the bioeconomy of the Brazilian Amazon. The program is supported by Fundo Vale.
Gilberto Nobumasa
Engineer and founder of Paraoil, a company participating in the Jornada Amazônia (Amazon Journey) program. Paraoil’s mission is to create value from Amazon raw materials that have so far been underutilized or wasted, with a focus on cooperation with local communities and companies to develop a sustainable cycle using innovation and technology. The company supplies natural oils and butters sustainably extracted from cupuaçu, cocoa, and passion fruit, produced by small farmers and cooperatives.
Our Characters

Tereza Giannini

Researcher at the Vale Institute of Technology (ITV), she leads studies that deepen our understanding of the various elements that make up the natural capital of a standing forest and how these resources provide essential benefits to humanity. She is a biologist.
Her work focuses on ecological interactions, with an emphasis on species that provide ecosystem services such as pollination and seed dispersal, as well as pollination for agriculture and food production. She also works on the restoration of ecological interactions, the valuation of ecosystem services, and the potential impact of climate change on these services.
Ana Prudente, a renowned zoologist and herpetologist, is a specialist in reptiles and amphibians. She currently works as curator at the Emílio Goeldi Paraense Museum and collaborates with Vale's Institute of Technology. As the protagonist of one of the remarkable stories we share, she inspires others with her knowledge and dedication to science.
Gilberto Nobumasa
Engineer and founder of Paraoil, a company participating in the Jornada Amazônia (Amazon Journey) program. Paraoil’s mission is to create value from Amazon raw materials that have so far been underutilized or wasted, with a focus on cooperation with local communities and companies to develop a sustainable cycle using innovation and technology. The company supplies natural oils and butters sustainably extracted from cupuaçu, cocoa, and passion fruit, produced by small farmers and cooperatives.
André Noronha
Holding a Master’s degree in Business Administration with a focus on Strategic Management and Innovation Ecosystems, he is the coordinator of Jornada Amazônia, a program that fosters local entrepreneurship based on the standing forest, strengthening the bioeconomy of the Brazilian Amazon. The program is supported by Fundo Vale.
Suelen Cruz
Suelen Cruz, a forestry engineer at Vale and a graduate of UFRA, works on the Amazon Endangered Species Reforestation Project. With daily dedication to our forests, she contributes directly to environmental preservation and has devoted her life to sustainability.
Paulo Reis
Paulo Reis is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Manioca, a company that values Amazon’s biodiversity. He is also the president of Assobio (Amazon Sociobioeconomy Business Association), an initiative supported by Fundo Vale.
Ana Lídia Zoni
Ana Lídia Zoni, a production engineer and founder of Hidromel Uruçum da Amazônia, leads a company that produces beverages made from the honey of native bees. With her knowledge and cultural background, she enriches our project by helping to highlight the value of local biodiversity.
Ana Prudente
Ana Prudente, a renowned zoologist and herpetologist, is a specialist in reptiles and amphibians. She currently works as curator at the Emílio Goeldi Paraense Museum and collaborates with Vale's Institute of Technology. As the protagonist of one of the remarkable stories we share, she inspires others with her knowledge and dedication to science.
Nossos guias
Gaby
Amarantos
Gaby Amarantos is a singer and TV host from the state of Pará, with over 20 years of career. She has become one of the leading figures in technobrega music. Gaby gained national recognition with her authentic style and has expanded her presence into television and social activism. Throughout her journey, she has established herself as a representative of the music and culture of northern Brazil, always emphasizing her roots and championing social causes. 
Bob
Wolfenson

Bob Wolfenson is one of Brazil’s most influential photographers, with more than 50 years of career. Known for the versatility of his work, he moves fluidly between fashion, advertising, and personal projects, including portraiture and documentary photography. 

His sensitivity and precision have led to collaborations with major publications and exhibitions in galleries and museums both in Brazil and abroad, making him a reference in contemporary Brazilian photography. 

Photo Gallery
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