Rio's Botanical Garden celebrates 207 years

Listed among the locations that won Rio de Janeiro a UNESCO World Heritage status in 2012, the city's Botanical Garden celebrated 207 years of its creation on Saturday (June 13) with a special program. Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira, environmentalists, supporters and business people who support the park management all attended the party.

The commemorative events included the official visitor opening of a studio that restores works by Mestre Valentim, one of the leading artists in Brazil's colonial period. Four of his sculptures dating back to 1785 are being restored as part of a project to protect the cultural heritage of the park and the celebrations of Rio's 450th anniversary. Minister Izabella Teixeira mentioned the collaborations from individuals and corporations in restoring the Botanical Garden and thanked the Borges Torrealba and Aranha families who support a revamp of the local orchid house and sandbank native plant greenhouse.

“Later this year we'll be opening a new sensory garden and new greenhouses. For this project, we rely on a partnership with the Council for the Sustainable Development of the Botanical Garden. They're the people who support us in this public-private management model and help us in our ambition to pursue new partnerships, whether for funding, communication or mobilization,” the minister said.

Another highlight according to the minister was a project to establish the park area, which is close to completing its legal proceedings with the notarial registration with the National Heritage Secretariat. Regarding the eviction of families living in the park area, which was officially demarcated as a 140-hectare area in 2013, the minister said it is a lengthy process with no deadlines set.

“It's a long process, which will be conducted calmly, respecting people's rights. The most important thing is that we are doing everything in accordance with the law. This management model also applies to the Tijuca National Park. It is important to seek dialogue with the local residents,” she said.

The celebrations included a big, 657-piece cake – the number is a combination of the 207th anniversary of the park and the 450th anniversary of the city. Actors dressed as King John VI, founder of the Botanical Garden, and his wife Carlota Joaquina, led the Happy Anniversary sing-along and guided visitors around the park's historic landmarks.

Translated by Mayra Borges