João Paulo Ribeiro Capobianco,

João Paulo Ribeiro Capobianco – Biologist and environmentalist. He is specialized in Environmental Education at the University of Brasília.

Mr. Capobianco  was one of the founders and the first president of the Association to Protect Juréia, which developed the campaign to create the Ecological Station of Juréia-Itatins, in the State of São Paulo, established in January 1985. Later, in 1986, he participated in the creation of the SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation, where he acted as superintendent for the period 1988 to 1994.

He was one of the founders of the Brazilian Forum of NGOs and Social Movements in preparation for the 1992 Rio Summit, being its executive secretary from 1989 to 1983. During this period he was designated civil society representative at the Interministerial Preparatory Commission for the Rio Summit and in the Official Brazilian Delegation to the event.

In 1992, he took part in the creation of the Atlantic Forest NGOs Network, and was elected its National Coordinator for eight consecutive years, from its creation until 2000. 

In 1994, he participated in the creation of the Instituto Socioambiental (Socioenvironmental Institute), becoming its executive secretary, program coordinator and director until January 2003.

He was, also, member of the State Environment Council of São Paulo (1991-1995); of the Coordinating Commission of the National Biological Diversity Program (PRONABIO), of the Ministry of the Environment (1995-2002); of the Interministerial Preparatory Commission for Rio+10 (2001-2002); of the International Advisory Group (IAG) of the Pilot Program to Preserve Brazilian Rain Forests (2002); of the World Commission on Protected Areas – Region Brazil, of the IUCN; and of the Consultative Council of the Ethos Institute of Business and Social Responsibility.

In the field of deepening the knowledge on the issues of Brazilian forests and biodiversity, Capobianco has been developing several projects involving surveys, mapping, and information organization. He has published several technical and scientific papers, in addition to several articles and interviews in Brazil’s leading printed press.

He has been the Secretary for Biodiversity and Forests of the Ministry of the Environment of Brazil since 2003.