Introducción:

Observed annually on September 21, Tree Day is more than just a symbolic date on the environmental calendar. It serves as a powerful reminder of the vital role trees play in sustaining life on Earth: they produce oxygen, regulate the climate, provide habitats for biodiversity, protect the soil, and offer essential resources for human survival.

Each year, thousands of hectares of forest are lost in Brazil, threatening entire ecosystems and putting countless plant and animal species at risk. Commemorating Tree Day also means acknowledging this environmental crisis and promoting concrete actions—from tree planting initiatives to the development and enforcement of public conservation policies.

Institutions such as the Amazon Museum (Musa) play a crucial role in this ongoing effort, helping to raise awareness and mobilize society toward protecting one of the planet’s most vital natural assets.

Entrevista:
Mário Rocha, Communications Coordinator at the Museum of the Amazon (MUSA)

Producción ejecutiva:
Juliana Fontes

Interno:
Fernanda Soares

Editing and Finalization:
Alexandre Almeida

Produced by:
Agencia Amazonas

Duración:
06'09"
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**Guion**
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AUDIO TRACK (OPENING)

"Tree Day is extremely important, and there's no better time to talk a bit about Musa (Museum of the Amazon). After all, we are in the largest tropical rainforest area on the planet, right inside the Amazon rainforest."

AUDIO TRACK

"Here, there are approximately more than 1,200 cataloged tree species. This represents the greatest biodiversity per square meter on planet Earth."

AUDIO TRACK

- Mário Rocha, Communications Coordinator at the Museum of the Amazon – MUSA
"We always try to highlight both the positive and negative impacts that just one tree can have. It’s not just about breathing; it’s about air quality, livability, soil quality, and social well-being. So we always try to promote environmental education here so we can carry this message forward."

AUDIO TRACK

"We are located in a region of the planet near the tropics, so the heat here is a bit stronger. The presence of trees helps reduce the temperature, making us feel more comfortable. Besides that, they are sources of food, protection, and hold immense cultural knowledge through our traditional peoples."

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"The red angelim is one of the most abundant trees in the Amazon rainforest. One interesting fact I can share is that in 2009, a red angelim tree was found in the state of Acre measuring 88 meters tall. That makes it the third tallest tree in the world within the tropics. This tree has an incredibly long lifespan — it can live up to a thousand years. It's called red angelim or ‘stone angelim’ because its heartwood — the inner part — is so dense that it becomes as hard as a rock. This tree is known as the 'queen tree' because it dominates a certain environment as far as its fibrous roots can reach, and it spontaneously nourishes the other trees around it. In other words, it controls a specific ecosystem. So, its importance for the survival of other trees within a given area is truly significant."

AUDIO TRACK

"The main way to ensure preservation is through awareness. After all, a tree like this can live 500, 600, even 700 years — that’s a long time to reach maturity. And in just a matter of seconds, it can be cut down. So, we need to be conscious that this tree is important not just for us humans but for the entire biota it supports."

AUDIO TRACK

"Musa (Museum of the Amazon) is a very young institution, only 16 years old. We are located in a very interesting area where the city of Manaus ends, and the Amazon rainforest begins. It’s a striking contrast. You’re here in the forest, and just across the street you see a concrete jungle. Here, we try to work with education, awareness, and especially teaching, in the best way possible. It’s like the work of ants — slow but persistent. Day after day, we try to reach as many people as possible to share the idea that we need green spaces in as many places as we can."

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"We’re located in the Adolpho Ducke forest reserve. It’s an area that measures 10 km by 10 km — a giant square within the city of Manaus. That’s approximately one-sixth the size of the city. And Musa is just a small fragment of that — an area of 2,000 m by 500 m."

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"How many trees are actually here? We don’t have an exact estimate — it’s almost impossible to catalog everything. But we do have an estimate for the number of tree species in the Ducke Reserve — around 1,200 species. The Amazon is extremely rich because it is so abundant in quantity. That is, you have species A, and there are countless specimens of that same species. That abundance is what makes this forest so vast."

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"The purpose of the observation tower is to give you a different perspective. Down here, at ground level, it’s very common for us to observe trees from the bottom up. But on the tower, you’ll do the opposite. You’ll be able to observe the trees from the top down. And then you’ll see a green ocean — many shades of green, because there are many different species."

AUDIO TRACK

"Our observation tower has only been around for 10 years. It’s 42 meters tall, with 242 steps. That’s equivalent to a 14-story building. The climb is worth the effort. It also has a unique feature: it’s divided into three levels — 14, 28, and 42 meters. At each level, you can view a different part of the forest. And from the top, you’re above the canopy, where you’ll feel a truly wonderful breeze."

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"From one side, you see the Amazon rainforest. And when you look to the other side, you see the city of Manaus. It’s a powerful contrast between human urban development and the Amazon rainforest — something natural that has been here for a very long time."

- Mário Rocha, Communications Coordinator at the Museum of the Amazon – MUSA
"Today, when we reflect on the forest, we always think about how much it is shrinking. This is a place where we try to see, in the harshest reality possible, just how important the forest is. Past generations had this experience, we’re having it now, and unfortunately, future generations will experience the shrinking of the Amazon. We urgently need to develop awareness around the preservation of trees. Because, after all, we have a long future ahead of us."

FINAL AUDIO TRACK