Giving Nature a Voice: Professor Áureo Banhos — Teaching to Save Lives for Conservation!
- Leonardo Merçon
- Jul 15
- 4 min read
In the Atlantic Forest of Espírito Santo, between roadkill on highways and nests high up in the trees, one researcher stands out for his tireless passion: training people and protecting endangered species.
This is the story of Professor Áureo Banhos — a partner I deeply admire and who has inspired me for over a decade.
A Friendship Rooted in Conservation
The best friendships don't always begin with a smile. Sometimes, they start with potential conflict. That’s how I met Professor Áureo Banhos — a public servant, professor at the Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), biologist, and PhD in Genetics, Conservation, and Evolutionary Biology.
Back in 2013, we were both committed to the same challenge: reducing the alarming number of wild animals killed on the roads near the Sooretama Biological Reserve.
I was focused on awareness and communication, hoping to install road signs to alert drivers. He, as a researcher, was working on a similar initiative, grounded in road ecology studies.
Instead of competing, we picked up the phone and talked. That’s when a partnership — and a friendship — was born. One that has grown stronger with time and causes.
Since then, we've joined forces. We managed to install warning signs, raised awareness in national media, and highlighted the issue. While he was training a new generation of researchers at UFES, I contributed powerful images and communication strategies. And our joint effort made a real impact. It still does!
In the Treetops
Life brought us back together years later, now under the canopy of giant trees. Professor Áureo is also the coordinator of the Atlantic Forest Harpy Project, which operates throughout the biome — especially in Espírito Santo, Bahia, and Minas Gerais.
Since 2017, I’ve had the honor of being part of this mission to study, protect, and tell the story of the Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) — the most powerful eagle in the world.
We’ve had many field trips — long hikes, heat, rain, and endless waiting. I’ve seen Áureo face every challenge with the enthusiasm of someone driven by purpose. He enters the forest with the spark of someone who truly believes it’s not too late.
I’ve seen him develop impressive conservation strategies — from engineering solutions in collaboration with UFES engineers to carrying heavy gear through dense forest terrain.
And always, with special care for training new researchers to continue his legacy of dedication to nature.
I witnessed the mapping of new nests, the tagging of eagles with transmitters to track their movements — all based on science and deep respect for nature.
Few people understand what it means to carry dozens of pounds of equipment on your back for hours, to monitor trees taller than buildings, or to spend days in silence just to better understand the cycle of a threatened species.
All of this while facing mosquitoes, ticks, heat, rain, mud, far from home and family. Only those with a truly meaningful purpose can endure that.
Multiplying Voices
But perhaps Áureo's most important contribution goes beyond research. He is, above all, a teacher. A mentor. One of those professors who doesn't just accumulate knowledge — he actively shares it and cultivates new leaders. People genuinely committed to biodiversity conservation.
Áureo Banhos teaching about wildlife roadkill using animals collected from highways | Photo: Leonardo Merçon/Instituto Últimos Refúgios
I’ve seen how closely he follows his students’ journeys, the attention he gives to young scientists. Many of the leading conservationists working in Espírito Santo today — and even beyond — were mentored by him.
I myself have learned a lot from him — and continue to. It was Professor Áureo who encouraged me to pursue a path that transformed my approach to conservation: he suggested I enroll in the professional master’s program in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development at IPÊ/ESCAS.
That decision broadened my perspective, opened doors, and deepened my understanding of conservation — a turning point in my journey. I owe much of that to Áureo’s generous, guiding vision, always focused on empowering those around him
Áureo Banhos during an action plan meeting for Harpy Eagle conservation | Photo: Leonardo Merçon/Instituto Últimos Refúgios
A Tree That Teaches and Blooms Every Day
Some people are like the trees where Harpy Eagles build their nests. They grow deep roots, support other lives, and stand tall even when the wind blows hardest. That’s how I see Professor Áureo Banhos.
If Espírito Santo is now a reference in road ecology and Harpy Eagle conservation, much of that is thanks to his work and the team he built.
And if I can help more people learn about and value that work, I’m already happy.
Watching Áureo in the field — with a backpack, out-of-the-box ideas, and a heart fully committed — is like attending a masterclass in ethics, science, and love for nature.
Nature needs more defenders like him. And the future needs more professors like him.
May his story inspire new generations to fall in love with science, the forest, and life itself.
Get Involved
Learn more about the work of Professor Áureo Banhos and his team: 🔗 Instagram – @aureobanhos
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Hope you enjoyed this story. See you on the next adventure!
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