Brazilian towns launch medicinal garden and biodiversity expo for children

The municipal park in São José, Brazil, opened a new Medicinal Garden on 3 May. The garden features more than 200 seedlings of around 20 medicinal plant species and was inaugurated by students, teachers, municipal staff and local residents. Children explored the beds, presented research on plants such as marcela and learned about the links between traditional herbal knowledge, health and environmental stewardship.

In Petrópolis, Brazil, the second ExpoBio biodiversity exhibition took place at Parque Cremerie on 29‑30 May, drawing over 3,000 visitors. The two‑day event offered workshops on planting, natural‑pigment painting, health screenings, cultural performances and educational talks with partners including Fiocruz, ICMBio, UN‑Habitat and local scout groups. More than 500 tree seedlings were distributed and planted, reinforcing community involvement in urban greening and sustainable practices.