Augusto Ruschi

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Augusto Ruschi (December 12, 1915 — June 3, 1986) was a Brazilian agronomist, ecologist, and naturalist.^[1][2]

Ruschi was interested in the study of plants and animals since childhood, allowing him to know in depth several branches of biology, becoming a respected specialist in hummingbirds and orchids in Brazil. He was a Full Professor at UFRJ and a researcher at the National Museum, however, his technical-scientific production has been challenged by current experts. By virtue of his research, he also left a large collection of photographs and produced numerous scientific drawings. He helped fight pests in agriculture, establish several ecological reserves, such as the Caparaó National Park, and spread the word about the wonders of nature. He set up two scientific institutions, namely: the Professor Mello Leitão Biology Museum and the Ruschi Marine Biology Station.

He was a controversial figure, active and notorious defender of the environment, he was involved in several public disputes with companies and authorities for environmental preservation, highlighting the conflict with the Governor of Espírito Santo, Élcio Álvares, in 1977, regarding the installation of a palm heart factory in the . He was also a pioneer in combating deforestation in the Amazon and anticipated the harmful effects of monocultural eucalyptus plantations and the use of pesticides, among other contemporary environmental problems.

His remarkable contribution to environmentalism and to the sciences, expressed in his actions and in his more than 400 articles and more than 20 scientific books, was consecrated through the respect he earned among scholars of his time and the many honors he received during his lifetime. and posthumously. In 1994, through federal law, he was granted the title of Patron of Ecology in Brazil, being also one of the world icons of environmental protection. However, in recent years his methods and conclusions have raised criticism, being accused of fraud and plagiarism.

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