Ecological Station of the Federal University of Minas Gerais

The Ecological Station of the Federal University of Minas Gerais is a 114 hectare protected research area on the Pampulha campus that preserves semi-deciduous forest and cerrado vegetation. The grounds contain laboratories and outdoor study areas where students and researchers from multiple fields conduct investigations into local ecosystems.

The site began as the Dalva farm and a boys' home, but transformed into a protected ecological research area through a 1988 agreement with Belo Horizonte city government. This conversion to scientific use became the mechanism for permanently safeguarding the forest landscape.

The station maintains extensive research programs involving undergraduate and graduate students across multiple disciplines, from biological sciences to environmental management.

Access is via Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627 on the Pampulha campus, where you can explore the buildings and forest trails. Since the grounds function primarily as a working research facility, check beforehand whether guided visits or open access times are available.

Despite its urban location, the grounds shelter roughly 150 bird species including toucans and tanagers, alongside mammals like capybaras and black-tufted marmosets. This wildlife diversity makes it a surprisingly valuable refuge for animals in the heart of the city.

Location: Belo Horizonte

Inception: 1988

Address: Avenida Antônio Carlos 6627, Campus Pampulha, Pampulha, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG

Email: eeco@reitoria.ufmg.br

Website: http://ufmg.br/estacaoecologica

GPS coordinates: -19.88736,-43.97369

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:47