RESUMO
Comments are made about Brazil's rich biological patrimony, the value of which is still impossible to be appraised in a judicious manner. We are dealing with a highly valuable unknown and, for this very reason, still not utilised in a rational manner. The most extremely serious aspect, however, is the destruction that has for centuries affected the natural ecosystems and their respective wild biotas, even before their being scientifically better know. The importance of utilising this natural patrimony is emphasised, as well as the native domestic races of plants and animals that have been molded for centuries by Brazilian environmental conditions, and that nowadays represent valuable genetic material for agronomic and zootechnical research. The conference ends with remarks about the imbalance and environmental disasters, as well as the destruction of biodiversity, that have occurred in the Northeast of Brazil due mainly to the massive and irresponsible forestal devastation in the region.