Conservação da natureza e modernização agrícola nos prefácios de O Fazendeiro do Brasil, de Frei José Mariano da Conceição Veloso (1798-1806)

Abstract

The aim of this article is to discuss the need of of conservation of nature of de Portuguese America, poited out by Friar José Mariano da Conceição Veloso in the prefaces written for the work O Fazendeiro do Brasil, between 1798 and 1806. We will first comment on the education and the trajectory of Veloso, in Portuguese America and in Portugal. Next, we will link the activities of Veloso to the colonial policy of the Minister D. Rodrigo de Sousa Coutinho, specially from the formation of the publisher of the Arco do Cego (1799-1801). These items areintended to provide subsidies into the understanding of Veloso’s ideas on nature conservation, which is part of his proposal to modernize agricultural practices in Portuguese America.