Brazilian geography, an indeed geography globally, has lost one of its most influential thinkers: Professor Ariovaldo Umbelino de Oliveira passed away on August 2nd, in São Paulo, Brazil. A towering figure in academia, he shaped the minds of over a hundred doctoral and master’s students, leaving an indelible mark on geographic scholarship. I was privileged to have him as my advisor throughout my undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies. From him, I learned two enduring lessons: the irreplaceable value of fieldwork and the necessity of critical, emancipatory theory in geographic research.
Ariovaldo emerged as a pioneer in agrarian geography, dedicating his career to understanding peasant territories and playing a key role in shaping Brazil’s 2003 National Agrarian Reform Plan. His groundbreaking works on peasant agriculture, land rent, the Amazon, and the theory of Agrarian Geography remain foundational texts. Among his many contributions was Brazil’s first critical geography thesis (1979), “Contribution to the Study of Agrarian Geography: Critique of Von Thünen’s Isolated State,” which challenged conventional paradigms.
A revered educator, Ariovaldo taught at the University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo State University (UNESP), the Federal University of Tocantins (UFT), and the Federal University of Goiás (UFG), where he helped strengthen graduate programs in geography. He was also the founder of the International Symposium on Agrarian Geography (SINGA), ensuring his intellectual legacy endures.
Though he is no longer with us, his ideas remain a living force in geographic thought, inspiring generations to come.
Bernardo Mançano Fernandes – Vice President of the International Geographical Union – IGU
