Background

I have always been interested in biodiversity, especially after having spent two years at the OPNA (Observatory of natural resources of the Auvergne at Clermont-Ferrand, France , where I worked as a botanist and cartographer of biotopes in threatened areas ( ZNIEFF, Natura 2000).

Later I worked in Bavaria, for a German company which is specialized in the sale of organic essential oil, Primavera-life. I was the export manager. After some very formative years, I decided to study the world of plants again, and to live out my passion for travelling.

Being a graduate agronomist  from ENSA Toulouse (National Institute of Agronomy : Graduate School of Life Science of Toulouse) i specialized in cartography of biotopes in Bonn (Germany). I have spent the last 7 years roaming several regions of Latin America and Asia in order to discover nature and collect data about the use of the seeds. Discoveries like those have enlarged my knowledge in botany, but the most important for me was to live that very old connection between seeds and the human race: protection, nutrition, decoration, entertainment…

It is a different history of the world, one of attentive men, fascinated by plants which I try to rewrite in my book “Des Graines et des Hommes” ( “Of seeds and men”).

As I am convinced that we are able to protect biodiversity when we help people get to know and come to love its fruit, I have put together a database of information about fruits and seeds. Through lectures, workshops for children and expositions, I offer the discovery of a fascinating and little known world.

Ever an artist, every year I present a small collection of botanical jewellery and ornaments that I have hand made out of the most astonishing seeds and fruits which I collected on my different voyages. At first seduced by the sale of factory made objects of these precious seeds, kernels and stones, I quickly changed to my personal production after an encouraging meeting with the gourmet botanist Francois Couplan.

Publications :
R. Dufayard, 1994 - Forêts et valeur patrimoniale en Midi-Pyrénées : une étude dans le cadre de l'AREMIP, ENSAT Toulouse
Pététin A., G. Thébaud ; R. Dufayard, 1996.- Etude botanique et phytosociologique de 8 tourbières des monts du Forez (...), Clermont-Ferrand
Frain et al., 1997 - Diagnostic et cartographie de l'intéret biologique et des milieux des gorges de la Monne : Elements pour leur gestion patrimoniale; OPNA
Thébaud G.; R. Dufayard, 1997.- Reconnaissance phytoécologique et botanique dans la forêt d'Olloix. O.N.F. Puy-de-dôme