headquartered in brasilia, the instituto chico mendes de conservação da biodiversidade is an important institution in charge of environmental issues, conservation units, and biodiversity, with offices and research center throughout brazil including in rio de janeiro, where volunteering is possible.

the ministério do meio ambiente (ministry of environment of brazil) is the government body in charge of all conservation units and it is reachable online via this contact form.

also a valuable asset to the city of rio is instituto iguaçu de pesquisa e preservação ambiental - iippa, the institute for environmental research and preservation,  maintaining data on all major parks, and reachable via the institute's official website here, via phone at 21 2240.6823, or via email here.