in addition to the environmental role that the ecosystems play, they also provide a significant supply of food production, through agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, as well as mineral resources, such as oil and natural gas. in essence the diverse ecosystems are vital to the regions continued success, and add a valuable layer of functionality to the state.

the centro de primatologia do rio de janeiro - cprj (rio de janeiro center for primatology), founded in 1976 is part of the fundação estadual de engenharia do meio ambiente - feema (state foundation of environmental engineering).

it is located around 60 miles outside of rio de janeiro in the organ mountains. occupying 260 acres of pristine and untouched atlantic rain forest the center is ideally situated as the pre-eminent center for studying, maintaining and encouraging the reproduction of primate species found in the mata atlântica.