created in august of 2007 and headquartered in brasilia, the instituto chico mendes de conservação da biodiversidade acts as a body to protect, fund, and monitor regions under conservation by the federal government.

the institute also authorizes various research projects involving the protection, preservation, and conservation of the biodiversity in all of brazil - with offices and research center throughout brazil including in rio de janeiro, where volunteering is possible.

the principal objective of this organization is to work as the administrative authority on regions of ecological value under federal protection, though it is also responsible for widely communicating the sustainable use of natural renewable resources.