History

Our

purpose

The Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM) is a scientific, non-governmental, non-partisan and non-profit organization that since 1995 has worked for the sustainable development of the Amazon. Our purpose is to consolidate, by 2035, the tropical development model of the Amazon and the Cerrado, through the production of knowledge, implementation of local initiatives and influence in public policies, in order to impact economic development, social equality and preservation of the environment.

Our mission is to promote science, education and innovation for an environmentally healthy, economically prosperous and socially fair Amazon and Cerrado.

In 1995, still influenced by the developments of ECO 92, a group of researchers got together in Belém to create IPAM, a non-governmental organization with a pioneering approach: producing scientific knowledge engaged with actions in the field and discussion of public policies. At that time, there were many questions about the Amazon and the speed and causes of its devastation, its influence on climate regulation and the steps to generate a model of sustainable development for the local population.

Over the years, IPAM has made important contributions to Brazil and the world by producing knowledge and testing the application and viability of public policies. After 28 years, more is known about the Amazon and the Cerrado, but the challenges persist and are renewed. That small group has expanded to nine offices and around one hundred employees, but the IPAM approach is still needed.

Our

history

1995

IPAM is created in Belém, Pará.

1998

Launch of Risque, a tool that helped establish legislation for correct fire management.

2000

Publication of the report on the negative effects of “Avança Brasil”, a large federal investment plan in infrastructure, in the Amazon.

2001

Start of the “Seca Floresta” project, which analyzed the impact of a less rainy scenario in the Amazon.

2002

IPAM creates, with partners, the Climate Observatory, one of the most active third sector networks on the climate issue.

2003

IPAM launches, with partners, the concept of “compensated reduction of deforestation”, which was the basis of the REDD+ mechanism.

2004

The savannization project begins, which simulates the effects of fire on forest degradation in the Amazon.

2005

IPAM helps create and coordinate the Socio-Environmental Plan for the Development of the BR-163 and Xingu, based on the federal government’s Sustainable BR-163 Plan, a milestone of participatory governance in the history of undertakings in the country.

2008

Launch of the book “REDD in Brazil: an Amazonian perspective”.

2009

IPAM helps create CIDS, the first consortium of municipalities that focuses on reducing deforestation and fire.

2011

IPAM and partners demonstrate the importance of protected areas, in scientific articles, for climate balance, which contributed to the National Policy for Environmental and Territorial Management in Indigenous Lands.

2012

IPAM launches the Sustainable Settlements in the Amazon project.

2014

IPAM conducts a study on deforestation in settlements, which is used as the basis for Incra’s Green Settlements program.

2015

IPAM and partners help formulate the Produce, Conserve and Include strategy, launched by the government of Mato Grosso.

2016

IPAM helps create and coordinate the Socio-Environmental Plan for the Development of the BR-163 and Xingu, based on the federal government’s Sustainable BR-163 Plan, a milestone of participatory governance in the history of undertakings in the country.

2016

IPAM helps create and coordinate the Socio-Environmental Plan for the Development of the BR-163 and Xingu, based on the federal government’s Sustainable BR-163 Plan, a milestone of participatory governance in the history of undertakings in the country.

2019

Supports technical debate on the Mercosur/European Union agreement.

2020

Publishes articles and reports on the dynamics of land grabbing in undesignated public forests in the Amazon.

2021

Provides technical contributions to the development of the concept of “climate  damage” considered in actions by the Judiciary and the Public Ministry.

2021

Scientific article reveals, for the first time, the effects of deforestation, climate  change, and agriculture.

2022

IPAM and partners reveal studies on the actions of land grabbers to deforest.

2023

Project maps undesignated public forest areas in the Amazon that could have their designation defined.