Ibama is a Brazilian federal agency responsible for the conservation and protection of the country's natural resources, including forests, wildlife, and waterways. The agency also regulates activities that may harm the environment, such as mining and industrial operations.
Ibama was created in 1989 through the merger of three existing agencies: the Superintendency for the Development of the Northeast, the Superintendency for the Amazon, and the Brazilian Institute of Forest Development.
Since its inception, Ibama has been involved in numerous high-profile environmental cases, including the fight against illegal logging in the Amazon rainforest and the enforcement of regulations related to endangered species.
In recent years, Ibama has faced budget cuts and political pressure from Brazil's conservative government, which has raised concerns about the agency's ability to carry out its mission effectively.
ICMBio is another Brazilian federal agency dedicated to the conservation and protection of natural resources, with a particular focus on national parks and other protected areas.
Greenpeace is an international environmental organization that campaigns on issues such as climate change, deforestation, and the overfishing of oceans. While not a government agency, Greenpeace is one of the most visible and influential organizations working in the environmental sector in Brazil and worldwide.
Ibama is responsible for reviewing and granting environmental licenses for a variety of activities that have the potential to harm the environment, such as mining, agriculture, and industrial operations.
Ibama works to protect and conserve Brazil's rich wildlife biodiversity, particularly endangered and threatened species. This includes regulating hunting and the illegal trade of wildlife products.
Ibama oversees policies and programs to prevent destruction of forests and promote sustainable forestry practices. This includes monitoring deforestation in the Amazon and other Brazilian forest biomes.
Ibama stands for the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis in Portuguese).
Ibama's main objective is to protect and conserve Brazil's natural resources, including forests, wildlife, and waterways, and to regulate activities that may harm the environment.
Over the years, Ibama has achieved numerous successes in protecting Brazil's environment and natural resources. These include cracking down on illegal logging in the Amazon, protecting endangered species such as the golden lion tamarin, and working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation.
Ibama has faced criticism and controversy in recent years, particularly under Brazil's conservative government, for what some see as a lack of political will to enforce environmental regulations, budget cuts, and alleged corruption within the agency.
While Ibama does not have a formal volunteer program, the agency does work with a variety of NGOs and other organizations that provide opportunities for volunteering and internships.