Regional Department of Amapá

Amapá is Brazil's most preserved State, with less than 10% of its original forest having been modified through human activity. Approximately 72% of its territory is protected by Conservation Units and Indigenous Lands spread out across the State. No form of development shall be considered within these areas without first taking ecosystem and species diversity into consideration, including appropriate maintenance of the virtually untouched tropical rainforest. It is necessary to promote the sustainable use of biodiversity so that existing biodiversity, within the diverse ecosystems, can properly contribute to general development and thereby afford the necessary benefits to the population of the State of Amapá .

The Regional Department of the State of Amapá was initially founded in 2005, including full cooperation on the part of the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research of the State of Amapá (IEPA), as well as partner institution involvement from the Federal University of Amapá (UNIFAP), the State University of Amapá (UEAP), the Brazilian Enterprise for Agricultural Research (EMBRAPA/AP), the Federal Institute of Amapá (IFAP), the Department of Science and Technology of the State of Amapá and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity (ICMBio).

The overall mission of the Institute for Scientific and Technological Research of the State of Amapá (IEPA) is to create, promote and disclose scientific and technical knowledge for effective conservation of the environment, as well developing natural resources for the benefit of the Amapaense population. The IEPA institute has three physical bases and four separate Research Centres located within (the Zoo-botanical and Geological centre, Aquatic centre, Territorial Planning centre, and Business Incubation centre), as well as an Administrative Centre, a Centre for Medicinal and Natural Plants, the Museological Research Centre, the Sacaca Museum and an advanced campus in the municipality of Porto Grande. The principal objective of the Zoo-botanical and Geological Research Centre (CPZG), responsible for the biological inventory project, is to contribute to studies through scientific-technological research in an interdisciplinary format, enhancing understanding on the manner in which ecosystems work and providing foundations for the sustainable use of natural resources, aimed at meeting the demands of Amapaense society as a whole. These studies are typically developed by the Botanical, Zoological, Geological and Water Resources divisions. The CPZG has its very own Amapá Fauna Collection, including various examples of insects, fish, crustaceans, birds and reptiles, as well as hosting the Amapaense Herbarium, the only such resource throughout Amapá State.

The PPBIO research site is located in the Amapá National Forest as part of the Amapá Regional Department, situated right in the centre of the State itself between the Falsino and Araguari Rivers (0º40’N, 51º10’W; 2º50N, 52º30’W), about 120 km in a straight line from the State capital, Macapá. Access is achieved by boat across the Araguari River, setting off from the city of Porto Grande located approximately 30 km from the unit’s entry point.