O Ibio

Instituto BioAtlântica ( IBio ) is a not-for-profit civil society organization, aimed at the conservation of the Atlantic Forest and related ecosystems. Our strategy is to work as a catalyst for forming partnerships and building bridges between the various segments of society – the corporate, environmental, government and scientific areas.

Established in 2002, IBio represented the culmination of five years of dialogue between its founders: Conservação Internacional do Brasil, Aracruz Celulose , Petrobras, Veracel Celulose and DuPont do Brasil. As a result of its activities, IBio attracted potential partners from a variety of different sectors, and two new members joined the group in 2004: the environmental organization The Nature Conservancy and the governmental energy company Furnas Centrais Elétricas. In 2006, Grupo Lorentzen became a member of IBio.

The principal focus of IBio's activities, the Atlantic Forest , is one of the planet's most threatened biomes, which nowadays covers less than 10% of its original area. The region accounts for more than 80% of Brazil's GDP and is the home of 70% of the country's population, as well as providing a habitat for a number of endangered species, many of which are unique to this biome.

IBio is currently developing integrated activities along three strategic programs:


	Biodiversity Conservation on Private Lands
	Sustainable Landscapes
	Sustainable Watersheds

In its projects, IBio has qualified professionals from different backgrounds and areas of human knowledge, working together cooperatively in an interdisciplinary manner.

All the projects are carried out by means of creative and innovative partnerships, involving groups ranging from rural and indigenous communities all the way up to the largest corporations, and including environmental organizations, development agencies, government bodies and research institutes in the states of Rio de Janeiro , Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and Bahia .

Vision

Environmentalists, the private sector, government and the academic community all possess assets, skills and values that can be harmonized. By identifying common agendas that integrate business and conservation interests, we can help to build a future in which nature is respected.

Mission

Contribute towards the conservation and restoration of biological diversity within Brazil 's ecosystems, particularly those of the Atlantic Forest and Coastline, and make human utilization of the areas a tool for sustainable development.

Values

Our values include a commitment to obtaining tangible results; being innovative and bold, in our thinking and in our actions; building through diversity; adopting a pro-active stance; and working efficiently.

Involving the private sector in the creation of corridors to promote biological diversity

The Atlantic Forest has lost more than 90% of its original forest cover. Over two thirds of the remaining forest is situated on private properties that are strategically vital to the conservation and restoration of this biome.

This program's strategy is to involve private landowners, which range from farmers to corporations, in activities for the conservation of biodiversity and forest restoration, using innovative schemes and incentives.

Creating ecological corridors to enable the integrated management of our natural resources

The integrity of the ecosystems is dependent on the harmonizing of different land uses, by means of large-scale planning and the adoption of best practices in both production and conservation.

The strategy of this program is to develop, refine and put into service tools to facilitate the planning process and environmental management and systems to assist the decision-making process.

Watersheds as a focus for action planning and implementation

Water is an essential element in the working of ecosystems and to human life. The greater part of the Brazilian population is dependent upon the water resources of the Atlantic Forest , which shows the importance of integrating the efforts to protect these forests and springs.

This program's strategy is to harmonize productive activities and the conservation of water and biological diversity, within entire watersheds, developing incentives for the restoration and sustainable use of their natural resources.