The Brazilian government maintains several institutions dedicated to forest research, with the objective of promoting the advancement of knowledge about forest conservation and sustainable use of its resources.

Federal sphere

National Center for Biodiversity Assessment and Research and Conservation of the Cerrado (CBC)

Created in 2017 by ICMBio, the National Center for Biodiversity Assessment and Research and Conservation of the Cerrado (CBC) aims to promote biodiversity conservation through the production, management and application of knowledge, and coordinate the assessment of the risk of species extinction and collapse of Cerrado ecosystems. The main lines of research are:

  • Management for biodiversity conservation in Nature Conservation Units;
  • Fire management in Nature Conservation Units.

National Center for Flora Conservation (CNCFlora)

Linked to the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden (JBRJ), the center is dedicated to the research, conservation and management of the endangered Brazilian native flora.

National Center for Research and Conservation of Socio-biodiversity Associated with Traditional Peoples and Communities (CNPT)

Created in 1992 by Ibama, and currently part of ICMBio, the Center promotes research on the management and conservation of territories used by traditional peoples and communities, on the knowledge and modes of social organization of these peoples, and studies on ways of managing natural resources. The main lines of research are:

  • Potentialities of Chapada Limpa/Maranhão RESEX for implementing payment for environmental services;
  • Research and conservation of socio-biodiversity associated with traditional peoples and communities in the state of Acre;
  • Preparation of parameters to define the profile of beneficiaries and users in RESEXs, RDS and Flonas;
  • Socio-environmental diagnosis of traditional communities in the Serrana/Mato Grosso Province;
  • Formation of the Traditional Populations Research Network.

Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa)

Created in 1973 and linked to Mapa, the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation is mainly focused on research in the agricultural area, but the institution also seeks innovation in the forestry area. The lines of research seek technological solutions for diversification, increased productivity and competitiveness of the planted forest sector, conservation and sustainable management of natural forests and forest restoration. The main lines of research are:

  • Management, production and conservation of natural forests;
  • Silviculture of planted forests, with native and exotic forest species;
  • Forest restoration.

Embrapa has several research centers in the forestry area. They are: Embrapa Acre (Rio Branco/AC), Embrapa Agrossilvipastoril (Sinop/MT), Embrapa Amapá (Bailique/AP), Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental (Manaus/AM), Embrapa Amazônia Oriental (Belém/PA), Embrapa Florestas (Colombo/PR) and Embrapa Rondônia (Porto Velho/RO).

National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA)

Implemented in 1954, the National Institute for Amazonian Research conducts scientific studies on the physical environment and living conditions of the Amazon region to promote human well-being and socioeconomic development in the region. The institute, linked to MCTI, is a world leader in tropical biology and has research centers in the states of Acre, Roraima, Pará and Rondônia. The main lines of research are:

  • Biodiversity;
  • Environmental dynamics;
  • Society, environment and health;
  • Technology and innovation.

National Institute for Space Research (INPE)

The National Institute for Space Research, linked to the MCTI, operates in the area of remote sensing and environmental monitoring. In the forest theme, it develops research for monitoring, conservation and sustainable management of Brazilian forests. The main lines of research are:

  • Satellite monitoring of forest cover, land use changes, deforestation and forest degradation;
  • Forest biomass estimation based on remote sensing data and evaluation models;
  • Monitoring of fires and forest fires;
  • Mapping biodiversity with remote sensing techniques;
  • Modeling and simulation of forest processes;
  • Development of remote sensing technologies.

Forest Products Laboratory (LPF)

Created in 1973, the Forest Products Laboratory operates in the area of wood technology and other forest products, generating, disseminating and transferring knowledge to contribute to sustainable development in the forestry sector. In addition to wood research, the LPF also develops studies related to biomass energy and non-timber forest products, with emphasis on the quantification and characterization of oils and secondary metabolites. LPF also designs products and processes that optimize the use of different forest resources, which can be seen not only by the different patents registered, but also by the publications, programs and applications produced. Among these, the most notable are: the “Brazilian Timber Database” and the “Interactive Key for Identifying Commercial Timber in Brazil,” both of which are free to access. The main lines of research are:

  • Technological Characterization of Forest Products;
  • Energy and Climate Change;
  • Use of Forest Products;
  • Waste Utilization.

Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi (MPEG)

Founded in 1866, the Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi is located in Belém/PA and is an important research center in the ecology and biodiversity of the Amazon, including studies on tropical forests and their associated ecosystems. The agency is linked to the MCTI and has a scientific station located in the Caxiuanã National Forest, in Marajó/PA, which functions as an advanced laboratory on the functioning of tropical forests. Since 2013, the museum also has the Pantanal Advanced Campus, in Cuiabá/MT. The main lines of research are:

  • Botany;
  • Zoology;
  • Anthropology;
  • Archaeology;
  • Linguistics;
  • Earth sciences and ecology.

State sphere

Rio Grande do Sul: State Center for Forest Diagnosis and Research (CEFLOR)

Linked to the State Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Sustainable Production and Irrigation of Rio Grande do Sul, CEFLOR is located in the municipality of Santa Maria. The main lines of research are:

  • Native forest seed production technologies;
  • Native forest seedling production technologies;
  • Application of plant growth-promoting microorganisms;
  • Use of biological control agents for agroforestry pests;
  • Conservative insect control practices;
  • Use of extracts and essential oils from bioactive plants;
  • Production of substrates and organic fertilization.

São Paulo: Environmental Research Institute (IPA)

Formed from the junction of the Botany, Forestry and Geology institutes of the Government of the State of São Paulo, in 2021, IPA develops research in the areas of biodiversity, botany, geosciences and forest sciences. The main lines of research are:

  • Biodiversity conservation;
  • Ecological Restoration and Recovery of Degraded Areas;
  • Sustainable Use of Natural Resources;
  • Geosciences, Risk Management and Environmental Monitoring.

São Paulo: Institute of Technological Research of the State of São Paulo (IPT)

Linked to the Secretariat of Economic Development, Science, Technology and Innovation of the State of São Paulo, IPT's mission is to produce and transfer technologies to the wood production chain and has a Forest Resource Technology Center. The main lines of research are:

  • Forests and the wood production chain: sustainable technologies;
  • Wood and derived products;
  • Paper and pulp;
  • Preservation of wood and biodeterioration of materials;
  • Carbon fixation and credit generation in the forest-based industry.