Anyone leafing through this annual report will quickly notice the remarkable diversity of IPÊ’s projects and initiatives. When IPÊ was founded in the 1990s, our work focused on a very specific challenge: conserving the black lion tamarin in the Atlantic Forest. Today, the breadth of our work reflects the complexity of biodiversity conservation itself and the many interconnections it entails. To ensure that this diversity of initiatives does not become fragmented, everything we do is guided by a fundamental strategic framework that brings coherence and integration across our work.  

To better understand this body of work from an executive perspective, I invite you to view our activities through the lens of the Theory of Change. Widely adopted by leading socio-environmental organizations around the world, the Theory of Change is an approach that establishes clear and logical connections between the resources invested, the actions implemented, the short-term results achieved, and the long-term socio-environmental impact we seek to generate. It enables us to view the organization as an integrated whole while ensuring efficiency and focus across all areas of our work. 

For organizational and communication purposes, we have structured our work into five core categories. In 2025, this approach translated into significant operational results:  

• Applied Research, Science and Innovation: Our work continues to be grounded in a strong scientific foundation. In 2025, we maintained research on six wildlife species to support conservation efforts, generating essential data for the protection of ecosystems.  

• Forest Restoration: We planted 3.7 million native tree seedlings for forest restoration, in addition to 31,342 seedlings integrated into sustainable production systems. These efforts were accompanied by the continued strengthening of forest restoration value chains.    

• Education: Through ESCAS, 290 people enrolled in our courses, 25 new master’s graduates completed their degrees, and access to education was expanded through 57 scholarships. 5,308 people also directly benefited from our training programs and environmental education initiatives.  

• Sustainable Businesses: We contributed to 7,875 people benefiting from sustainable livelihood activities. We also supported the first enterprises selected through our bioeconomy initiative. 

• Articulations and Networks: Within this area, 384 people directly benefited from territorial management initiatives, strengthening the coalitions that protect the natural heritage of the biomes where we work.  

Sustaining an operation of this scale required IPÊ’s internal structure to keep pace with our growing impact. In 2025, we placed special emphasis on organizational management as our team expanded significantly. Today, 200 IPÊ staff members work across diverse regions of Brazil. 

As we grew, we remained committed to maintaining focus, organizational cohesion, and alignment with our mission and values. To support this process, we developed and launched “Welcome to IPÊ,” a structured onboarding program designed to welcome new team members, facilitate their integration, and ensure that our culture and standards of excellence are shared across the organization. 

We conclude this cycle with the clear understanding that IPÊ’s greatest asset is the people who make our work possible. Our team is enriched by an extraordinary diversity of academic backgrounds, professional experiences, practical skills, and perspectives on how to address the planet’s complex socio-environmental challenges. 

This diversity is also reflected across generations. We are privileged to have professionals with extensive experience and long-standing careers in Brazilian conservation working side by side with the energy and fresh perspectives of those who have recently joined the organization. Together, this combination of accumulated experience and a drive to innovate makes our institution even stronger. 

Much work still lies ahead. We invite you to explore the highlights of a year marked by dedication and meaningful achievements. 

Enjoy the report! 

Eduardo H. Ditt 

Executive Director, IPÊ