About Us
Our Pillars of Action
Every step taken by the IMPACTO Institute is guided by solid pillars that unite science, tradition, and conservation. These pillars underpin our mission to promote coexistence between big cats, human communities, and environmental balance. We operate with focus, responsibility, and innovation, always committed to life.
Coexistence:
Balance Between Predators, Livestock, and Communities
At Impacto Institute, we believe that true conservation is built on a balance between nature and people. The pillar of Coexistence stems from this understanding: promoting a harmonious coexistence between large predators, livestock activities, and the communities that depend on these territories. In many contexts, predators like jaguars are seen as direct threats to the way of life of rural communities. This generates conflicts that often result in the elimination of these animals and the weakening of entire ecosystems. Our work seeks to transform this scenario, offering alternatives based on technical knowledge, dialogue, and mutual respect. We work in the field to develop and implement strategies that reduce the impacts of predation on herds, such as adaptive management, the use of monitoring technologies, electric fences, repellent lights, and changes in management practices. But, more than technical solutions, we foster a new culture of coexistence, where the presence of predators ceases to be synonymous with loss and begins to represent ecological, social, and even economic value. We work side-by-side with ranchers, small producers, and local leaders, building knowledge in a participatory way and valuing traditional wisdom. Each territory has its own reality, and respecting these particularities is essential to creating lasting solutions.
Monitoring:
Knowledge that Connects and Protects
Monitoring is one of the cornerstones of our work. Through it, we transform observations into knowledge and data into concrete actions. Integrating different methodologies, combining direct sightings made by residents and local partners with the use of camera traps strategically positioned in the territory, this hybrid approach allows us to record the presence of predators and other key species, understand their movements, population size, habits, and relationships with the environment. Local knowledge is essential. We value and incorporate the accounts of those who live daily in the field. Sightings made by ranchers, rural workers, and community members are fundamental to guiding our actions, calibrating conflict prevention strategies, and validating the continuous presence of animals in certain areas. Camera traps, on the other hand, function as the invisible eyes of the forest. They capture images and videos that reveal the presence and behavior of fauna in a non-invasive way. These records not only help us identify individuals and activity patterns but also feed scientific research, environmental education actions, and raising public awareness.
Science:
Knowledge that Respects and Reveals
At Impacto Institute, science is an instrument of transformation. It is through science that we deepen our understanding of large predators and the ecosystems in which they live, always with an ethical, respectful approach aligned with the conservation of life. Our scientific work is based on non-invasive collection techniques, that is, methods that allow us to study animals without capturing them, stressing them, or directly interfering with their behavior. We mainly use feces, fur, and other natural traces left by animals in their environment. These materials, often ignored at first glance, carry valuable information: genetics, diet, territory use, hormone levels, health status, and even relationships between individuals. The science we practice is integrated with the territory. We work in partnership with researchers, academic institutions, and, above all, with local communities, who are often the first to find the traces and contribute directly to data collection. This collaboration broadens our reach and strengthens the value of collective knowledge.
Environmental Education:
Connecting to Transform
We believe that knowledge transforms realities, and that by understanding nature, people begin to care for it in a more conscious, respectful, and engaged way. Our educational work unfolds in two complementary paths: local communities, especially schools, and visitors and tourists who pass through the territories where we operate. In schools, we develop playful, interactive activities contextualized to the local reality. We bring themes such as biodiversity, coexistence with predators, the ecological importance of species, and the role of each person in conservation into the classroom. We seek to strengthen the bond between children and young people with their territory, awakening a sense of belonging and pride in the natural riches around them. With tourists, we promote educational actions that go beyond contemplation. Through interpretive trails, conversations, exhibitions, and immersive experiences, we invite each visitor to see the landscape with different eyes, understanding the challenges of coexistence between people and wildlife, and recognizing the value of local conservation initiatives.
Ecotourism:
Experiences that Protect
We work directly in structuring and strengthening conscious tourism that respects the rhythms of wildlife and promotes authentic and educational experiences. One of our most notable initiatives is scientific safaris, field experiences where tourists safely and with guidance accompany wildlife monitoring, with an emphasis on large predators. During these experiences, visitors cease to be mere observers and become part of the conservation effort: they learn to identify traces, participate in the installation of camera traps, and understand, in practice, the challenges and charms of living in a territory shared with nature. In addition, we contribute to the installation of informative and educational signs on trails, roads, and tourist areas. These signs guide visitors, reduce the risk of conflict with wildlife, and reinforce messages of environmental awareness. They are part of a broader strategy of awareness and communication in the territory. We also work with lodges, guides, and local operators, assisting in the development of safety protocols, responsibility guidelines, and best practices focused on coexistence with wildlife and a safe visitor experience.
Coexisting with jaguars starts with a choice: to coexist.
Who makes IMPACTO happen
Our team is made up of experts passionate about conservation, science, and connecting with communities. These professionals combine diverse expertise, from the academy to the field, to transform environmental challenges into real solutions. Each one carries in their heart a commitment to wildlife and to the people who share space with it.
Paul Raad
Founding President
Paul Raad Cisa é médico veterinário e atua no Pantanal com onças-pintadas, unindo ciência, manejo e diálogo para mitigar conflitos e conservar a fauna. Com foco em Saúde Única, seu trabalho alia pesquisa, educação e equilíbrio entre natureza e comunidades.
Dr. Christina Pettan-Brewer
Vice-presidente
Dr. Christina Pettan-Brewer is a veterinarian, researcher, and global authority on One Health. She works at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health, with a focus on the UN, One Health Brazil, and research on zoonoses, biodiversity, and conservation.
Samuel F. Bressan
Executive Secretary and Researcher
Samuel is a veterinarian who works in wildlife conservation. In the Pantanal, he works towards the coexistence between predators and local communities. With experience in the Amazon, he advocates for the protection of biodiversity while respecting cultures.
Breno Dorileo
Treasurer
Breno, a rural producer from the Pantanal region, combines tradition and innovation in cattle raising. A descendant of five generations in the Pantanal, he works for the coexistence between livestock and wildlife, being a key figure in connecting local culture and conservation.
Grasiela Porfirio
Tax Advisor
A native of the Pantanal region, a biologist and fiscal advisor, she has been researching jaguars in the Pantanal since 2004. She combines science, environmental education, and art to raise awareness about the conservation of fauna and flora. With extensive training, she promotes real impact.
Walfrido Moraes Tomas
Tax Advisor
A fiscal advisor and researcher at Embrapa, he works in wildlife conservation and biodiversity management in the Pantanal. With extensive training, he researches landscapes, ecological corridors, and the impacts of deforestation.
Monitored Jaguars
More than a purpose: the mission to generate IMPACT and transformation.
Since our founding, we have been driven by unwavering values and a clear vision for the future of biodiversity and the planet. Discover the ideals that shape each of our actions and the legacy we have built over the years.
Our mission is to protect jaguars in their natural habitat, promoting harmonious coexistence between the species and human activities such as livestock farming and tourism. We seek to transform the perception of these animals, highlighting their ecological importance and basing each strategy on rigorous scientific research.
To be the global benchmark in strategies for coexistence between wildlife and traditional communities, promoting the conservation of healthy and resilient ecosystems for future generations.
