The story of IPE-Institute for Ecological Research begins in 1978 , when Claudio Padua abruptly left a successful administrative career in Rio de Janeiro to dedicate himself to conservation research. He became involved with the black lion tamarin, a species that had then been "rediscovered" after being thought extinct for nearly 100 years. Claudio began to study biology and never looked back. In the late 1980s, he moved with his wife, Suzana, and their three children to the Pontal do Paranapanema in western Sao Paulo State , so that he could more effectively continue his studies and efforts to save the black lion tamarin .

As Claudio's research progressed, he realized that effective conservation of the species depended upon the support of residents living near the tamarin habitat. Thus began IPE´s environmental education tradition, headed by Suzana Padua. Through community involvement, Suzana began promoting the importance of nature conservation. Little by little residents realized that the conservation of the tamarin habitat would not only promote the conservation of the diminishing Atlantic Forest but also help their own lives.

Other researcher s , who also believed it impossible to separate conservation from local people's empowerment, joined Claudio and Suzana in 1992 to found IPE, originally located in Piracicaba, Sao Paulo State. Today Suzana is the president and Claudio the Institute's scientific director.

IPE is now headquartered in Nazaré Paulista, Sao Paulo State , and is considered the third largest NGO in Brazil . The Institute, which began as a project to study the black lion tamarin, today comprises more than sixty professionals working in thirty projects throughout Brazil . Regional field sites include Anavilhanas Ecological Station (Amazonas State), Pontal do Paranapanema and Nazaré Paulista (Sao Paulo State), Superagüi National Park (Parana State) and Serra dos Órgãos (Rio de Janeiro State).

In all projects, IPÊ has adopted a conservation model based on the many years of first-hand experience. It combines scientific research with threatened species, environmental education, habitat restoration, community involvement, sustainable development and contributions to the influencinginfluencing of public policies. IPE aims to conserve biodiversity whilst respecting tradition and the idiosyncrasies of each community where the Institution works. For example, IPÊ promotes alternatives for income generation that are both socially and environmentally sustainable.

Another emphasis has been the transfer of knowledge acquired during the years of research. IPÊ regularly trains researchers and university students, who often remain involved in its projects after they complete their degrees. Today IPÊ counts withwith over a dozen Master's degree holders and will soon have more than ten Doctorates. Many of these teach in the Brazilian Center for Conservation Biology (CBBC), which is a multidisciplinary education center IPE has established to address a broad range of biodiversity and socio-environmental issues.

IPE's projects have been recognized in national and international occasions, and have received several prestigious awards, including the Whitley Gold Award, considered the "Oscar" of environmental conservation. IPÊ itself was the recipient in 2003 of the "Efficiency Award", which recognizes the 50 best administered organizations in Brazil . Many other awards indicate the quality of the Institute's work.