The basin of the Rio Negro, a river flowing in the state of Amazonas (3 times as big as France), is acknowledged for the importance of its biodiversity.

Nevertheless, very few studies have been carried out there till today. The National Parc of Jaú, 22 000 km2 large, is the only area that the scientists really study, on the initiative of the foundation Vitória Amazônica of Manaus. No systematic study has been developped on the rest of the basin.

In the north-west of the state, the National Parc of the Pico da Neblina has no financial and human resources for its study. The regions important for the biodiversity can be reached only thanks to the rivers and " igarapes " (small rivers), the road network being almost non-existent.