The northern of Mato Grosso has been suffering significant losses from its natural vegetation cover; context allied to the lack of an active environmental policy, besides the lack of knowledge of society about the importance of conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. In 2007, the professors of the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT) created the Nucleus for Study of Mato Grosso Amazon Biodiversity (NEBAM), which aims at botanical and zoological studies related to the richness, diversity and distribution of Amazonian species and the Cerrado-Amazon transition environment. By generating their activities in a region subjected to intense anthropic pressure, NEBAM members have taken this guideline as a foundation for their development and, consequently, a contribution to regional knowledge. In addition, they participate in the formation of human resources and, through their extension projects, seek to contribute to the increase of environmental awareness, disseminating this accumulated knowledge, aiming at socialization and interaction with the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]