In December 2004, the Government of Guinea-Bissau created the Institute of Biodiversity and Protected Areas (Instituto da Biodiversidade e das Áreas Protegidas, IBAP). This institute aims to ensure the participatory and coordinated management of protected areas, monitoring and management of the main values of biodiversity (threatened species and habitats), and the creation of new protected areas for the preservation of species and genetic materials.

Protected areas that operate under the management of the Biodiversity and
Protected Areas Institute include the Biosphere Reserve of Bijagós Archipelago, Natural Park of Tarrares do Rio Cacheu, Natural Park of Lagoas de Cufada, Orango National Park, National Park of Marinho de João Vieira-Poilão, Community Marine Protected Area of the Islands of Formosa, Nago and Chediã (UROK) and Cantanhez Woodland.