Institute Symbiosis has been established in 2003, with the purpose to carry out projects in nature conservation, research and education. Currently two people are employed in the institute. Jana Kus Veenvliet has obtained her B.Sc. in biology at University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. Her main expertise is ecology of birds, she also has a thorough knowledge of Slovene and European legislation related to nature conservation. Paul Veenvliet obtained his M.Sc. in biology at Nijmegen University, the Netherlands. Paul has a broad knowledge of ecology and systematics of fish, amphibians and reptiles. His is also an acknowledged scientific illustrator, regularly publishing in Slovenia and abroad. 

Purposes and goals of the establishment of the Institute are the following:

• Preparing, implementig and cooperating in projects in the field of nature conservation, animal systematics and animal ecology,
  
  
• Preparing and implementing education projects in the field of nature conservation,
  
  
• Preparing and issuing publications, which popularise nature conservation and/or field research,
  
  
• Organizing and leading seminars in the field of on nature conservation, 
  
  
• Implementing projects, which aim to inform the public of the importance of nature conservation,
  
  
• Carrying out projects, which aim at supporting local inhabitants in protected areas.