STATE CONSERVATION AREAS

1. Pedra Branca State Park: “Located in the geographical center of Rio de Janeiro municipality includes all the slopes of Pedra Branca mountain massifs, located above the elevation level of 100 meters. It comprises an extension of 12.500 hectares (125 square kilometers) that are boundaries among several neighborhoods of the West Zone and that of Jacarepagua lowland. In the park we can find the highest peak of Rio de Janeiro municipality, Pedra Branca Peak, with 1.024 meters of altitude. Pedra Branca Park is actually the biggest urban forest in Brazil, classification often given to Tijuca National Park (and also to Cantareira Park in São Paulo city), which is quite smaller. The Trilha da Represa do Rio Grande is one of the most accessible. Recent researches have found 180 species of birds in the park.

Address: Núcleo Pau-da-Fome: Estrada de Pau-da-Fome, N° 4003, Jacarepaguá. Rio de Janeiro _ RJ. CEP: 22723-490. Tel. 2446-4557.
Núcleo Camorim, 2118 – Camorim. CEP: 22780-070. Tel. (21) 3417-3642.”(Source: IEF website)

2. Desengano State Park: “Situated in areas of Santa Madalena, Campos and São Fidélis municipalities. The administrative center of the park is in Santa Madalena city, 261 km form the capital. You can get there departing from Rio de Janeiro going through Niteroi bridge and taking the RJ 116 highway until Nova Friburgo, from there you take the BR 492 road going through Bom Jardim city. Continue through BR 492 in direction to Cordeiro. After passing by the entrance to this city on the left, you continue some other kilometers until you find a junction in Sao Marino location, which on the left side takes you to Cantagalo. You go ahead on the BR 492 passing by Macuco and on the left you get to Trajano de Morais and finally to Santa Maria Madalena city. The road that takes you to the city is the one on the left side when you get to Manoel Morais village. Desengano Park does not have a tourist infrastructure yet and many of the tracks depart from private estates. More detailed information about the access to the areas of the park can be obtained in its office located at 35, Estrada de Itaporanga, Santa Maria Madalena, RJ. Zip code: 28770-000 – Telephone: (22) 2561 – 1192.

Some of the points that we have visited are: The trails of Morro da Rifa, Pico da Agulha, Rio Morumbeca do Imbé, Riberão Vermelho and Fazenda São Julião. This latter is located in Campos municipality, and it used to be one of the most preserved areas of the Atlantic Forrest and the lowland of the fluminense north”. (Source: IEF website)

3. Ilha Grande State Park: “ This Park is located in the southern shoreline of Rio de Janeiro State and it belongs to Angra dos Reis Municipality. People can get there only by sea. There is regular ferryboat service departing from Mangarativa and Angra dos Reis cities.
The terrain is rough, with variable declivities that can reach, in some parts figures superior to 80%, giving to the course of water a high occurrence of overflows and erosions. The highest peaks are, Pedra d’ Agua Peak, 1.031 meters of altitude, and the highest of the island, from where you can see Córrego da Andorinha Valley, and Papagaio Peak with an altitude of 959 meters, besides Ferreira Hill, with 735 meters. The tropical forests of the island are cut by tracks, so it is more convenient to be accompanied by a guide from the region than to walk through them on your own. The administrative canter address is: Beira Mar Ave. S/N, Vila do Abraão, Angra dos Reis, RJ. Zip code: 23940-000. Telephone: (24) 3361 – 5916.”(Source: IEF website).

4. Serra da Tiririca State Park: “Located in Niteroi Municipality, its area includes Andorinhas Hill situated between Itaipu and Itacoatiara villages but the administrative center of the park is in Itaupuaçu town and a branch in Itacoatiara (under construction).
This park has a potential area of 2.400 hectares (24 square meters) and it comprises the East and Ocean regions of Niteroi municipality and part of Itaupuaçu neighborhood, which belongs to Maricá municipality.
Tiririca range of mountains constitutes one of the most important of Serra do Mar Mountains, composed of elevations denominated Pedra do Elefante (Alto Morão), Morro do Telégrafo, Morro do Catumbi, Pedra da Itacoatiara and Agulha Guarischi, among others.
The terrain has very irregular passages, with inclinations superior to 50% appearing rocky outcrops, which are considered geological monuments; such as Pedra de Itacoatiara and Morro do Elefante, the highest one, with 412 meters of altitude. The plant life of Tiririca range of mountains has suffered the same historical process of degradation as that of the Atlantic Forest that began during the colonial period.
The bird fauna has registered the presence of around 150 species.
Address: 24, Das Rosas St. Itacoatiara, Niterói, RJ. Zip Code: 2434 8- 120. Telephone: (21) 2629 8005.” (Source: IEF website)

5. Chacrinha State Park: “It is located in the southern slope of Morro São João in Copacabana, South Zone of the Rio de Janeiro municipality. It is all along Leme Hill, from Cardeal Arcoverde Square until the old portico of Leme fortification, fortress that controlled the access to Copacabana and Botafogo neighborhoods.
The park has 3,6 hectares and it keeps one of the last forest areas of Copacabana neighborhood, one the most densely populated areas of the country. The district, which was located close to the fortress known as Chacrinha, was formed by lands that belonged to the zones of protection of military facilities between Barata Ribero and the old Suzano Streets.
In spite of being close to a highly populated locality as Copacabana, the Park has an important woodland for the climatic softening of the region and for the preservation of the remains of the ecosystems found in the area, even the rich rupiculous vegetation of São João Hill slopes.
The tracks are very much visited by public and climbers who look for the access to São João Hill by the many ways of climbing it.
Visitation: 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Monday. Address: Guimarães Natal St. N/N next to the Light substation – Copacabana. Zip Code: 22011-090. Tel. 2530 3160
How to get there: Subway: Cardeal Arcoverde Square station. Buses: On Toneleros St.128, 433, 415, 473; on Barata Ribeiro St. buses: 132, 485, 484, 121, 125, 432, 413, 426. (Source: IEF website)

6. Três Picos State Park: It has 46.350 hectares (463.50 km2). This Park is the biggest unit of environmental conservation that belongs to the group of integral protection of Rio de Janeiro, it has been created to preserve the extensive segment of forest in an excellent conservation condition in the mountainous region of the state, which is popularly knows as “Corridor of the Sea Mountains”. Nearly two thirds of its area is located in Cachoeiras de Macacu municipality, and the rest is located among Nova Friburgo, Teresopolis, Silva Jardim and Guapimirim municipalities.
The access to the area of the park is completed mainly through the roads Teresopolis – Nova Friburgo and Cachoeiras de Macacu – Nova Friburgo (RJ 116)
Três Picos State Park embraces a continuous forest together with the national Park of the Serra dos Orgãos range of mountains and with the Ecologic Station of Paraiso what increases its importance as a refuge of countless fauna species.
In this park, the highest indexes of biodiversity in the state of Rio de Janeiro have been found, which in part is explained due to the great variation of altitudes: it is extended from the altimetry coast of 100 meters in some slopes to 2310 meters of Pico Major (Major Peak) of Friburgo, the highest point of the Sea Mountain. Due to this, you can observe so many diverse formations as the dense ombrofilic forest and the seaside woods, with its great variety of trees per hectare, the smog trees with its extraordinary variety of epiphytic and the altitude fields. That has brought about that the specialists consider that region as one of the “hot spots” in biodiversity terms in the whole planet. That is why; its preservation constitutes a major priority.
Among the most known range of mountains we can mention: Três Picos de Friburgo: The Capacete, the Morro dos Cabritos , Pedra D’anta, besides other smaller rocky formations but with peculiar forms such as: Dois Bicos do Vale das Sebastianas, A Caixa de Fósforos , Torres de Bom Sucesso, Pico Celedonia in Nova Friburgo, the “Mulher de Pedra” (“Stone Woman”) in Teresopolis , Moro do Sobaio and the Pedra do Colégio Cachoeiras de Macacu.” (Source: IEF website).

7. Grajaú State Park: “ It was formerly called Grajaù Forest Reserve but it was later denominated Grajaú State Park according to the No 32.017 State Decree in October 15, 2002, following the federal law No. 9.985/00, article 55, which created the National System of Conservation Units - SNUC. It has 55 hectares.
Located in Grajaú neighborhood, Northern area of Rio de Janeiro municipality it is situated around the northeast hillside of Três Rios Mountain until the boundaries of Tijuca National Park. The Pico Perdido or Pedra do Andarai, with an altitude of 444 meters is a remarkable spot, due to its pyramidal shape, which attracts many hikers.
Address: 742, Comendador Martinelli St. Grajaú, Rio de Janeiro /RJ Zip Code: 20561-060. Telephone: (21) 2576 4296.” (Source: IEF website)

8. Marinho do Aventureiro State Park: “ it is integrated into the Biological Reserve of Praia do Sul and its boundaries embrace all the seashore and beaches, from the Tucandoba point (Parnaioca) to Drago Point in Ilha Grande.” (Source: Seashore Guide Site)

9. Araras State Biological Reserve: “Located in Araras, second district of Petropolis Municipality, this biological reserve embraces an area of around 2.068 hectares (20,68 km2) and it is partially included in Petrópolis Environmental Protection Area, administered by IBAMA (Official Government Institution in Charge of Environmental Protection). The setting of the Reserve is in Bairro Jardim Araras and it has a great potential to support the development of scientific researches. Situated in the Sea Mountain range, it has a very rough topography in which rocky steep areas with slopes of around 50 % and 60 % and with altitude variations between 1.000 and 1.600 meters can be found ( Couto Peak).
The hydrographic net, formed by Araras and Vargem Grande rivers, goes to Piabanha River, a stream of Paraiba Do Sul River. Others like Córrego Ponte Funda and even smaller ones that end on Fagundes River also a stream of Paraiba Do Sul River. The reserve is covered with a flora formed mainly by a dense ombrofil forest, coastland woods, and plants of altitude. The jungle is mainly composed of secondary vegetation with just some parts of the forest, which have been regenerated. In the forest massif formed by the Valley of França River and by the slope opposite to Araras River, the biggest and densest concentration of the whole reserve can be found.
Address: 10351 Bernardo Coutinho St. Estrada do Horto, Jardins Araras, Petropolis,/RJ,. Zip Code: 25725-020. Telephone: (24) 2225 9144”: (Source: IEF website).

10. Guaratiba Archeological and Biological Reserve (State): “This reserve is located in an area of 3.600 hectares (36 km2) in the western zone of Rio de Janeiro state, northeast shoreline of Sepetiba Bay, it covers only Marine property. It can be reached through boat and in specific points of Guaratiba and Sepetiba municipalities. It is characterized by the coverage of extensive mangrove vegetation; one of the most preserved territory of the state, which have turned protection of innumerous species of flora and fauna that are threatened with extinction. The region has been one of the last places in Rio de Janeiro where you can find scarlet ibis, bird that originated the place name of Guaratiba, which in Portuguese means “abundance of scarlet ibis”. In the meanders of the rivers, there are mangrove plants that can reach heights of 8 meters.
In the avifauna of the region the spoonbill bird can be encountered in a great deal. It is also an area of nesting of paludicole birds and it is a point for resting and feeding of migratory birds. In that region you can also find the honey - creeper (Conirostrum Speciosum) with certain frequency and diverse species of migratory kingfishers.
Address: 4445 Estrada da Matriz, Guaratiba/RJ Zip Code: 23020-710. Telephone; (21) 3394 2594.” (Source: IEF website).

11. Joatinga State Ecological Reserve: “ This Ecological Reserve is located in the extreme southern coast of the state in Paraty municipality and it is inserted in the Environmental Protection Area of Cairuçu, it is administrated by IBAMA. It was created with the objective of preserving the local ecosystem, composed of forest remains of the Atlantic Forest, sandbanks areas running into the sea, mangrove vegetation and rocky slopes, and also trying to preserve the authentic corral* culture. Known as Juatinga or Cajaíba the reserve area with an extension of around 8.000 hectares (80 km2) encloses 12 nucleuses of occupations of traditional populations. The nucleuses are interrelated among them and they use the city of Paraty as a center of commerce and services in spite of the precarious access, on foot, by small tracks or by boat. The Atlantic Forest forms the natural vegetation of the region and it has a vast biodiversity. More than 10.000 species of plants can be found in the area, highlighting the exuberant hygrophilous tropical forest in the slopes and the valleys, the shoal forest running into the sea, and mangrove in the bottom of Saco do Mamanguá. The slopes contain rocky outcrop leveling covered with characteristic flora constituted mainly by gramineous plants, eroidous plants, bromeliaceous plants, orquidaceous plants, and cacteaceous plants.
In spite of the fact that there are not detailed studies about the local fauna, typical animals of pluvial jungle can be easily found.
Address: Rua Antonio Núbile de Fança , s/n, Chácara da Saudade, Paraty/RJ.
Zip Code: 23970-000.” (Source: IEF site)

Other conservation units of the state of Rio de Janeiro.

1. APA of Jacaranda Forest – Teresópolis;
2. APA of Frades – Teresópolis;
3. APA of Gericinó and Mendanha Mountains - Rio, Nova Iguaçú, and Nilópolis;
4. APA of Mangaratiba;
5. APA of the lagoon System of Maricá – Maricá;
6. APA of Massambaba – Saquarema, Araruama, and Arraial do Cabo;
7. APA of Madureira Mountains – Rio de Janeiro;
8. APA of Sapiatiba;
9. APA of Tamoios;
10. A Tomb. Canto Sul of Itaipu, Ilhas do Pai, da Mãe e da Menina – Niterói;
11. A Tomb. Das Dunas Damas Brancas – Cabo Frio ;
12. A Tomb. Foz de Paraíba do Sul / Ilha da Convivência – São João da Barra;
13. A Tomb. Dos Morros de São João da Mantiqueira and Guaratiba, Pequena and Funda beaches – Rio de Janeiro;
14. A Tomb. Grumarí amphitheater - Rio de Janeiro;
15. A Tomb. Between Ponta da Trindade and Tarituba beach – Paraty;
16. A Tomb. Sea Mountains / Atlantic Forest;
17. EE of Paraiso – Mage, Cachoeiras de Macacu and Teresópolis;
18. RE of Jacarepiá - Saquarema;
19. RE of Massambaba – Araruama;
20. REBIO of Ilha Grande – Angra dos Reis;
21. REBIO of Jacarapaguá – Rio de Janeiro;
22. REBIO of Sul Beach – Ilha Grande, Angra dos Reis;
23. REBIO of Jacarandá – Teresópolis;
Legend: A. Tombada (Protected Area) APA – Area de Proteçao Ambiental (Environmental Protection Area); EE (Ecological Station); RBIO (Biological Reserve); RE (Ecological Reserve).
Sources: Conservation Units in the State of Rio de Janeiro of Wilson Ferreira de Mendoça Jr.; Delson Luiz Martins Queiroz and Luiz Otávio de lima Pedreira .