The Protected Landscape Approach - Centre for Mediterranean ...

12. Protecting landscapes and seascapes: experience from coastal regions of Brazil
Table 2. Federal Environmental Protection Areas (APAs) in Brazil’s coastal
zone (cont.)
Name Region/state Creation Area (ha) Land/seascape Protection goals
Cananéia-
Iguape-
Peruíbe
Delta do
Parnaiba
Fernando de
Noronha,
Rocas,S.
Pedro-S. Paulo
Guapi-Mirim
Southeast/
São Paolo
North/Piauí
Ceará, MA
Northeast/
Pernambuco
Southeast/
Rio de
Janeiro
1984 234,000 Continental
lands, waters,
islands
1996 313,800 Continental
lands, water,
islands
Ecosystems – mangroves to
mountains, bird nesting areas,
archeological sites, water quality,
Atlantic forest, maintenance of
traditional communities’ standards
River mouths and dunes, typical
vegetation and threatened animal
species: Trichechus manatus, fishes,
shrimps and crabs; improvement of
local people’s living conditions;
preservation of local cultural
traditions
1986 93,000 Sea, islands Environmental quality and necessary
conditions for survival of fauna and
flora; searocks, atoll
1984 13,961 Land, water Mangrove in Guanabara Bay,
mouths of rivers
Guaraqueçaba South/Paraná 1985 283,014 Continental
areas, islands
Jericoacoara
Piacabuçu
Northeast/
Ceará
Northeast/
Alagoas
1984 6,443 Continental
lands
1983 9,143 Continental
lands
Atlantic Forest, mangrove,
traditional communities,
archeological sites
Dunes, beaches, mangrove, marine
turtles, birds, maintenance of
traditional communities’ activities
Dunes, beaches, birds, turtles,
surroundings of Ecological station
Praia do Peba
This region was (and still is) very productive in terms of aquatic life, thanks to a barrier
island, Ilha Comprida (Long Island), which measures 70km by 3km and protects the estuaries
of several rivers, forming an estuary-lagoon system. The Ilha Comprida island is also important
for its genetic material and as a stopping point for migratory birds. The ecosystems of the
region, including naturally flooded areas, sandbanks and dunes are naturally dynamic, but also
fragile and vulnerable to urban pressures.
There was, and still is, amazing evidence of prehistoric man, with several sambaquis 4 which
provided whitewash for painting buildings along the coast in older times. The area was one of
the principal Brazilian targets for settlement by the Portuguese in the 16 th century, and
Cananéia village dates from 1531; along with Iguape, it is one of the oldest towns in Brazil. In
the 18 th and 19 th centuries Ribeira Valley was important for rice production, with the advantage
of a harbour allowing export and trade. However, canalization of the rivers led to silting up of
the harbour and, as rice production moved to the interior of Brazil, economic development
declined and the region was abandoned. This marginalization continued through the 19 th
4
Archeological protected heritage. Sambaquis look like small hills, covered with rich vegetation. They
are basically middens (domestic refuse heaps) and date from 10,000BP–5,000BP.
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