Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves

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Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves: A Biodiversity Haven in Brazil

The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999, is a vast network of protected areas spanning over 470,000 hectares across the states of Paraná and São Paulo in Brazil. This expansive region showcases some of the finest and most comprehensive examples of the Atlantic forest ecosystem, which is one of the world's 25 biodiversity hotspots.

UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves, in the states of Paraná and São Paulo, contain some of the best and most extensive examples of Atlantic forest in Brazil. The 25 protected areas that make up the site (some 470,000 ha in total) display the biological wealth and evolutionary history of the last remaining Atlantic forests. From mountains covered by dense forests, down to wetlands, coastal islands with isolated mountains and dunes, the area comprises a rich natural environment of great scenic beauty.

UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site

Criterion (vii): The site represents one of one of the largest continuous areas of exuberant Brazilian Atlantic Forest connected with coastal ecosystems. From mountains covered by dense forests with an abundance of orchids and bromeliads to coastal islands and estuaries with a wealth of vast mangroves, the property offers a natural environment of great beauty with tremendous terrestrial and marine biodiversity. More than 300 caves (including the Casa de Pedra Cave which has the largest portico in the world at 215 meters high, and Santana Cave which is one of the most highly decorated), the rugged mountains and breathtaking coastal scenery, contribute to the exceptional aesthetic interest of the region.

Criterion (ix): Historically partly isolated, the Atlantic Forest has evolved into a complex biome with a multitude of endemic species, comprising around 70% of the tree species, 85% of the primates and 39% of the mammals. As the most important ecological corridor of the Atlantic Forest, the site represents the best guarantee for the sustainability of the ongoing evolution of the biome and its associated marine and coastal ecosystems.

Criterion (x): The flora and fauna are extremely diverse and very rich. The flora is among the most diverse in the world, and in some areas one can encounter over 450 species of trees per hectare. As for mammals, they number 120 species, probably the largest in Brazil. Amongst the flagship species are the jaguar, ocelot and the bush dog (Speothos venaticus). The property is rich in primates, some of which are highly endangered, such as the woolly spider monkey (Brachyteles arachnoides), the largest primate in the Americas, and the little “black-faced lion” monkey (Leontopithecus caissara), recorded only in 1990 and endemic to the region. The avifauna is very diverse with 350 species recorded, including the blue-cheeked Amazon (Amazona brasiliensis), classified vulnerable. The scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber), a large bird with bright red plumage, is a local symbol.

Encyclopedia Record: Serra do Mar

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IUCN World Heritage Outlook

The 2025 Conservation Outlook on Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves reports the following assessment:

Source: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) · View assessment