Environmental Protection Area (Brazil)

Barra do Rio Mamanguape Environmental Protection Area

An Environmental Protection Area (Portuguese: Área de proteção ambiental: APA) is a type of protected area in Brazil that has some degree of human occupation, but where the primary intent is to protect nature and human occupation is monitored and controlled.

Definition

Environmental Protection Areas (APAs) are defined as part of the National System of Conservation Units regulated by Law 9985 of 18 July 2000. They are one of the types of sustainable use units, which try to reconcile conservation of nature with sustainable use of some natural resources.. Other types of sustainable use unit are significant ecological interest area, national forest, extractive reserve, fauna reserve, sustainable development reserve, and natural heritage particular reserve.[1]

As of 1993 APAs were defined as areas where wildlife, genetic diversity and other natural resources were to be conserved through adequate and sustainable use for the benefit of the local population, following a management plan to harmonise the various human activities. The APA was the closest concept to the Biosphere Reserve in Brazilian law, the main difference being that a strictly protected core zone was not required. However the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) was drawing up new definitions that would include the requirement for core zones in APAs.[2]

An APA may be public or private. Its main goal is to protect areas that are important to the well being and quality of life of humans through protecting biodiversity. Often they cover huge areas, with no buffer zone between the APA and unprotected areas. They fall under IUCN protected area category V: protected landscape/seascape.[3] As of 2015 APAs accounted for 30% of protected areas.[4] APA coverage in Brazil was:[3]

Environmental Protection Areas have a certain amount of human occupation, and may have environmental aspects that are important for aesthetic or cultural reasons to human populations. An APA does not require that land be expropriated, but does impose specific requirements on land use. An APA may contain other types of protected area, and must have a wildlife conservation area. Federal APAs are administered by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) .

The APA concept is derived from the Portuguese concept of Parques Naturais, which in turn is derived from the French concept of Parcs Naturels Régionaux. This has resulted in some inconsistencies with Brazilian law, which has caused some criticism.[5]

Selected list

Name State Area Created
(ha) (acre)
Anhatomirim Santa Catarina 4,437 10,960 20 May 1992
Baixada Maranhense Maranhão 775,035 1,915,153 11 June 1991
Barra do Rio Mamanguape Paraíba 14,640 36,200 10 September 1993
Cairuçu Rio de Janeiro 32,610 80,600 27 December 1985
Cananéia-Iguape-Peruíbe São Paulo 202,307 499,910 6 November 1985
Carste de Lagoa Minas Gerais 39,957 98,740 25 January 1990
Cavernas do Peruaçu Minas Gerais 143,354 354,240 26 September 1989
Descoberto River Basin Federal District 41,064 101,470 7 November 1983
Fernando de Noronha Pernambuco 884 2,180 5 June 1986
Guapimirim Rio de Janeiro 13,926 34,410 25 September 1984
Guaraqueçaba Paraná 282,444 697,930 31 January 1985
Ibirapuitã Rio Grande do Sul 316,790 782,800 20 May 1992
Igarapé Gelado Pará 23,285 57,540 5 May 1989
Morro da Pedreira Minas Gerais 131,769 325,610 26 January 1990
Petrópolis Rio de Janeiro 68,224 168,590 20 May 1992
Piaçabuçu Alagoas 9,106 22,500 21 June 1983
São Bartolomeu River Basin Federal District 82,680 204,300 7 November 1983
Serra da Mantiqueira Minas Gerais
Rio de Janeiro
São Paulo 		421,804 1,042,300 3 June 1985
Serra de Tabatinga Tocantins 35,185 86,940 6 June 1990

See also

Notes

    Sources

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