Beberibe Cliffs Natural Monument

Beberibe Cliffs Natural Monument (Monumento Natural das Falésias de Beberibe is a natural monument in the state of Ceará, Brazil.

Foundation
The Beberibe Cliffs Natural Monument was instituted on 3 June 2004 by Ceará governor Lúcio Alcântara. At the same ceremony he signed the decree creating the Mata Fresca Private Ecological Reserve. The natural monument, of major environmental and tourist interest, is visited by about 400 people per day. The decree turned it into a fully protected area so that only eco-tourism and research would be allowed, and that only with permission from the responsible agency. Local youth were to be employed as guides, and explanatory signs installed.

Location
The natural monument is in the municipality of Beberibe on the east coast of the state of Ceará, between the Morro Branco and Fontes beaches. It has an area of 31.2 ha and a perimeter of 5709 m. The objective of the reserve is to protect the cliffs against the environmental impacts that had occurred earlier. Other cliffs in the region are unprotected and are occupied by hotels and vacation houses.

Cliffs
The cliffs in the area run along the coast for about 6 km where the Barreiras tableland reaches the coast. They are formed of sand-clay sediments from the Tertiary or Quaternary ages, with fine to medium grains, and with colors ranging from white to yellow to red. They are evolving as the sea acts on their bases and wind and rain erodes their upper parts. They are cut by gullies formed by the main streams that flow down to the sea. One famous structure is the Gruta da Mãe D’água (Cave of the Water Mother) on the Fontes beach, outside the protected area. This has been created by wave action on the cliffs, and is much visited by people. It has been degraded by the visitors, and is at risk of collapse.

Implementation of the protected area does not appear to have had a significant effect in slowing down degradation of the cliffs. It has therefore been proposed to implement a buffer zone, or to implement a larger Environmental Protection Area around the cliffs including the Morro Branco and Fontes beaches so as to better manage the site.