Carste de Lagoa Santa Environmental Protection Area

Carste de Lagoa Santa Environmental Protection Area (Área de Proteção Ambiental Carste de Lagoa Santa is a protected area in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Location
The protected area in the Cerrado biome, which covers 39957 ha, was created on 25 January 1990. It is administered by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation. The objective is to protect biological diversity, manage the impact of human occupation and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources. The area covers parts of the municipalities of Confins, Lagoa Santa, Matozinhos, Funilândia, Pedro Leopoldo and Prudente de Morais in Minas Gerais.

Conservation
The Carste de Lagoa Santa Environmental Protection Area is classed as IUCN protected area category V: protected landscape/seascape. Protected species include fossorial giant rat (Kunsia fronto), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis mitis) and orange-brown Atlantic tree-rat (Phyllomys brasiliensis). It includes the Sumidouro State Park, which protects an area containing limestone caves where remains of early humans have been found.