Serra da Mantiqueira Environmental Protection Area

Serra da Mantiqueira Environmental Protection Area (Área de Proteção Ambiental da Serra da Mantiqueira is a protected area of Brazil that includes parts of the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

Location
The environment protection area in the Atlantic Forest biome, with an area of 421804 ha, was created on 3 June 1985. It is administered by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation. It is part of the Mantiqueira Mosaic of conservation units.

The area includes parts of the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. In Minas Gerais it includes the municipalities of Aiuruoca, Alagoa, Bocaina de Minas, Baependi, Delfim Moreira, Itamonte, Itanhandu, Liberdade, Marmelópolis, Passa Quatro, Passa-Vinte, Piranguçu, Pouso Alto, Virgínia and Wenceslau Braz. In Rio de Janeiro it includes the municipalities of Itatiaia and Resende. In São Paulo it includes the municipalities of Campos do Jordão, Cruzeiro, Guaratinguetá, Lorena, Lavrinhas, Pindamonhangaba, Piquete, Queluz, Santo Antônio do Pinhal, São Bento do Sapucaí.

Environment
The terrain consists of rugged mountain ranges, with peaks over 2000 m. It includes the peaks of Pedra da Mina [2798 m], Pico dos Três Estados [2665 m] and Pico dos Marins [2420 m]. Average annual rainfall is 1750 mm. Mean temperatures range from 0 to 25 C, with an average of 18 C.

Vegetation is mostly from the Atlantic Forest ecosystem. Below 1100 m it is mostly dense montane rainforest. From 1100 to 2000 m there is mixed dense rainforest and upper montane forest, with specimens of Araucaria angustifolia (Brazilian pine). Above 1800 m there are areas of open fields or rocky fields. Endemic fauna include the Maldonada redbelly toad (Melanophryniscus moreirae). Migratory species include the great egret (Ardea alba), snowy egret (Egretta thula) and striated heron (Butorides striata).

Conservation
The protection area is classed as IUCN protected area category V (protected landscape/seascape. The purpose is to ensure conservation of the landscape and regional culture of the Mantiqueira Mountains, to protect and preserve endemic and Andean flora and remnants of the Araucaria forests, to preserve continuity of vegetation coverage along the central mountain spine, and to preserve the original vegetation and wildlife, particularly endangered species. Protected species include the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis mitis) and black-capped piprites (Piprites pileata).