# Ecological station (Brazil)

An ecological station (Portuguese: Estação Ecológica) in Brazil is a type of protected area of Brazil as defined by the National System of Conservation Units (SNUC). The purpose is to preserve untouched representative samples of the different biomes in Brazil.

## Objectives and restrictions

In the 1970s the Special Secretariat of the Environment under the environmentalist Paulo Nogueira Neto launched a program of estações ecológicas (ecological stations) with the aim of establishing a network of reserves that would protect representative samples of all Brazilian ecosystems. The objective of an ecological station is to preserve nature and conduct scientific research. It establishes the right of eminent domain, with the private areas included in its boundaries requiring expropriation. In these areas, public visitation is prohibited, except for educational purposes, in accordance with the provisions of the Management Plan of the unit or specific regulation, and scientific research depends on previous authorization from the body responsible for the administration of the unit and is subject to the conditions and restrictions established by this body.
Changes to the environment in an ecological station are allowed to restore modified ecosystems, to manage species so as to preserve biodiversity and to collect specimens for scientific purposes. Changes are also allowed to conduct scientific research that affects the environment more than observation or collection, but in no more 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) or than or a maximum of 3% of the total area of the ecological station, whichever is smaller.

## Selected list of ecological stations

| Name | State | Area (ha) | Level | Created | Biome |
| Acauã | Minas Gerais | 3,195 | State | 1974 | Atlantic Forest |
| Águas do Cuiabá | Mato Grosso | 11,328 | State | 2002 | Cerrado |
| Águas Emendadas | Federal District | 9,181 | State | 1968 | Cerrado |
| Aiuaba | Ceará | 11,525 | Federal | 2001 | Caatinga |
| Alto Maués | Amazonas | 668,160 | Federal | 2014 | Amazon |
| Angatuba | São Paulo | 1,394 | State | 1985 | Atlantic Forest |
| Aracuri-Esmeralda | Rio Grande do Sul | 277 | Federal | 1981 | Atlantic Forest |
| Bananal | São Paulo | 884 | State | 1987 | Atlantic Forest |
| Banhados de Iguape | São Paulo | 16,588 | State | 2006 | Atlantic Forest |
| Barreiro Rico | São Paulo | 293 | State | 2006 | Atlantic Forest |
| Caetetus | São Paulo | 2,254 | State | 1977 | Atlantic Forest |
| Caracaraí | Roraima | 86,793 | Federal | 1982 | Amazon |
| Carijós | Santa Catarina | 759 | Federal | 1987 | Coastal Marine |
| Castanhão | Ceará | 12,579 | Federal | 2001 | Caatinga |
| Chauás | São Paulo | 2,700 | State | 1987 | Atlantic Forest |
| Cuniã | Rondônia / Amazonas | 189,661 | Federal | 2001 | Amazon |
| Grão-Pará | Pará | 4,245,819 | State | 2006 | Amazon |
| Guanabara | Rio de Janeiro | 1,935 | Federal | 2006 | Coastal marine |
| Guaraqueçaba | Paraná | 4,476 | Federal | 1982 | Coastal Marine |
| Guaxindiba | Rio de Janeiro | 3,160 | State | 2002 | Atlantic Forest |
| Ilha do Mel | Paraná | 2,241 | State | 1982 | Coastal Marine |
| Iquê | Mato Grosso | 215,969 | Federal | 1981 | Amazon |
| Itirapina | São Paulo | 5,512 | State | 1984 | Atlantic Forest |
| Jari | Amapá, Pará | 227,126 | Federal | 1982 | Amazon |
| Jataí | São Paulo | 9,010 | State | 1982 | Cerrado |
| Juami-Japurá | Amazonas | 831,524 | Federal | 1985 | Amazon |
| Jutaí-Solimões | Amazonas | 284,285 | Federal | 1983 | Amazon |
| Juréia-Itatins | São Paulo | 208,505 | State | 1986 | Atlantic Forest |
| Maracá | Roraima | 103,976 | Federal | 1981 | Amazon |
| Maracá-Jipioca | Amapá | 60,200 | Federal | 1981 | Amazon |
| Mata do Jacaré | São Paulo | 75 | State | 1987 | Atlantic Forest |
| Mata dos Ausentes | Minas Gerais | 498 | State | 1974 | Atlantic Forest |
| Mata Preta | Santa Catarina | 6,566 | Federal | 2005 | Atlantic Forest |
| Mico Leão Preto | São Paulo | 5,500 | Federal | 2002 | Atlantic Forest |
| Mujica Nava | Rondônia | 18,281 | State | 1996 | Amazon |
| Murici | Alagoas | 6,132 | Federal | 2001 | Atlantic Forest |
| Niquiá | Roraima | 284,787 | Federal | 1985 | Amazon |
| Paraíso | Rio de Janeiro | 5,000 | State | 1987 | Atlantic Forest |
| Pau-Brasil | Bahia | 1,151 | State | 1997 | Atlantic Forest |
| Pau-Brasil | Paraíba | 82 | State | 2002 | Atlantic Forest |
| Pirapitinga | Minas Gerais | 1,384 | Federal | 1987 | Cerrado |
| Raso da Catarina | Bahia | 105,300 | Federal | 1984 | Caatinga |
| Rio Acre | Acre | 77,500 | Federal | 1981 | Amazon |
| Rio da Casca | Mato Grosso | 3,534 | State | 1994 | Amazon |
| Rio Flor do Prado | Mato Grosso | 8,517 | State | 2003 | Amazon |
| Rio Madeirinha | Mato Grosso | 13,683 | State | 1997 | Amazon |
| Rio Ronuro | Mato Grosso | 102,000 | State | 1998 | Amazon |
| Rio Roosevelt | Mato Grosso | 96,925 | State | 2007 | Amazon |
| Samuel | Rondônia | 71,061 | State | 1989 | Amazon |
| Seridó | Rio Grande do Norte | 1,163 | Federal | 1982 | Caatinga |
| Serra das Araras | Mato Grosso | 28,637 | Federal | 1982 | Amazon |
| Serra dos Três Irmãos | Rondônia | 87,412 | State | 1990 | Amazon |
| Serra Geral do Tocantins | Bahia, Tocantins | 716,306 | Federal | 2001 | Amazon |
| Taiamã | Mato Grosso | 11,555 | Federal | 1981 | Amazon |
| Taim | Rio Grande do Sul | 10,939 | Federal | 1986 | Coastal Marine |
| Tamoios | Rio de Janeiro | 9,361 | Federal | 1990 | Coastal Marine |
| Terra do Meio | Pará | 3,373,110 | Federal | 2005 | Amazon |
| Tupinambás | São Paulo | 2,464 | Federal | 1987 | Coastal Marine |
| Tupiniquins | São Paulo | 1,728 | Federal | 1986 | Coastal Marine |
| UFMG | Minas Gerais | 114 | Federal | 1988 | Cerrado |
| Uruçui-Una | Piauí | 135,120 | Federal | 1981 | Cerrado |
| Wenceslau Guimarães | Bahia | 2,418.00 | State | 1997 | Atlantic Forest |
| Xitué Ecological Station | São Paulo | 3,095 | State | 1987 | Atlantic Forest |