# Central Atlantic Forest Ecological Corridor

The Central Atlantic Forest Ecological Corridor (Portuguese: Corredor Central da Mata Atlântica is an ecological corridor in the states of Espírito Santo and Bahia, Brazil. It promotes improvements to connectivity between fragments of Atlantic Forest in the region with the goal of maintaining genetic health among flora and fauna. The greater Atlantic Forest is also home to many native endangered or vulnerable species that are endemic to this part of the globe including but not limited too the: Golden lion tamarin, Three-toed sloth, and the Bristle-spined rat. The Central Ecological Corridor is beneficial in connecting hundreds of at-risk populations experiencing reduced gene flow and genetic variation due to deforestation.

## History

The corridor was created as part of the Ecological Corridors Project, for which the final evaluation was completed by the Ministry of the Environment in December 2000. A grant agreement between the World Bank and the Ministry of the Environment was signed in December 2001. The project was effective as of March 2002. Priority was given to the implementation of the Central Amazon Ecological Corridor and the Central Atlantic Forest Ecological Corridor to test different conditions in the two biomes and use the lessons learned to prepare and support creation of other corridors.
In the central corridor the state committees of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve act as project management committees, with representatives from traditional populations, environmental NGOs, producers and businesses and the three levels of government. The strategy is to ensure protection of significant forest remnants and gradually increase the amount of connection between core portions of the landscape through control, protection and recovery of forest cover and development of sustainable production activities that contribute to the connections.

## Location

As of 2006 the corridor had over 8,500,000 hectares (21,000,000 acres), covering the whole of Espírito Santo and the south of Bahia. As of 2006 the corridor included 83 protected areas. Of these, state-level units accounted for 53% of the area, 16 federal units covered 245,036 hectares (605,500 acres) and private reserves covered 11,145 hectares (27,540 acres).
As of 2015 the Central Atlantic Forest Corridor encompassed an area of about 21,500,000 hectares (53,000,000 acres), and extended about 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) from north to south. This included areas of sea up to the edge of the continental shelf. About 95% of the corridor was privately owned land, in 163 municipalities. There were 128 conservation units covering about 2,200,000 hectares (5,400,000 acres). In Bahia there were 10 federal, 15 state, 7 municipal and 28 private natural heritage reserves. In Espírito Santo there were 21 federal, 17 state, 17 municipal and 41 private reserves.
There are two centers of endemism. The region has various types of rainforest including semi-deciduous forest, restingas and mangroves along river estuaries. The forest has great diversity of woody plant species. Up to 458 tree species have been found in 1 hectare (2.5 acres) of forest in southern Bahia.

## Conservation units

The lists of protected areas below exclude the many private reserves included in the corridor.

### Fully protected units

Fully protected units in the corridor include:
| Name | Type | Area (ha) | State | Level | Created |
| Abrolhos Marine | National park | 87,942.03 | Bahia | Federal | 1983 |
| Alto Cariri | National park | 19,238.02 | Bahia | Federal | 2010 |
| Aricanga Waldemar Devens | Municipal nature park | 515.68 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1997 |
| Augusto Ruschi | Biological reserve | 3,562.28 | Espírito Santo | Federal | 1982 |
| Bicanga | Municipal nature park | 88.69 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2007 |
| Boa Esperança | Municipal nature park | 437.00 | Bahia | Municipal | 2001 |
| Boa Nova | National park | 12,065.31 | Bahia | Federal | 2010 |
| Boa Nova | Wildlife refuge | 15,023.86 | Bahia | Federal | 2010 |
| Cachoeira da Fumaça | State park | 162.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 1984 |
| Caparaó | National park | 31,762.93 | Espírito Santo / Minas Gerais | Federal | 1961 |
| Comboios | Biological reserve | 784.63 | Espírito Santo | Federal | 1984 |
| Coroa Alta | Municipal nature park | | Bahia | Municipal | 1998 |
| Córrego Grande | Biological reserve | 1,503.75 | Espírito Santo | Federal | 1989 |
| Córrego do Veado | Biological reserve | 2,357.73 | Espírito Santo | Federal | 1982 |
| David Victor Farina | Municipal nature park | 44.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1995 |
| Descobrimento | National park | 22,693.97 | Bahia | Federal | 1999 |
| Dom Luiz Gonzaga Fernandes | Municipal nature park | 63.88 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1998 |
| Domingos Martins | Municipal nature park | 56.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2010 |
| Duas Bocas | Biological reserve | 2,910.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 1965 |
| Falésias de Marataízes | Natural monument | 42.14 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2008 |
| Forno Grande | State park | 730.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 1998 |
| Frade e a Freira | Natural monument | 861.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 2007 |
| Goiapaba-Açu | Municipal nature park | 235.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1991 |
| Gruta da Onça | Municipal nature park | 6.89 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1988 |
| Ilha do Lameirão | Ecological station | 891.83 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1986 |
| Ilha do Medo | Ecological station | 1.00 | Bahia | Municipal | 1991 |
| Ilhéus | Municipal nature park | 773.40 | Bahia | Municipal | 2006 |
| Itabira | Natural monument | 450.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1988 |
| Itaúnas | State park | 3,481.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 1991 |
| Jacarenema | Municipal nature park | 346.27 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2003 |
| Manguezal de Itanguá | Municipal nature park | 31.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2007 |
| Marinho do Recife de Fora | Municipal nature park | 1,750.00 | Bahia | Municipal | 1997 |
| Mata das Flores | State park | 800.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 1992 |
| Monte Moxuara | Municipal nature park | 436.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2007 |
| Monte Pascoal | National park | 22,331.91 | Bahia | Federal | 1961 |
| Morro da Gamela | Municipal nature park | 29.53 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2007 |
| Morro da Manteigueira | Municipal nature park | 168.30 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1993 |
| Morro da Pescaria | Municipal nature park | 127.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1997 |
| Morro do Penedo | Natural monument | 18.79 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2007 |
| Papagaio | Ecological station | 457.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1992 |
| Pau-Brasil | National park | 19,027.22 | Bahia | Federal | 1999 |
| Paulo César Vinha | State park | 1,500.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 1990 |
| Pedra Azul | State park | 1,240.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 1991 |
| Pedra dos Olhos | Municipal nature park | 27.96 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2003 |
| Pontões Capixabas | Natural monument | 17,443.43 | Espírito Santo | Federal | 2003 |
| Puris | Municipal nature park | 36.63 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2013 |
| Recife de Areia | Municipal nature park | | Bahia | Municipal | 1999 |
| Rio dos Frades | Wildlife refuge | 898.67 | Bahia | Federal | 2007 |
| Rota das Garças | Municipal nature park | 20.10 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2002 |
| Santa Cruz | Wildlife refuge | 17,709.39 | Espírito Santo | Federal | 2010 |
| São Lourenço | Municipal nature park | 265.91 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2004 |
| Serra das Lontras | National park | 11,343.69 | Bahia | Federal | 2010 |
| Serra das Torres | Natural monument | 10,458.90 | Espírito Santo | State | 2010 |
| Sooretama | Biological reserve | 27,858.68 | Espírito Santo | Federal | 1982 |
| Tabuazeiro | Municipal nature park | 5.10 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1995 |
| Una | Biological reserve | 18,715.06 | Bahia | Federal | 1980 |
| Una | Wildlife refuge | 23,262.09 | Bahia | Federal | 2007 |
| Vale do Mulembá | Municipal nature park | 142.10 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2002 |
| Von Schilgen | Municipal nature park | 7.15 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2004 |
| Wenceslau Guimarães | Ecological station | 2,418.00 | Bahia | State | 1997 |

### Sustainable use units

Sustainable use units in the corridor include:
| Name | Type | Area (ha) | State | Level | Created |
| Baía de Iguape | Extractive reserve | 10,082.45 | Bahia | Federal | 2000 |
| Canavieiras | Extractive reserve | 100,726.36 | Bahia | Federal | 2006 |
| Cassurubá | Extractive reserve | 100,767.56 | Bahia | Federal | 2009 |
| Corredor Ecológico Lagoa Encantada-Serra do Conduru | Area of relevant ecological interest | 10,000.00 | Bahia | Municipal | 2009 |
| Concha D'Ostra | Sustainable development reserve | 953.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 2003 |
| Corumbau | Extractive reserve | 89,596.75 | Bahia | Federal | 2000 |
| Degredo | Area of relevant ecological interest | 2,460.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2002 |
| Goytacazes | National forest | 1,425.64 | Espírito Santo | Federal | 2002 |
| Laerth Paiva Gama | Area of relevant ecological interest | 27.57 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2005 |
| Manguezal de Cariacica | Sustainable development reserve | 741.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2007 |
| Morro da Vargem | Area of relevant ecological interest | 573.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 2005 |
| Papagaio | Sustainable development reserve | 1,729.70 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2011 |
| Pacotuba | National forest | 449.44 | Espírito Santo | Federal | 2002 |
| Piraque-Açú e Piraque-Mirim | Sustainable development reserve | 2,080.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1986 |
| Rio Preto | National forest | 2,817.40 | Espírito Santo | Federal | 1990 |

### Environmental protection areas

Environmental protection areas in the corridor include:
| Name | Area (ha) | State | Level | Created |
| Baía de Camamu | 118,000.00 | Bahia | State | 2002 |
| Cachoeira da Pancada Grande | 50.00 | Bahia | Municipal | 1993 |
| Caminhos Ecológicos da Boa Esperança | 230,296.00 | Bahia | State | 2003 |
| Candengo | 7,000.00 | Bahia | Municipal | 1990 |
| Caraíva / Trancoso | 31,900.00 | Bahia | State | 1993 |
| Conceição da Barra | 7,728.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 1998 |
| Coroa Vermelha | 4,100.00 | Bahia | State | 1992 |
| Costa de Itacaré / Serra Grande | 62,960.00 | Bahia | State | 1993 |
| Costa das Algas | 114,803.00 | Espírito Santo | Federal | 2010 |
| Costa Dourada | 3,435.00 | Bahia | Municipal | 1999 |
| Goiapaba – Açu | 3,740.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 1994 |
| Guaibim | 2,000.00 | Bahia | State | 1992 |
| Guanandy | 5,242.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 1994 |
| Ilha do Frade | 35.42 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1988 |
| Ilhas do Tinharé / Boipeba | 43,300.00 | Bahia | State | 1992 |
| Itapebi | | Bahia | Municipal | 1999 |
| Lago de Pedra do Cavalo | 30,156.00 | Bahia | State | 1997 |
| Lagoa do Jacuném | 1,152.88 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1998 |
| Lagoa Encantada e Rio Almada | 157,745.00 | Bahia | State | 1993 |
| Lagoa Grande | 2,725.20 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2006 |
| Lapão | 4,300.00 | Bahia | Municipal | 2001 |
| Maciço Central | 1,100.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1992 |
| Manguezal Sul da Serra | 1,061.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2012 |
| Mestre Álvaro | 3,470.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1991 |
| Monte Moxuara | 2,618.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2007 |
| Monte Urubu | 524.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2013 |
| Morro do Vilante | 500.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 1999 |
| Pedra do Elefante | 2,562.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 2001 |
| Península de Maraú | 21,200.00 | Bahia | Municipal | 1997 |
| Ponta da Baleia / Abrolhos | 34,600.00 | Bahia | Municipal | 1993 |
| Praia Mole | 400.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 1994 |
| Pratigi | 85,686.00 | Bahia | State | 1998 |
| Santo Antônio | 23,000.00 | Bahia | State | 1994 |
| Serra das Candeias | 3,051.00 | Bahia | Municipal | 1995 |
| Setiba | 12,960.00 | Espírito Santo | State | 1998 |
| Tartarugas Castelhanos | 1,092.00 | Espírito Santo | Municipal | 2011 |
| Vale das Cascatas | 5,880.00 | Bahia | Municipal | 1995 |