Cananéia-Iguape-Peruíbe Environmental Protection Area
Cananéia-Iguape-Peruíbe Environmental Protection Area () is a protected area in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. It has been designated as a Ramsar site since 2017. Location. The Cananéia-Iguape-Peruíbe Environmental Protection Area (APA) covers an area of of coastal marine biome. It was created on 6 November 1985 and is administered by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation. It covers parts of the municipalities of Ilha Comprida, Peruíbe, Miracatu, Itariri, Iguape and Cananéia in the state of São Paulo. The area includes the basin of the Ribeira de Iguape River . The highest point is above sea level. The APA contains part of the Mandira Extractive Reserve. It overlaps with the state-level Ilha Comprida Environmental Protection Area, created in 1987. The conservation unit is part of the Lagamar mosaic. Environment. Annual rainfall is . Temperatures range from with an average of . The area has a wide variety of Atlantic domain environments, and includes about 1,200 plant species. Environments range from tropical rainforest in the coastal plain to montane forest, cloud forest and alpine meadows. The slopes of the hills and mountains are typically covered by dense forest. The coastal strip includes  fresh water and brackish marshes, sandbanks and mangrove. It is part of the Iguape-Cananéia-Paranaguá estuary lagoon complex. Common plant species of the forest include Brasimopsis lactescens, Ficus species, Tabebuia cassinoides, Schyzolobium parahyba, Cedrela fissilis, Ocotea teleiandra and Euterpe edulis. The pioneer formations include Iresine portulacoides, Remirea maritima, Adcicarpha spathulata, Stenotaphrum secundatum, Sporobolus virginicus, Spartina ciliata and Panicum racemosum. Characteristic species in the mangroves are Rhizophora mangle, Laguncularia racemosa, Avicennia shaueriana and Spatina species. Endemic fauna include Superagui lion tamarin (Leontopithecus caissara), yellow-legged tinamou (Crypturellus noctivagus) and red-tailed amazon (Amazona brasiliensis). Migratory bird species include sanderling (Calidris  alba), rufous-chested plover (Charadrius modestus), American golden plover (Pluvialis Dominica) and red knot (Calidris canutus). Conservation goals. The protected area is classed IUCN protected area category V: protected landscape/seascape. The purpose is to protect biological diversity, control human occupation and ensure that natural resources are used in a sustainable way. Specific goals include allowing the "caiçaras" communities to exercise their traditional activities and preserving archaeological sites. Occupation of slopes at risk of erosion is avoided, and the area tries to protect and preserve ecosystems from the coastal mangroves to the higher-altitude meadows, protect endangered species and conserve  the nesting areas of birds and water resources. Protected species include green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) and Chaco eagle (Harpyhaliaetus coronatus).