The Lagoa Encantada e Rio Almada Environmental Protection Area () is an

environmental protection area Environmental protection, or environment protection, refers to the taking of measures to protecting the natural environment, prevent pollution and maintain ecological balance. Action may be taken by individuals, advocacy groups and governments. ...

in the state of

Bahia Bahia () is one of the 26 Federative units of Brazil, states of Brazil, located in the Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeast Region of the country. It is the fourth-largest Brazilian state by population (after São Paulo (state), São Paulo, Mina ...

, Brazil.

Location

The Lagoa Encantada e Rio Almada Environmental Protection Area covers lands to the north and south of the Almada River in Bahia. It has an area of , and protects part of the Almada River basin. It covers the northern coast of the municipality of

Ilhéus Ilhéus () is a major city located in the southern coastal region of Bahia, Brazil, 211 km south of Salvador, Brazil, Salvador, the state's capital. The city was founded in 1534 as Vila de São Jorge dos Ilhéus and is known as one of the mos ...

, and parts of the municipalities of Uruçuca,

Itajuípe Itajuípe is a municipality in the state of Bahia in the North-East region of Brazil. The municipality contains part of the Lagoa Encantada e Rio Almada Environmental Protection Area, created in 1993. See also *List of municipalities in Bahi ...

, Coaraci and Almadina on the south coast of Bahia. The reserve is named for a beautiful lagoon, the Lagoa Encantada, that is formed by the Pipite and Caldeiras rivers. It has areas of Atlantic Forest, with waterfalls, springs and caves, and a has ''

restinga Restingas () are a distinct type of coastal tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forest in eastern Brazil. They form on sandy, acidic, and nutrient-poor soils, and are characterized by medium-sized trees and shrubs adapted to the drier and n ...

s'' and mangroves on the Atlantic coast. The APA is threatened by water pollution from sewage and garbage, since most of the communities have no sanitation. There are irregular settlements of squatters in the coastal area. Other threats include irregular fishing, deforestation, fires, hunting and the illegal trade in wild animals.

History

The Lagoa Encantada e Rio Almada Environmental Protection Area was created by state governor decree 2.217 of 14 June 1993. A management plan was issued in 1998, and a revised plan in 2002. It became part of the

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 Atl ...

, created in 2002. It was expanded by state governor decree 8650 of 22 September 2003.

Notes

Sources

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lagoa Encantada e Rio Almada Environmental Protection Area Environmental protection areas of Brazil Protected areas of Bahia 1993 establishments in Brazil