Brazil Tours

Bahia Tours / Brazil - The Serra do Conduru State Park is an integral protection conservation unit of the Mata Atlântica Biosphere Reserve in the state of Bahia. It is located 20 km southwest of Itacaré.

The park was created in February 21 of 1997 by the decree nº 6227 of the Government of the State of Bahia and protects on an area of 9.000 ha important remnants of pretty well preserved Atlantic Rainforest / (Mata Atlântica). Flora and fauna of the park are very rich and shelter many endemic species such as the quiri tree or the primates macaco-prego do peito amarelo (yellow-breasted capuchin monkey) and the preguiça de coleira (maned sloth).

A study realized by the Botanical Garden of New York identified 456 different tree species in one hectare (100 m x 100 m) which is considered a world record in biodiversity

The necessities of conservation of the park unfortunately don´t combine with the presence and the activities of aproximately 160 families which until today live within the limits of the park and who survive by simple agricultural labor such as manioc planting. One of the biggest problems of the park is the regulation of indemnization payments to those families.

Until today, only a small part of the families have received such payments. Without thoses indemnization payments those families are tolerated within the park but they are not allowed to enlarge the space where they are living and reduce their agricultural activities to a minimum (without cutting trees and setting fire). Considering that the number of their family members is constantly growing these are hard conditions to survive.

See also: Tour 4: Porto Seguro - Salvador