Conservation Units
Integral Protection Areas

Integral protection conservation units are protected areas whose main purpose is the conservation of biodiversity. Only the indirect use of natural resources is permitted and natural processes shall take place without human interference. The following conservation units (IUCN - management category I - III) fulfill this purpose:

         • biological and ecological reserves / stations (I),

         • national and state parks (II),

         • natural monuments and wildlife refuges (III).

According to a dossier about the Mata Atlântica published by RMA in 2001, approximately 370 (75%) of the 478 Brazilian integral protection conservation units are situated in the Atlantic Rainforest Biosphere Reserve.