Protected Areas
Una Ecopark / Biological Reserve

The Una Biological Reserve is an Integral Protection Conservation Unit of the Discovery Coast Atlantic Rainforest Reserves World Heritage Site and part of the Mata Atlântica Biosphere Reserve in the state of Bahia. The Una Ecopark (Ecoparque Una) is a Private Reserve of Natural Heritage (RPPN), located 45 km south of Ilhéus, close to the Una Biological Reserve.

The big attraction of the Ecoparque de Una is a 100 m long and 30 m high canopy walkway suspension bridge through the rainforest canopy. The Una Biological Reserve was created by the Brazilian Federal Government in 1980, preserving within a total area of 7.022 hectares around 4.500 ha of native Atlantic Rainforest / (Mata Atlântica).

According to a study carried out by the New York Botanical Garden in 1993, the Atlantic Rainforest in South Bahia is one of the worlds richest in terms of biodiversity. 456 different species of trees have been identified in a single hectare (100 x 100 m) of which 54,8% are endemic.The Una Biological Reserve is also one of the last refuges of the Golden-headed-Lion-Tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas) which can be considered the key specie of the park and the Yellow-breasted Capuchin (Cebus xanthosternos). When visiting the Ecoparque de Una you can admire the diversity of plants and animals by a walk along a 30 m high canopy walkway which is composed of 4 suspension bridges and has an extension of 100 m.

See also: Porto Seguro - Salvador