Protected Areas of Brazil
Indigenous Land

Prior to the European colonization, more than 1.000 indigenous societies (between 2 and 4 million people) are estimated to have lived in Brazil. Nowadays, their population has declined drastically to about 220 indigenous societies with approximately 370.000 people distributed all over Brazil.

In order to protect this valuable social / cultural diversity, Brazil has established about 1 million square kilometers of indigenous land which corresponds to approximately 12 % of its territory. Further information can be found on the website of Instituto Socioambiental.

Sometimes, indigenous land is overlapping with conservation units such as Barra Velha and Monte Pascoal National Park in Bahia, Parati-Mirim and Cairuçu Environmental Protection Area in Paraty (Rio de Janeiro), Rio Branco and Serra do Mar State Park or Itariri with the Juréia - Itatins Ecological Station (both in São Paulo State).