Serra da Mantiqueira Environmental Protection Area
Serra da Mantiqueira Environmental Protection Area (Área de Proteção Ambiental da Serra da Mantiqueira is a protected area of Brazil that includes parts of the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.Location
The environment protection area in the Atlantic Forest biome, with an area of, was created on 3 June 1985.
It is administered by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
It is part of the Mantiqueira Mosaic of conservation units.
The area includes parts of the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
In Minas Gerais it includes the municipalities of Aiuruoca, Alagoa, Bocaina de Minas, Baependi, Delfim Moreira, Itamonte, Itanhandu, Liberdade, Marmelópolis, Passa Quatro, Passa-Vinte, Piranguçu, Pouso Alto, Virgínia and Wenceslau Braz.
In Rio de Janeiro it includes the municipalities of Itatiaia and Resende.
In São Paulo it includes the municipalities of Campos do Jordão, Cruzeiro, Guaratinguetá, Lorena, Lavrinhas, Pindamonhangaba, Piquete, Queluz, Santo Antônio do Pinhal, São Bento do Sapucaí.Environment
The terrain consists of rugged mountain ranges, with peaks over.
It includes the peaks of Pedra da Mina , Pico dos Três Estados and Pico dos Marins .
Average annual rainfall is.
Mean temperatures range from, with an average of.
Vegetation is mostly from the Atlantic Forest ecosystem.
Below it is mostly dense montane rainforest.
From there is mixed dense rainforest and upper montane forest, with specimens of Araucaria angustifolia.
Above there are areas of open fields or rocky fields.
Endemic fauna include the Maldonada redbelly toad.
Migratory species include the great egret, snowy egret and striated heron .Conservation
The protection area is classed as IUCN protected area category V and black-capped piprites.
