IUCN Management Category II (National Park)

Biogeographical Province 8.8.2 (Brazilian Rain Forest)

Geographical Location Southeast region, states of Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais; 20°22'-20°40'S and 41°40'-42°20'W.

Date and History of Establishment 24 May 1961 by Federal Decree 50,646.

Area 16,194 ha, though the effective size was only 5,000 ha in 1972.

Land Tenure Owned by IBDF.

Altitude 997-2,890m.

Physical Features Mountainous terrain of the Serra do Caparao on the northernmost edge of the Serra do Mar, largely composed of Precambrian gneissic granites and with continuous elevations above 2500m, culminating with Pico da Baneira at 2890m. Oceanic influence produces higher precipitation on the eastern slopes.

Climate No information

Vegetation Tropical rain forest up to about 1800m, then high open grassland with alpine communities above 2400m. There is rainforest on both sides of the divide, but that on the Minas Gerais side has no oceanic influence. The alpine communities consist largely of members of three families, the Ericaceae, Melastomaceae and Myrtaceae.

Fauna Margay Felis wiedii (V), black-pencilled marmoset Callithrix penicillata, nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus, woolly spider monkey Brachyteles arachnoides (E), forest rabbit Sylvilagus brasiliensis, paca Agouti paca, crab-eating racoon Procyon cancrivorus, small-billed tinamou Crypturellus parvirostris, turkey vulture Cathartes aura, rusty-margined guan Penelope superciliaris, rufous-tailed antbird Drymophila genei, Itatiaia spinetail Oreophylax moreirae. The buffy-headed marmoset Callithrix flaviceps (E) possibly also occurs here (WWF/IUCN Project 1614). Jorge Padua et al (1974) also record giant armadillo Priodontes giganteus (V), maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus (V), giant anteater Myrmecophaga tridactyla (V) and pampas deer Ozotocerus bezoarticus, while IUCN (1977) also record brocket deer Mazama americana, saffron toucanet Andigena balloni and the red-ruffed crow Pyroderus scutatus.

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population No information

Visitors and Visitor Facilities No information

Scientific Research and Facilities Snake studies.

No information.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management Total.

Primitive, Extensive Use, Intensive Use, Historical-Cultural, Recuperation and Special Use zones.

Management Constraints Lack of funding, insufficient personnel and park buildings.

Staff 1 director, 2 administrative staff, 13 park guards, 3 general workers.

Budget No information.

Local Addresses

Pithagoras Ottoni Cardoso, Director of Caparao National Park, Avenida Catarina Eller, 708 - Caixa Postal 17 - 36,976 - Presidente Soares - Minas Gerais.

References

Management plan, aerial photographs, maps.

Date 20 May 1981.