IUCN Management Category II (National Park)

Biogeographical Province 8.7.1 (Serra do mar)

Geographical Location Southeast region Rio de Janeiro state, 55km northwest of the centre of Rio de Janeiro; 22°24'-22°32'S, 42°59'-43°06'W.

Date and History of Establishment 30 November 1939 by law Decree 1,822.

Area 9,370 ha, but only 5,000 ha were effective in 1972.

Land Tenure Part IBDF and part privately owned.

Altitude 410-2,263m.

Physical Features Steep relief on the edge of a giant fault block composed mainly of granite and gneiss, forming a chain of geological monuments that give the appearance of organ pipes, (including the famous Dedo de Deus (Finger of God) peak).

Climate No information

Vegetation Luxuriant and varied due to the wide range of altitude. Lower levels have tropical rain forest rich in lianas, ferns and epiphytes (including orchids and bromeliads). The upper slopes have montane grasslands, a notable species being the endemic Prepusa hookeriana (Gentianaceae) which occurs on the peak of Pedro do Sino. Brush and small trees occur in sheltered areas in the montane zone, the trees being covered with lichens and mosses.

Fauna Black howler monkey Alouatta carava, black-capped capuchin Cebus apella nigritus, collared peccary Tayassu tajacu, ocelot Felis pardalis (V), maned sloth Bradypus torquatus (E), green winged saltator Saltator similos and a species of pit viper Bothrops sp. The La Plata otter Lutra platensis (V) has also been recorded, and the woolly spider monkey Brachyteles arachnoides (E) possibly still occur here, but the buffy-tufted-ear marmoset Callithrix aurita (E) now appears to have disappeared from the park. (IUCN/WWF Project 1614). Jorge Padua et al (1974) also record La Plata otter Lutra platensis (V), solitary tinamou Tinamus solitarius, ornate and black hawk-eagles Spizaetus ornatus, S. tyrannus, and the black-fronted piping guan Aburria jacutinga. IUCN (1977) also record philander opossum Caluromys philander, opossum Didelphis marsupialis, masked titi Callicebus personatus (V), paca Cuniculus paca, agouti Dasyprocta agouti, yellow-legged tinamou Crypturellus noctivagus, mantled hawk Leucopyernis polionota (I), spot-winged wood-quail Odontophorus capueira, black and yellow rat-snake Spilotes pullatus, the colubrid snake Dryadophis bifossatus, the iguanid lizard Urostrophus vautieri and the horned frog Ceratophrys dorsata (though the titi was not found during investigations under the IUCN/WWF project).

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population No information

Visitors and Visitor Facilities Facilities include footpaths, nature trails, mountain huts and a restaurant. Good mountaineering. Large numbers of visitors.

Scientific Research and Facilities Some entomological studies.

Lodging is available for scientists.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management Partial ().

Intangible, Primitive, Extensive Use, Intensive Use, Cultural-Historic, Recuperation, Special Use Zones.

Management Constraints Uncontrolled visiting in the lower intensive zone.

Staff 1 director, 6 administrative staff, 12 park guards, 16 general workers.

Budget Cr$ 2,000,000 in 1981.

Local Addresses

Mario d'Amato, Director of Serra dos Orgaos National Park, Avenida Rotariana S/No Alto Teresopolis - Rio de Janeiro CEP. 25, 950.

References

Flora and fauna lists; cartography 1:20,000 scale; aerial photographs; management plan; a study on the maned sloth Bradypus torquatus. Apparently a considerable bibliography exists.

Date 20 May 1981.