IUCN Management Category II (National Park)

Biogeographical Province 8.7.1 (Serra do mar)

Geographical Location Southeast region Rio de Janeiro state, virtually within the city of Rio de Janeiro, 22°55'-23°00'S, 43°11'-43°19'W.

Date and History of Establishment 6 July 1961 by Federal Decree 50,925 as the Rio de Janeiro national Park, renamed 8 February 1967 when altered by Decree 60,183.

Area 3,300 ha, though only 2,700 ha were effective in 1972.

Land Tenure Part IBDF and part privately owned.

Altitude 80-1,021m.

Physical Features On the slopes of the Tijuca massif which is composed predominantly of gneissic-granite rock. The park contains the Corcovado Peak on which stands the famous statue of the Redeeming Christ. Dune and beach areas.

Climate No information

Vegetation Mainly reforested with local tropical species since 1862 when the state began to buy back the coffee plantations. These areas are look very similar to the true rainforest which covers about 5% of the area, despite their 300 years of cultivation.

Fauna Includes the following, mainly reintroduced, species: ochre-marked parakeet Pyrruhura cruentata (R), black-fronted piping guan Aburria jacutinga, dusky-legged guan Penelope obscura, maned sloth Bradypus torquatus (E), common marmoset Callithrix jacchus and black-capped capuchin Cebus apella nigritus. Leontopithecus rosalia (E) and Alouatta fusca (I) both occurred in the park at one time but are now extinct there. IUCN (1977) also recorded a number of primates, black-pencilled marmoset Callithrix penicillata, weeper capuchin Cebus nigrivittatus, woolly spider monkey Brachyteles arachnoides (E), though none of these have been reported in the recent literature. IUCN (1977) also record the three-toed sloth B. tridactylus, Ingram's tree squirrel Sciurus ingrami, tayra Eira narnara, Allamand's grison Galictis vittata, solitry tinamou Tinamus solitarius, channel-billed toucan Ramphastos vitellinus ariel, bare-throated bellbird Procnias nudicollis, swallow-tailed masikin Chiroxiphia caudata, jararaca viper Bothrops jararaca, a colubrid snake Chironius carinatus, ground boa Tropidophis paucisquamis and three frogs, Ceratophrys boiei, Zachaenus parvulus and Dendrophyrniscus brevipollicatus.

Cultural Heritage No information

Local Human Population No information

Visitors and Visitor Facilities No information

Scientific Research and Facilities An experimental effort to reintroduce the assai palm Euterpes edulis; insect studies.

No information.

Conservation Value No information

Conservation Management Incomplete ().

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

Management Constraints The park is located in an urban area with 5 million inhabitants and suffers from uncontrolled visiting and insufficient funds.

Staff 1 director, 20 administrative staff, 77 park guards.

Budget No information,

Local Addresses

Antonio Domingos Aldrighi, Director, Rua Major Rubens Vaz no. 122 - Rio de Janeiro - RJ CEP. 22,470.

References

Coimbra-Filho, A.F. and Aldringhi, A.O. (1972). Reestablecimento da Fauna so Parque Nacional Tijuca. IBDF Brasil Forestal 11: 19-33. Management plan, maps, species lists.

Date 20 May 1981.