Serra da Canastra National Park

Importance

The Serra da Canastra National Park, the sixth largest protected area in the Savannah, is composed mainly of two mountain ridges, Canastra, in the North side, and Babilônia, in the South, intermingled with Vale dos Cândidos. According to the Decree no. 70.355, of April 3, 1972, that created the Park, it comprises 198,380.00 ha. However, after the last 35 years, only 71,525 ha are regularized, and 126,855 ha still remain under the control of leaseholders or private owners. The lack or regularization of the land tenure situation in the area is nowadays one of the major reason for conflicts within the Park.

According to a study carried out by the Brazilian Ministry of Environment, the Park is located within an area of extremely high biologic importance and, therefore, a priority for protection. One of the study's recommendations is the full implementation of that Park.

The biologic richness within the Serra da Canastra National Park is incommensurable. As it is within an area of ecologic tension between the Savannah and the Atlantic Forest, it contains virtually all the Brazilian Savannah's phytophysiognomies, with a high level of endemism; until the present moment, 17 different areas of endemism have been identified, with 50 endemic flora species, among which, 37 are considered as new scientific records. Other six species, which occur only in the West and Southwest reagions of Minas Gerais, are protected only within this protected area.

With regards to the fauna, the Serra da Canastra National Park is remarkable for several reasons:

" The amphibian fauna is highly diversified and endemic, with species occurring only in specific points within the Park.

" Up to the present a total of 355 species of birds have already been identified, among which the extremely rare Brazilian Merganser (Mergus octosetaceus), a worldwide endangered species that has been scarcely recorded. The presence of this species is considered as a significant indicator of a sound environment. Two other rare and equally endangered birds occur in the Serra da Canastra National Park: the Crowned Eagle (Harpyhaliaetus coronatus), and the Lesser Nothura (Nothura minor).

" In relation to mammals, among the 46 large-sized species listed in the Savannah, 38 occur in the Serra da Canastra National Park, including the Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and the pampas deer (Ozotocerus bezoarticus), both mentioned in the Brazilian official list of endangered animals, as well as in the list of União Mundial para a Natureza - UICN [The Word Conservation Unit - UICN]. It also constitutes an important refuge for the giant armadillo (Priodontis maximus), which has been extinguished in great part of its area of distribution. Among the 21 carnivore species registered in the Savannah, 15 occur in the Park, such as the leopard cat (Leopardus pardalis), the pampas cat (Oncifelis colocolo) and the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), all equally endangered.

Besides the biologic richness, the Park contributes significantly to the protection of water resources, not only for the State of Minas Gerais, but also of a great part of Brazil., Besides the countless streams and brooks crossing the region, it's within the Serra da Canastra National Park's boundaries that are located headwaters of two of the most important Brazilian Hydrological basins: the Paraná River and the São Francisco River. The protection of the São Francisco River headwaters is among the Park's main objectives.

Another important attraction of the Serra da Canastra National Park, is the Casca d'anta waterfall. Considered as one of the biggest and most exuberant scenic beauties of Minas Gerais, the first waterfall of the São Francisco River, with its 186 meters high and gigantic strength, astonishes and fascinates the visitors.


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	Importance The Serra da Canastra National Park, the sixth largest protected area in the Savannah, is composed mainly of two mountain ridges, Canastra, in the North side, and Babilônia, in the South, intermingled with Vale dos Cândidos. According to the Decree no. 70.355, of April 3, 1972, that created the Park, it comprises 198,380.00 ha. However, after the last 35 years, only 71,525 ha are regularized, and 126,855 ha still remain under the control of leaseholders or private owners. The lack or regularization of the land tenure situation in the area is nowadays one of the major reason for conflicts within the Park. According to a study carried out by the Brazilian Ministry of Environment, the Park is located within an area of extremely high biologic importance and, therefore, a priority for protection. One of the study's recommendations is the full implementation of that Park. The biologic richness within the Serra da Canastra National Park is incommensurable. As it is within an area of ecologic tension between the Savannah and the Atlantic Forest, it contains virtually all the Brazilian Savannah's phytophysiognomies, with a high level of endemism; until the present moment, 17 different areas of endemism have been identified, with 50 endemic flora species, among which, 37 are considered as new scientific records. Other six species, which occur only in the West and Southwest reagions of Minas Gerais, are protected only within this protected area. With regards to the fauna, the Serra da Canastra National Park is remarkable for several reasons: " The amphibian fauna is highly diversified and endemic, with species occurring only in specific points within the Park. " Up to the present a total of 355 species of birds have already been identified, among which the extremely rare Brazilian Merganser (Mergus octosetaceus), a worldwide endangered species that has been scarcely recorded. The presence of this species is considered as a significant indicator of a sound environment. Two other rare and equally endangered birds occur in the Serra da Canastra National Park: the Crowned Eagle (Harpyhaliaetus coronatus), and the Lesser Nothura (Nothura minor). " In relation to mammals, among the 46 large-sized species listed in the Savannah, 38 occur in the Serra da Canastra National Park, including the Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) and the pampas deer (Ozotocerus bezoarticus), both mentioned in the Brazilian official list of endangered animals, as well as in the list of União Mundial para a Natureza - UICN [The Word Conservation Unit - UICN]. It also constitutes an important refuge for the giant armadillo (Priodontis maximus), which has been extinguished in great part of its area of distribution. Among the 21 carnivore species registered in the Savannah, 15 occur in the Park, such as the leopard cat (Leopardus pardalis), the pampas cat (Oncifelis colocolo) and the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), all equally endangered. Besides the biologic richness, the Park contributes significantly to the protection of water resources, not only for the State of Minas Gerais, but also of a great part of Brazil., Besides the countless streams and brooks crossing the region, it's within the Serra da Canastra National Park's boundaries that are located headwaters of two of the most important Brazilian Hydrological basins: the Paraná River and the São Francisco River. The protection of the São Francisco River headwaters is among the Park's main objectives. Another important attraction of the Serra da Canastra National Park, is the Casca d'anta waterfall. Considered as one of the biggest and most exuberant scenic beauties of Minas Gerais, the first waterfall of the São Francisco River, with its 186 meters high and gigantic strength, astonishes and fascinates the visitors.