The Descobrimento National Park is located in the extreme south of Bahia in one of the last remaining areas of Atlantic Forest in Bahia.
The region has been a victim of loggers and hunters for a long time, causing irreparable damage, although there still remains a large intact green part of forest that enables the preservation of the biodiversity that is found in the Atlantic Forest.
The World Natural Heritage Site of the Discovery Coast, which is considered a Biosphere Reserve, is integrated into the park.
The area has trails that were used and opened by ancient wood explorers, it is still possible to find huge trees fallen to the ground and in the process of decomposition.
Atlantic Forest in the South of Bahia
1. Cultural and historical aspects
The unit covers the springs of the Cahy River, at whose mouth lies the first anchorage point of Cabral’s armada at the time of the discovery of Brazil.
2. Natural Aspects
Coastal tablelands of the Barreiras formation with an altitude of about 100 m. The soil is of the sandy-clay type, with a sandy texture and the relief is predominantly flat.
Despite evidence of selective logging, as well as secondary stage vegetation in nearby areas, the forest at this site is in a good state of conservation.
There are also stretches of specialized mussununga vegetation, which is little known and is often confused with ombrophilous forest (“restingas”), tree or shrub restingas.
Imposing trees such as the jacarandá-da-bahia, the braúna, Imbiruçu and hundreds of other tree and shrub species are components of the Atlantic Forest found in the Park, which is one of the last reserves of rue, an endemic species that was widely used to make troughs and pestles.
Undoubtedly the greatest attraction that this Unit offers is the diversity of its fauna.
The area would be one of the only and last strongholds of the Mutum in the southeast. A bird survey carried out in 2001 recorded 47 species, 44 of which are endemic to the Atlantic Forest, 17 legally protected in Brazil and 15 listed in some IUCN category.
Among these are the chauã parrot, symbol of the Park, the macuco, the royal hawk and the critically endangered cinnamon-tailed scales and southeastern curassows.
In the same survey, 34 species of medium and large mammals were recorded, 8 of which are threatened and 3 endemic. In the primate group, the recent occurrence of the howler monkey was important.
The records of tapir, jaguar and sussuarana are also important. In the survey of anuran amphibians, two new species of the genus Hyla were recorded, as well as new records in the state of Bahia.
There is still a lack of reptile and invertebrate surveys in the Park, a demand that urgently needs to be met. And the existence of a micro-basin entirely within the Park, the Imbassuaba, makes the discovery of new species very plausible, an additional potential to be explored.
The climate is tropical humid, hot and humid forest climate, with no dry season.
The unit is not yet open to visitors, but environmental education and research activities already take place inside it, with the proper supervision of the Park’s staff.
Much of the biological diversity of the Park is not even known, being a unique opportunity for researchers and universities interested in conservation biology.
Ecotourism activities, mainly focused on ecological trails and nature observation (fauna and flora) can also be pointed out as a potentiality after the opening of the Park to visitors.
Field activities can be carried out by schools and other institutions in the region, which can have in the Park an additional resource in carrying out outdoor Environmental Education activities.
The administrative headquarters of the Park, located in the city of Prado, serves as a support point for tourist and environmental information in the region, in addition to having educational materials on environmental issues for students in the region.
There is also a field office at the entrance to the Park, with little infrastructure, and an outpost near the village of Cumuruxatiba, currently occupied by indigenous people. The roads within the Park are dirt, used only by staff for routine monitoring.
In nearby towns such as Itamarajú (17 km) it is possible to find good inns and in Prado (30 km), besides good places to stay, it is possible to enjoy the excellent diversified cuisine.
Access to the park is via the BR 101 highway to the city of Itamaraju. Then, follow the BA-001 highway to Prado.
Traveling another 22 kilometers, you arrive at the main gate. A road, the only passable one, crosses the park at both ends, heading to the small village of Cumuruxatiba, which, in the future, will be a trip not to be missed, traveling along a beautiful park road.
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