ÁREA DE PROTEÇÃO AMBIENTAL REENTRÂNCIAS MARANHENSES

The Environmental Protection Area of the Maranhenses Reentrances is situated within the Amazon and Coastal-Marine biomes. The Ecological-Economic Zoning of Maranhão officially classifies the unit in this way. The APA is located on the northern coast of Maranhão and was created by State Decree No. 11,901, on June 11, 1991. It covers approximately 2.68 million hectares and protects an extensive coastal strip formed by bays, islands, estuaries, channels, streams, and large areas of mangrove. The Maranhenses Reentrances, along with the mangroves of Pará, comprise one of the largest continuous mangrove areas in the world. The region is of great importance for fish, crustaceans, mollusks, marine mammals, and especially for coastal and migratory birds, serving as a feeding, shelter, and breeding area. The APA is also internationally recognized as a Ramsar Site due to the significance of its wetlands.