Aparados da Serra National Park
Encyclopedia
The Aparados da Serra National Park (Parque Nacional de Aparados da Serra) is located in the Serra Geral
range of Rio Grande do Sul
state in the south
of Brazil
, between 29º07’—29º15’ S and 50º01’—50º10’ W. It has been created in 1959 as one of Brazil's first national parks, to protect the Itaimbezinho
canyon. It extends over an area of 10,250 hectares.
. There have been at least 143 bird, 48 mammal, and 39 amphibian species documented in the park.
Endangered fauna on the plateaus of the park include the Red-spectacled Amazon
parrot, the Maned Wolf
, and the Cougar. On the slopes, the Neotropical Otter, Ocelot
and the Brown howling monkey
can be found.
has been created, encompassing an additional 17,300 ha. However, according to the Duke University
's Center for Tropical Conservation, the current park area, even after the extension with Serra Geral National Park, is still too small to be effective for the protection of representative samples of each distinct environment.
One of the main obstacles for conservation efforts is that the state only has title over 67.5% of the land, and even part of that is occupied by farmers. Raising cattle, the practice of using fire to "renew" grasslands, the establishment of banana plantations with associated use of pesticides and the presence of domestic animals, all contribute to environmental degradation. Other threats are posed by invasive flora
from the areas surrounding the park and poaching
.
Currently a maximum of 1,500 visitors per day are allowed in the park.
Serra Geral
The Serra Geral is a mountain range in southern Brazil, constituting the southern portion of the Serra do Mar system which runs along Brazil's southeastern coast. The Serra Geral runs parallel to the Atlantic coast in Santa Catarina and northern Rio Grande do Sul states, separating a narrow coastal...
range of Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul
Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...
state in the south
Southern Region, Brazil
The South Region of Brazil is one of the five regions of Brazil. It includes the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul and covers 576,409.6 km ², being the smallest portion of the country...
of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, between 29º07’—29º15’ S and 50º01’—50º10’ W. It has been created in 1959 as one of Brazil's first national parks, to protect the Itaimbezinho
Itaimbezinho
The Itaimbezinho is a canyon in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, about 170 km from Porto Alegre, near the border of the state of Santa Catarina. It is part of the Aparados da Serra National Park....
canyon. It extends over an area of 10,250 hectares.
Flora and fauna
Despite its relatively small size, the park is characterised by a rich biodiversity, as result of its diverse relief and of being situated at the contact between coastal forests, grasslands and Araucaria moist forestsAraucaria moist forests
The Araucaria moist forests are a subtropical moist forest ecoregion of southern Brazil and northeastern Argentina.-Setting:The Araucaria moist forests cover an area of , encompassing a region of mountains and plateaus in the Brazilian states of São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do...
. There have been at least 143 bird, 48 mammal, and 39 amphibian species documented in the park.
Endangered fauna on the plateaus of the park include the Red-spectacled Amazon
Red-spectacled Amazon
The Red-spectacled Amazon is a species of parrot in the Psittacidae family. It is found in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay....
parrot, the Maned Wolf
Maned Wolf
The maned wolf is the largest canid of South America, resembling a large fox with reddish fur.This mammal is found in open and semi-open habitats, especially grasslands with scattered bushes and trees, in south, central-west and south-eastern Brazil The maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) is the...
, and the Cougar. On the slopes, the Neotropical Otter, Ocelot
Ocelot
The ocelot , pronounced /ˈɒsəˌlɒt/, also known as the dwarf leopard or McKenney's wildcat is a wild cat distributed over South and Central America and Mexico, but has been reported as far north as Texas and in Trinidad, in the Caribbean...
and the Brown howling monkey
Brown Howler
The Brown howler , also known as Brown howling monkey, is a species of howler monkey, a type of New World monkey, that lives in forests in south-eastern Brazil and far north-eastern Argentina . It lives in groups of 2 to 11 individuals...
can be found.
Conservation and threats
When created in 1959, the national park protected an area of 13,000 ha. This has been reduced to 10,250 ha in 1972 through a presidential decree. In 1992 adjoining the national park, the new Serra Geral National ParkSerra Geral National Park
Serra Geral National Park is a national park of Brazil. It was created in 1992, and is made up of two separate sections adjacent to Aparados da Serra National Park, totalling 17,300 hectares.-References:...
has been created, encompassing an additional 17,300 ha. However, according to the Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
's Center for Tropical Conservation, the current park area, even after the extension with Serra Geral National Park, is still too small to be effective for the protection of representative samples of each distinct environment.
One of the main obstacles for conservation efforts is that the state only has title over 67.5% of the land, and even part of that is occupied by farmers. Raising cattle, the practice of using fire to "renew" grasslands, the establishment of banana plantations with associated use of pesticides and the presence of domestic animals, all contribute to environmental degradation. Other threats are posed by invasive flora
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
from the areas surrounding the park and poaching
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
.
Currently a maximum of 1,500 visitors per day are allowed in the park.