Created 2 June 1981 Nearest city Boa Vista | Area 1,040 km² Designation Ecological station | |
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Maracá Ecological Station (Portuguese: Estação Ecológica de Maracá is an ecological station in Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil. It consists of a large island in the Uraricoera River that is covered by Amazon rainforest.
Contents
Map of Marac%C3%A1 Ecological Station, Brazil
History
The Maracá Ecological Station was established by presidential decree on 2 June 1981. The station consists of the island of Maracá between the Santa Rosa and Maracá branches of the Uraricoera River in the municipality of Boa Vista, Roraima, with an area of 101,312 hectares (250,350 acres). The Maracá Ecological Station now covers 103,976 hectares (256,930 acres). It was established with the purpose of preserving a representative sample of the Amazon ecosystem. A grid of trails was designed by the Roraima regional center of PPBio, and completed in March 2006.
Status
As of 2009 the Ecological Station was a "strict nature reserve" under IUCN protected area category Ia, with a terrestrial area of 101,312 hectares (250,350 acres). It is administered by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation. The conservation unit is supported by the Amazon Region Protected Areas Program. It would be included in the proposed Northern Amazon Ecological Corridor. The White-bellied spider monkey (Ateles belzebuth) is a protected species in the reserve.