Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve, Biological reserve in Quebrangulo and Lagoa do Ouro, Brazil.
Pedra Talhada Biological Reserve is a protected Atlantic Forest area covering about 4,400 hectares with rolling hills and steep mountain sections. The landscape rises to several peaks, with Lajeado dos Bois marking the highest elevation in the state.
The reserve was established in 1989 to protect mountain forests in the Guaribas and Serra do Cavaleiro mountain ranges. It replaced an earlier state park and remains under federal management for forest conservation.
The reserve protects Atlantic Forest species that live nowhere else, making it a refuge for wildlife adapted to mountain forests in northeastern Brazil. Local communities value the area for its role in maintaining water sources and forest cover across the region.
The forest is humid and warm year-round, so bring waterproof gear and sturdy hiking boots for the wet paths. The mountain trails require steady fitness, so plan to start early and take your time navigating the steep sections.
Scientists have discovered several fungal species here that were previously unknown in Brazil, thriving only in these specific forest conditions. These findings highlight how this woodland protects rare organisms found nowhere else.
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