Reentrâncias Maranhenses Environmental Protection Area, Environmental Protection Area in Maranhão, Brazil

The Reentrâncias Maranhenses Environmental Protection Area stretches along Brazil's northeastern coast covering approximately 2.7 million hectares, with a landscape composed of bays, tidal channels, river mouths, and vast mangrove forests. The waterways weave through intricate estuaries that blend freshwater and saltwater ecosystems.

The area received official protection status in 1991, followed by designation as a Ramsar Site in 1993 in recognition of its wetland importance. These two milestones established the foundation for organized conservation efforts across the region.

The area's economy centres on fishing, on catching the Atlantic mangrove land crab (Ucides cordatus) and on tourism. The Cururupu Extractive Reserve, created in 2004, guarantees the sustainable use of natural resources by the fishing communities settled on the islands. The scarlet ibis, the guará, breeds here in large concentrations and gave its name to the Floresta dos Guarás.

The region is best visited during the drier months when pathways are more passable and mangrove forests are easier to navigate. Visitors should hire local guides and follow access regulations, as certain zones require special permits to enter protected areas.

The mangroves here, together with those in Pará, form the largest continuous mangrove area in the world. The coast itself is a "ria coast": river valleys drowned by the last sea-level rise about 6,000 years ago, whose fine sediments were later colonised by mangroves.