Barra do Rio Mamanguape Environmental Protection Area, Environmental Protection Area in Paraíba, Brazil

The Barra do Rio Mamanguape Environmental Protection Area covers 14,640 hectares in the estuary of the Mamanguape River, in the municipalities of Baía da Traição, Lucena, Marcação and Rio Tinto. Its estuary holds about 6,000 hectares of mangrove, the largest conserved mangrove area in Paraíba, alongside remnants of Atlantic Forest, sandy beaches, dunes and reefs.

The protected area was established in 1993 following centuries of use by Potiguara indigenous people for hunting and gathering. Its creation represented a shift toward acknowledging both environmental conservation and indigenous land rights in the region.

The protected area contains eighteen settlements, including six Potiguara indigenous villages, maintaining traditional fishing and gathering practices within the conservation framework.

Exploring the area is most rewarding with local guides who know the routes through mangroves and forest trails. Visiting during drier months makes pathways more accessible and wildlife more visible throughout the day.

The Projeto Peixe-Boi maintains a natural enclosure at Barra do Rio Mamanguape holding four manatees; the estuary is the species' main breeding area in Paraíba, so sightings are not guaranteed and depend on the animals' movements.