Mata da Estrela Private Natural Heritage Reserve, Private natural heritage reserve in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

Mata da Estrela is a private nature reserve near Baía Formosa that features dense forest, sand dunes, and a dark-colored lagoon called Araraquara. The land holds rare animal species and old-growth woodland that forms part of the Atlantic Forest system.

The reserve was founded in 2000 as a protected area for Atlantic Forest remnants. The initiative arose from the need to preserve these important woodlands from further loss.

The forest's name comes from its original outline: five lobes reaching into Pedro Velho and Canguaretama, like a star. During the 1817 revolution in Rio Grande do Norte, Father Antônio de Albuquerque Montenegro, vicar of Goianinha, fled into the then-impenetrable woods and reappeared only after the royal pardon. Sugar-cane expansion later cut residents off from a forest that had long supplied food and held strong symbolism for them.

Visitors can walk marked trails to observe the forest and wildlife of the reserve. It is best to go with local guides, as they know the best routes and where to spot animals and plants.

The reserve's official name honours Senator Antônio Farias, the Pernambuco politician who bought these lands in 1974 and founded Destilaria Baía Formosa (Vale Verde); the state designation dates from 22 December 1990. Locals still call it Mata da Estrela, after the five-pointed outline its limits once traced toward Pedro Velho and Canguaretama.