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The Ilhabela State Park covers 83% of the Island's total area of 346 Km2. This vast swathe of forest shelters the entire range of animal, insect and botanical species that make up the delicate ecosystem of the Atlantic forest and its rich biodiversity _ gathering together many different species including more than 800 types of birds, 180 amphibians and 131 mammals.

Those who keep a close watchout and listen carefully while walking along the Island's trails, may be lucky enought to see animals such as otters, a Brazilian type of squirrel , monkeys, jaguatiricas (a variety of South American ocelot), lizards and wild cats. A wide variety of birds can also be spotted on the tall trees. Toucans, Brazilian Tanagers, humming-birds, parakeets, tinamous, owls and Black-fronted Piping-guan are commonly seen, as well as many other species. The enormous variety of insects, plants and flowers makes a real impression because of the multicoloured beauty.

São Paulo's State Government created Ilhabela State Park in 1977 in order to protect one of the largest remaining unbroken stretches of Atlantic Forest to be found in the state. These forests originally covered 12% of Brazil, i.e., 1.1 million square kilometres. Nowadays, only 9% of the original area remains. In June 1985 all the islands in the São Sebastião archipelago were classified as being part of the national heritage and were incorporated into the Park. Only recently has the construction of new houses been approved in the area that goes from Canas Point, in the north, to Sela Point, in the south, and even then the work has to comply with the regulation that no houses can be built at an altitude exceeding 200 meters above sea level.

Ilhabela State Park is part of the PPMA - Projeto de Preservação da Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest Conservation Project). As a result of the partnership between the São Paulo State Environment Secretariat and the KFW German state bank (Kreditanstalf für Wiederaufbau), resources are being invested in the implementation of infrastructure and inspection in the Park. This source of funding will come to an end at the close of 1999: from then on, the park should become autonomous and self-sustainable.

STATE PARK OF ILHABELA

Administrative headquarters: 608, Rua Morro da Cruz, Itaguaçú. phone/fax (55 12) 472-2660, Ilhabela-SP, CEP 11630-000
Forest Unit: Castelhanos highway, Água Branca trail, from 9 a.m. to 4h30 p.m.
Services: for organised groups, it is possible to book guided tours by phone.