Reserva Espinita celebrates 10 years as a private nature reserve in Bahia

The Reserva Espinita, located in Igrapiúna in the Baixo Sul region of Bahia, is celebrating 10 years of its official recognition as a Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN) by the Institute of Environment and Water Resources of Bahia (Inema).

The reserve protects 118 hectares of Atlantic Forest within a larger 150-hectare property. It serves as a vital center for biodiversity, housing 230 cataloged native plant species and a diverse fauna that includes 228 bird species and 24 mammal species, such as the maned sloth and cougar. Due to its avian diversity, the area is recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA).

Originally a farm dedicated to cocoa, rubber, and clove cultivation, the land has transitioned into a site for scientific research and ecotourism. The reserve also manages 16 springs that supply three rivers flowing into the Camamu Bay. Managed by veterinarian Antônio Maia, the initiative to transform the private land into a conservation unit began in the 1990s.