Carste de Lagoa Santa Environmental Protection Area


Carste de Lagoa Santa Environmental Protection Area (Área de Proteção Ambiental Carste de Lagoa Santa is a protected area in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Location

The protected area in the Cerrado biome, which covers, was created on 25 January 1990.
It is administered by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation.
The objective is to protect biological diversity, manage the impact of human occupation and ensure the sustainable use of natural resources.
The area covers parts of the municipalities of Confins, Lagoa Santa, Matozinhos, Funilândia, Pedro Leopoldo and Prudente de Morais in Minas Gerais.

Conservation

The Carste de Lagoa Santa Environmental Protection Area is classed as IUCN protected area category V: protected landscape/seascape.
Protected species include fossorial giant rat, ocelot and orange-brown Atlantic tree-rat.
It includes the Sumidouro State Park, which protects an area containing limestone caves where remains of early humans have been found.