The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, located in the state of Maranhão in the north of the country, is competing for the title of World Natural Heritage Site, granted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco). Governor Carlos Brandão confirmed that the park met the technical requirements and had its application approved.
A Unesco committee is expected to visit Brazil for an on-site evaluation, but no date has been announced yet. Governor Brandão wrote on his social media that he has no doubt that the experts will be enchanted by what he called “this natural paradise, the pride of all Maranhenses.”
Established over 40 years ago, the park is located approximately 250 kilometers from the state capital, São Luís. Famous for its crystal-clear lagoons that form between the white dunes during the rainy season, the area is the largest dune field in South America, covering an area of 155 thousand hectares — larger than the city of São Paulo. It is managed by the environmental preservation institute ICMBio.
It is said that the national park meets at least three criteria to become a World Natural Heritage Site: natural beauty, geological features, and habitats, which also include endangered species. Its application was submitted in 2018, and the potential title is believed to bring more visibility to the area worldwide.
Currently, Brazil has seven World Natural Heritage Sites:
• Iguaçu National Park, in Foz do Iguaçu, on the border between Paraná and Argentina;
• the Atlantic Forest reserves in the states of São Paulo and Paraná;
• the Discovery Coast, in the states of Bahia and Espírito Santo;
• the Protected Areas of Central Amazon and the Pantanal;
• Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Park, in Goiás;
• the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha;
• and the Rocas Atoll.
The Lençóis Maranhenses Park could become the eighth on the list.
Source: Agência Brasil