The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) has declared Lençóis Maranhenses National Park as a Natural World Heritage Site. The decision was announced on Friday (26) during the 46th session of the Unesco World Heritage Committee, held in New Delhi, India.
The park, located about 250 kilometers from São Luís, the capital of Maranhão, was created over 40 years ago. It is the largest dune field in South America, covering 155,000 hectares.
In other words, it is larger than the city of São Paulo, famous for its crystal-clear lagoons that form between the white dunes during the rainy season. Currently, the park is managed by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).
The governor of Maranhão, Carlos Brandão, celebrated the news. On the social media platform X, Brandão stated that Unesco’s decision was a significant achievement for the state.
“Without a doubt, this recognition will strengthen tourism and the preservation of this natural treasure of Maranhão. I thank the members of the Committee for their approval,” said Brandão.
Among the requirements met by the park to obtain the title are natural beauty, significant geological features, and habitats for biodiversity conservation, including endangered species. The nomination dossier for Lençóis Maranhenses was submitted in 2018.
Brazil already has seven sites declared as World Natural Heritage: Iguaçu National Park in Foz do Iguaçu; Atlantic Forest reserves in São Paulo and Paraná; the Discovery Coast in Bahia and Espírito Santo; the Protected Areas of Central Amazon and Pantanal; Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Park in Goiás; as well as the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha and the Rocas Atoll. The title granted to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park is the eighth on the list.
Source: Agência Brasil