It protects one of the last remnants of the semi-deciduous forest that once covered the west of the state, and is home to a population of the highly endangered black lion tamarin.

An escarpment cut by newly-formed valleys separates the upper plateau regions from the lower area where the Meio, Barreiro and Lagoa streams converge.

[8] The Köppen climate classification is Cwa, mesothermic with dry winter, rains from October to March and periods of drought from April to September.

There are no other significant remnants of natural forest within a radius of 200 kilometres (120 mi), so the ESEC is of great importance in understanding the original regional ecosystem.

[11] Common plants species include chupa-ferro (Metrodorea nigra), guaraiúva (Savia dictyocarpa), canela (Ocotea indecora), catiguá (Trichilia Catagua) and peroba-rosa (Aspidosperma polyneuron), with heights varying from 8 to 32 metres (26 to 105 ft).

[10] After six years with no record of their presence, two adult black lion tamarins were discovered at the ESEC in August 2016 near the administrative headquarters.

The ESEC is supported by IPE (Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas) and by the FNMA (Fundo Nacional do Meio Ambiente).