The Fontes do Ipiranga State Park is located in the south of the city of São Paulo.

[2] The State park has its origin in a decree of 12 September 1893 that declared an area of 696.9 hectares (1,722 acres) in the Ipiranga River basin was of public utility to protect the water supply of the city.

The Biological Reserve was to be kept intact as a scientific repository of the existing biota and to protect the historical headwaters of the Ipiranga River.

Minimal changes were allowed, including internal paths no more than 15 metres (49 ft) wide to be used only for scientific researchers.

[4] The reserve shows evidence of human influences such as construction in the surrounding area, introduction of exotic species and deforestation.