It fully protects a well-preserved area of Atlantic Forest and associated ecosystems along the coastal plain and mountains of the south of the state, home to endangered species of mammals and birds.

The Jureia-Itatins Ecological Station (ESEC) is divided between the municipalities of Iguape (86.43%), Itariri (3.62%), Miracatu (5.59%), Peruíbe (4.19%) and Pedro de Toledo (0.17%) in the state of São Paulo.

[1] The ESEC covers part of the coastal plain and mountains between Ilha Comprida to the southwest and Peruíbe to the east.

[2] The coastal region of the ESEC contains the Serra da Jureia, an inselberg connected to the mainland by a sandy alluvial plain.

[4] The main biome is Atlantic Forest, with ecosystems typically associated with it including pioneer formations of marine influence, beaches, salt marches, rocky shores and lowland and submontane rainforest.

[5] The ESEC provides a sanctuary for rare and threatened species of mammals and birds including spider monkey, jaguar, otter, capybara and tinamou.

[4] On 20 January 1986 governor André Franco Montoro created the Jureia-Itatins Ecological Station by decree 24.646 with an area of about 82,000 hectares (200,000 acres) to ensure the integrity of the existing ecosystems.

It also excluded the areas to the north of the ESEC that were now part of the Banhados de Iguape Ecological Station.

It included the Jureia-Itatins Ecological Station, Itinguçu and Prelado state parks, Despraiado and Barra do Una sustainable development reserves and the Ilhas do Abrigo e Guararitama Wildlife Refuge.

[5] A motion was passed on 29 June 2012 repudiating the order for 300 families of traditional residents to withdraw from the ESEC.