The mountains hold a well-preserved remnant of Atlantic Forest, and are contained in the fully protected Jureia-Itatins Ecological Station.

The Serra da Jureia is a Precambrian horst on the coast of the municipality of Iguape in the south of São Paulo state.

It is an inselberg connected to the mainland by a sandy alluvial plain that was formed 5100 years ago during the post-glacial Cananéia Transgression, when the sea was about 3 metres (9.8 ft) higher than at present.

[3] The Serra da Jureia and its surroundings hold one of the best preserved remnants of Atlantic Forest on the coast of São Paulo.

The power plant project was abandoned but the Jureia-Itatins Ecological Station was created on 20 January 1986, covering the Jureia Massif and the entire watershed of the Una do Prelado River.