The Serra da Mantiqueira is one of the largest of the mountain ranges of southeastern Brazil, extending over parts of the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.

These are important sources of water for the metropolitan region of São Paulo and most of the state of Rio de Janeiro.

[1] A project to create three new protected area mosaics in the Serra do Mar Ecological Corridor began in December 2005, coordinated by the National Council of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve.

The fully protected areas are making progress to completing the land regularization process, where the titles of former owners are transferred to the state after compensation.

[1] The mosaic includes 17 public conservation units and several private natural heritage reserves.