It preserves fragments of Atlantic Forest vegetation, including endangered plant and animal species.

The Mata Preta Ecological Station (ESEC) is in the municipality of Abelardo Luz, Santa Catarina.

[3] The buffer zone is 500 metres (1,600 ft) wide and includes part of the municipality of Clevelândia.

[5] The ESEC is classed as IUCN protected area category Ia (strict nature reserve).

One of them is well-preserved and holds an immense stand of Araucaria angustifolia, with tree species in the under story typical of the primary forest formation such as Ocotea porosa, Sloanea lasiocoma and Ilex paraguariensis.

[4] Important tree species include Dicksonia sellowiana, Parapiptadenia rigida, Cordia trichotoma, Ocotea pulchella, Nectandra lanceolata, Cedrela fissilis, Psychotria leiocarpa and Aechmea recurvata.