It contains sambaquis, shell and bone mounds formed by fisher-hunter-gatherer peoples, that date back five thousand years.

Boracéia and Barra do Una are rich in birds and amphibians, including large numbers of endangered species.

The study identified the need to protect the "Bertioga Polygon" of 10,393.8 hectares (25,684 acres), including part of the municipality of São Sebastião.

It was chosen because it contains examples of flora that are poorly represented among conservation units in SP, with a high level of threat to its integrity and strong social support for its protection.

Areas occupied by federal or state highways, high voltage lines and Petrobras pipelines were excluded from the decree.

There include cougar (Puma concolor), deer, South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), southern muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides), howler monkeys, collared peccary (Pecari tajacu) and white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari).

The 2,700 metres (8,900 ft) Água Trail is in the Praia district, in the "dry mangrove" location, accessed by the old Palmares heart of palm factory.

It emphasises environmental education, and also passes the cable line of the Itatinga Hydroelectric Power Plant and the Guaranduva River iron bridge.