It protects a mountainous area near the city of Florianópolis, covered in Atlantic Forest, which is an important source of drinking water.

The lush forests protect the sources of the Vargem do Braço, Cubatão and D'Una rivers, which supply most of the drinking water for greater Florianópolis and the south coast region.

[4] Comparison of aerial photographs of the portion of the park in Florianopolis from 1957 and 1998 show after the abandonment of farming there has been substantial regeneration of the forest.

The park contains the Baixada do Maciambu, a formation of semi-circular sand ridges formed by fluctuations in sea levels over the years and considered an important geological monument.

[1] The park is readily accessible to residents of the nearby urban areas, and supports eco-tourism and environmental education as well as scientific research.

[4] The hike from the end of the bus line takes about two hours each way along a path through subtropical rainforest thick with vines.