State Biological Reservation of Aguaí

Aguaí is the vulgar name of a tree of the family Sapotaceae, whose scientific name is Chrysophyllum viride. This species, a common in the Atlântica Forest, grows in the states of São Paulo, Paraná and Santa Catarina, receiving different names according to the area, as caxeta, aguaizeiro, yellow caxeta, coerana. Its fruits supply feeding for wild animals of fur and feather (REITZ et alli, 1978).

In the State of Santa Catarina, the Biological Reservation of Aguaí constitutes an important environmental patrimony, with its 7,600 hectares, it is the second largest Unit of Conservation in the State and the largest in its category, being extremely rich in biodiversity. Its importance is even larger being that, with the State Park of Serra do Tabuleiro, State Park of the Serra Furada, National Park of São Joaquim, National Park of Serra Geral and National Park of Aparados da Serra, becomes a vast ecological hallway.

Gathering the municipal districts of Nova Veneza, Siderópolis and Treviso, the reservation was created in July of 1983 by the state ordinance 19.635. Located in the buttresses of Serra Geral, in altitudes that vary from 200 to 1.200 meters, it possesses countless valleys that configure a spectacular landscape. In the area, a great amount of rivers are sprung, that will compose Araranguá River Basin, in which is located the São Bento River Dam, an important reservoir for public water supply in the area. Those river springs are protected by a dense vegetation formed by Atlântica Forest and for the Nebular Forest, that grows in the heights of the mountain (FATMA, 2006).

The access to one of the limits of the Conservation Unit, located in the Rio da Montanha, can be gained by the Municipal District of Nova Veneza, going through by São Bento River Dam Aqueduct. Then, riding a wagon for more than 10 Km, can be reached with the coordinates described in the Technical Register of the Conservation Unit..

Currently, the Biological Reservation of Aguaí is still not mapped and doesn't have any landmarks. Its limits were put on IBGE topographical sheets in a scale of 1: 50.000.