Integrated Management of the Ilha Grande Bay Ecosystem

The goal of the proposed Full-size Project (FSP) is to achieve the long-term conservation and sustainable use of Brazil’s Baia de Ilha Grande Ecosystem (BIG) and its associated terrestrial and marine biodiversity of global importance. Located on the southern coast of Rio de Janeiro State, BIG consists of a semi-enclosed coastal embayment measuring some 1,120 km2 in area and characterized by a rich biodiversity that includes the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica), one of the most diverse and threatened forest ecosystems on earth, dwarf, subtropical moist broadleaf forest and shrubs (restinga), mangroves and coral reefs. Progress toward meeting this goal would be achieved through the: (i) development and implementation of a pilot integrated ecosystem management approach to the Bay; (ii) preparation and implementation of a biodiversity conservation mosaic management and action plan designed to promote greater coordination and coherency among the Bay’s existing conservation units (UCs); (iii) strengthening of selected UCs in BIG; (iv) mitigation of selected threats affecting the “health” of the BIG Ecosystem and its ability to provide critical environmental “goods and services” including the conservation of biodiversity; (v) increased public awareness and support for efforts to conserve the BIG Ecosystem; and (vi) increased institutional capacity in regulatory agencies responsible for environmental policy and management at the State and municipal levels. This goal would be achieved through a multiple-phase approach extending over a period estimated to be some 15 – 25 years of which the present project represents the initial phase. The proposed project directly supports priorities identified under Brazil’s National Biodiversity Strategy (NBS), National Program for Biological Diversity (PRONABIO) and includes conservation units identified as national priorities by Brazil’s National Commission on Biodiversity (CONABIO).