Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses may become World Natural Heritage Site

The Lençóis Maranhenses National Park, in the northern state of Maranhão, is running for the title of World Natural Heritage Site, granted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Unesco. Governor Carlos Brandão confirmed this week the park has met technical requirements and had its candidacy approved.

A Unesco commission is expected to come to Brazil for an on-site evaluation, but no date has yet been disclosed. Governor Brandão wrote on his social media he has no doubt the experts will be delighted by what he termed “this natural paradise, the pride of all Maranhão citizens.”

Created over 40 years ago, the park is located approximately 250 kilometers from state capital São Luís. Famous for the crystal-clear lagoons that form among the white dunes during the rainy season, the area is South America’s largest dune field, covering an area of 155 thousand hectares—larger than the city of São Paulo. It is managed by environmental preservation institute ICMBio.

The national park is said to meet at least three criteria to become a World Natural Heritage Site: natural beauty, geological features, and habitats, which also covers endangered species. Its candidacy was submitted back in 2018 and the possible title is believed to bring more visibility to the area worldwide.

As it stands today, Brazil boasts seven World Natural Heritage Sites:

    • the Iguaçu National Park, in Foz do Iguaçu, on the border between Paraná and Argentina;
    • the Atlantic Forest reserves in São Paulo and Paraná states;
    • the Discovery Coast, or Costa do Descobrimento, in Bahia and Espírito Santo;
    • the Protected Areas of the Central Amazon and the Pantanal;
    • the Chapada dos Veadeiros and the Emas National Park, in Goiás;
    • the Fernando de Noronha archipelago;
    • and the Rocas Atoll.

The Lençóis Maranhenses Park could become the eighth on the list.