Brazil

Coral reefs in Brazil are distributed along 3,000 km of the northeastern coast and represent the only coral reef ecosystem in the South Atlantic. The Brazilian reefs are built by a low-diversity coral fauna but with high levels of endemism, reaching up to 50%, most of them unique forms that have gone extinct elsewhere, thus considered reef relics. These reef systems also include other reef-building organisms, such as calcareous algae and bryozoans, as observed in the Abrolhos region, which further enhance the structural complexity and uniqueness of Brazilian reef formations. Extending beyond their coral structures, Brazilian reefs form a broad ecological continuum that connects with mangroves and seagrass beds, creating intricate coastal mosaics. They are also closely associated with extensive rhodolith beds and a variety of hardbottom features on the continental shelf, such as incised valleys and sinkholes. Together, these ecosystems sustain rich biodiversity and provide essential ecosystem services, supporting artisanal fisheries, food security, and the cultural heritage of traditional coastal communities throughout northeastern Brazil.

Coral Reef Monitoring

Coral reef monitoring in Brazil began in the early 1990s, following the first recorded coral bleaching events along the coast. In 1998, Brazil joined the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) as part of the South Tropical America Node. Two GCRMN protocols have been applied in the country: the AGRRA protocol, applied since 1999 by the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) to monitor reefs in Bahia State, and Reef Check, implemented on a larger scale since 2002. Data from both protocols contributed to GCRMN global reports up to 2008. The Reef Check protocol was adapted for Brazilian reef environments and officially adopted by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA) as the methodology for the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program, launched in 2002. This program pioneered citizen science in Brazil and aimed, among other objectives, to assess the effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas under different management regimes. It has been coordinated by the Federal University of Pernambuco and implemented by the Instituto Recifes Costeiros, with funding from the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA) for nine years and partial support from Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) for about a decade. Long-term data (2002–2018) from Reef Check Brazil, covering a broad spatial scale, contributed to the sixth GCRMN Global Report, Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2020. Since 2020, Brazil has been recognized as an individual node within the GCRMN.

Coral reef monitoring in Brazil has also diversified and expanded, supported by a growing number of initiatives encompassing 21 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Most of these programs are funded by governmental agencies and coordinated by universities, NGOs, and research institutes. These include projects within the Long-Term Ecological Research Program (PELD), such as PELD Abrolhos, PELD Tamandaré, PELD Costa dos Corais, PELD Costa Semiárida, and PELD Oceanic Islands, funded by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq); Coral Vivo, supported by Petrobras Socioambiental; Reef Check Brazil, which is sustained through local partnerships and the National Center for Research and Conservation of Marine Biodiversity of the Northeastern Coast (CEPENE/ICMBio); AGRRA monitoring under the INCT AmbTropic/Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI); Monitora Program, the national reef monitoring program being implemented by ICMBio; and the NGO-led Projeto Conservação Recifal. The Department of Ocean and Coastal Management (DOceano) is coordinating efforts to compile and systematize national coral reef data, strengthening the Brazil Node of the GCRMN in preparation for the 7th Global Status of Coral Reefs Report.

Legislation

Several measures were taken to protect coral reefs, including a significant number of conventions, laws, norms, and procedures. Brazil is a signatory to 13 international conventions and treaties with an interface with the coastal and marine environment. In 2025, Brazil launched the National Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Coral Reefs – ProCoral, which aims to implement, guide, articulate, and coordinate public policies for the conservation, sustainable use, and recovery of coral reefs in Brazil.

Brazil has also been making efforts to integrate the ocean, climate, and biodiversity agendas into both its national and international commitments. For the first time, the country included Ocean-Based Actions in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), submitted in November 2024. The development and implementation of ProCoral was one of these ocean-based actions and was also defined as a target in the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP) and in the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), which also includes a Thematic Plan for the Ocean and Coastal Zone. The ocean-based actions included in Brazil’s NDC feature specific strategies for mitigation and adaptation, such as Marine Spatial Planning, along with initiatives like the creation of Marine Protected Areas and programs for the conservation and restoration of climate-vulnerable ecosystems, including mangroves and coral reefs.

The National Plan of Action for Coral Reef Conservation (PAN Corais), coordinated by ICMBio and developed through the collaboration of researchers, non-governmental organizations, traditional communities, the private sector, and different levels of government, was designed to identify and guide priority actions to address threats to endangered coral reef species and their habitats. Implemented in its first cycle from 2016 to 2021, the plan aimed to strengthen coral reef conservation, reduce anthropogenic pressures, and promote research and the sustainable use of reef resources. From its second cycle (2025–2030), PAN Corais will serve as the operational plan of ProCoral, aligning its actions and priorities with the national strategy and encompassing 53 threatened species. In addition, ICMBio also coordinates a national initiative to assess species extinction risk in Brazil, in partnership with the IUCN, providing critical information to guide conservation planning and policy.

Complementing these efforts, Brazil has instituted the National Strategy for a Plastic-Free Ocean (ENOP) for 2025–2030, which guides public policies to prevent, reduce, and eliminate marine plastic pollution through coordinated inter-ministerial action, scientific collaboration, and community engagement across the full lifecycle of plastic.

For a detailed overview of existing political instruments for reef conservation in Brazil, see the SIMACLIM Report available in Key Documents.

Mapping shallow coral reefs

An updated Coral Reef Atlas for Marine Protected Areas in Brazil is underway through a technical cooperation agreement between the MMA and MapBiomas, aiming to produce updated high-resolution maps of reef ecosystems in Brazil by 2025. The first Coral Reef Atlas was developed in 2001 through a partnership between MMA, the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), and the Projeto Recifes Costeiros (UFPE/BID/IBAMA), with a revised edition released in 2006 during COP8. At that time, Brazil had an estimated 106,574 km² of total reef occurrence along the northeastern continental shelf, of which 1,008 km² were mapped as shallow reefs across nine MPAs. The new atlas will refine and expand national reef mapping to better support conservation and management efforts.

Since 2014, Brazil’s marine and coastal conservation efforts have been strengthened through the GEF-Mar Project, coordinated by MMA and ICMBio and implemented by the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (Funbio). Supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the project has enhanced the management and financial sustainability of Marine Protected Areas and advanced coral reef conservation.

In 2024, the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) launched the BNDES Azul program to promote a sustainable blue economy through marine spatial planning, fleet decarbonization, port infrastructure, and coral reef monitoring, restoration, and conservation. Projects selected under this program, involving most of the monitoring initiatives mentioned above, are expected to begin in 2026.

Brazil’s collaborative approach, involving federal agencies, academic institutions, NGOs, and local communities, remains essential for the long-term sustainability of these ecosystems. Continued investments and partnerships are vital to preserve Brazil’s unique coral reefs.

.

MPAs with coral reefs: 21
Percentage of the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covered by MPAs: 26.54%
Estimated percentage of the total reef area covered by MPAs:15.3%

The National System of Nature Conservation Units (SNUC), established by Law No. 9.985/2000, provides the legal framework for the creation, management, and governance of protected areas at the federal, state, and municipal levels in Brazil. Complementing this framework, the National Strategic Plan for Protected Areas (PNAP), instituted by Decree No. 5.758/2006, defines principles and strategies for establishing an ecologically representative and effectively managed network of terrestrial and marine protected areas. Updated information on Brazil’s protected-area network is available through the Brazilian Protected Areas Panel (CNUC), accessible at https://cnuc.mma.gov.br/powerbi.

Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves – Peaks of the Southern Atlantic submarine ridge form the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago and Rocas Atoll off the coast of Brazil. They represent a large proportion of the island surface of the South Atlantic and their rich waters are extremely important for the breeding and feeding of tuna, shark, turtle, and marine mammals. The islands are home to the largest concentration of tropical seabirds in the Western Atlantic. Baía dos Golfinhos has an exceptional population of resident dolphins and at low tide, the Rocas Atoll provides a spectacular seascape of lagoons and tidal pools teeming with fish.  Date of Inscription: 2001

Abrolhos Marine National Park. Designation date 02/02/2010; Bahia State; 91,300 ha; 17º49’S 038º49’W. National Park, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The Park is divided into two distinct areas: a) Timbebas reefs and b) Abrolhos Archipelago and Parcel dos Abrolhos. They include a mosaic of marine and coastal environments such as coral reefs, algae bottoms, mangroves, beaches and sandbanks. The site sustains IUCN-Red List critically endangered species such as Leatherback Sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) and Hawkbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata), as well as other endangered and vulnerable species, including Loggerhead Sea turtle (Caretta caretta), Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), and many threatened fish species such as the Groupers and the coral (Millepora nitida). The area is considered an archeological site due to the number of wrecks found on its waters. It provides livelihood for more than 20,000 fishermen and 80,000 tourism-related posts in the Bahia State area. The threats within the park include illegal fishing, the great number of tourists which causes stress on the bird and coral population and increased litter, and pollution from ship ballast cleaning activities. Research and tourist facilities and activities include a visitors’ center inaugurated in 2004, the Research and Monitoring Center of Abrolhos, a voluntary internship program for undergraduate students, and a consultant council composed of different stakeholders in the community. The site is part of the core zone of the Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve. Ramsar site nº. 1902.

Parque Estadual Marinho do Parcel Manoel Luís including the Baixios do Mestre Álvaro and Tarol.Designation date 29/02/2000; Maranhão; 34,556 ha; 00°30’S 044°45’W. State Marine Park. Three coral banks off the northern coast of Maranhão, at the northern distribution limit of several fish species endemic to the Brazilian coast. The area is very important for fishery production and of extremely high scientific value. Numerous shipwrecks have been found in the area and await further study. Though the area is attractive to amateur and professional divers, tourism is limited, and because of difficult local currents and distance from the coast, only experienced divers are encouraged. Threats include coral bleaching associated with climate change, the possibility of environmentally harmful shipwrecks where navigation is still hazardous, and pollution from hull washing by ships near São Marcos Bay. Owned by the federal government under the administration of Maranhão. Ramsar site nº. 1021.

Fernando de Noronha. Designation date 25/01/2018; 10,927 ha; 03°51’40″S 32°24’09″W. Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is an oceanic archipelago in the north-east of Brazil, which has been for millennia a refuge for many endemic species because of its isolated location. Of the 28 coral species occurring in Brazil, ten are found in all phases of their lives in Noronha. There are also great concentrations of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) and pantropical spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata), and an area where humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) reproduce and rear their calves. The Site is also listed as a UNESCO Natural World Heritage property. Ramsar site nº. 2333.

Atol das Rocas. Designation date 11/12/2015; 35,186.4 ha; 03°51’S 33°46’W. Atol das Rocas Biological Reserve is an oceanic island ecosystem which includes the only atoll in the South Atlantic, formed predominantly by coralline algae rather than corals. Located 267 km north-east of the coastal city of Natal, it is also part of the Brazilian Atlantic Islands: Fernando de Noronha and Atol das Rocas Reserves World Heritage Site. Atol das Rocas hosts a great variety of endemic and migratory species, of which some are endangered and many of economic interest. It is an important reproductive site for green turtle (Chelonia mydas), and hosts Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), all categorized as endangered or critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. It also maintains at least 14 endemic mollusk species, including six which are endemic to the Site; five species of sponges not recorded in neighboring areas and probably new to science, therefore provisionally considered endemic to Atol das Rocas; and 15 species of corals endemic to Brazil. It accommodates the largest concentration of tropical seabirds in the western Atlantic, with an estimate of at least 150,000 birds of 29 species. It is also an important breeding, feeding, and nursing site for lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) and hosts five endemic species of fish. Recreation and tourism are not permitted, and only research and monitoring are conducted. The main threats to the Site’s ecological character include illegal fishing, introduction of invasive species, disturbances caused by visitors, and commercial and military overflights. Ramsar site nº. 2259.

Reentrâncias Maranhenses. Designation date 30/11/1993; 2,680,911 ha; 01°35’S 44°53’W. This large Wetland of International Importance on Brazil’s north-eastern coast features bays, inlets and estuaries, low and flat areas, as well as extensive mangroves. It covers almost 2.7 million hectares and is connected to four other wetlands of international importance (Cabo Orange National Park; Baixada Maranhense Environmental Protection Area; Amazon Estuary and its Mangroves; and Parque Estadual Marinho do Parcel Manoel Luís including the Baixios do Mestre Álvaro and Tarol) forming the largest continuous area of mangroves worldwide. The Site is an ecosystem rich in biodiversity: it is the second-most important area in South America in terms of migratory bird numbers. It hosts 50% of all the coastal bird population in Brazil and 7% of all those in South America, including the Hudsonian godwit (Limosa haemastica) and the whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus). In addition, it provides shelter to critically endangered species such as the Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate) and vulnerable ones such as the Caribbean manatee (Trichechus manatus), the leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) and the Atlantic goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara). Reentrancias Maranhenses faces natural threats such as strong ocean currents and the advance of sand on the mangrove. However, the main threats are predatory fishing, incidental fishing of threatened species, and the collection of turtle eggs. Ramsar site nº. 640.