Dark Paraty

The Paraty Bay, Paraty-Mirim and Saco do Mamanguá Environmental Protection Area (APA) is in the municipality of Paraty, Rio de Janeiro.The ecosystems in the APA are of great importance in maintaining the fishing resources and exceptional scenic beauty which attracts international tourists and contributes to the economy of the region. Forbidden activities include bottom trawling, collection of shellfish for sale, any potentially polluting industries, and any other activities that would compromise maintenance of the ecosystems. The environmental protection area was established on 27 December 1985. The purpose is to preserve nature, scenic landscapes, fauna, flora and water systems as well as the traditional communities of caiçaras, quilombolas and indigenous people. It tries to reconcile human activities with preservation of wildlife and other natural resources. Caiçaras are people of south and south east Brazil descended from a mix of Europeans, Africans and indigenous people who live by traditional occupations such as fishing, agriculture and crafts. Quilombolas are descendants of African slaves who escaped and formed villages called quilombos in remote areas.The region includes an important remnant of the Atlantic Forest biome including the various transitions from coastal mangroves to humid tropical forest on the hillsides.This video was made from my boat Hakuna Matata in 2015, taking-off and landing from a stand up paddle board.