the atlantic rainforest was declared national
patrimony in brazil's federal constitution of 1988 - this gave
every citizen the right to an ecologically balanced environment,
making both the government and the public responsible for its
protection and preservation.
in the state of rio de janeiro there are approximately
4,300 square kilometers of protected
atlantic
forest, which includes 19 federal units, and
26 units administered by the inea, with the ultimate goal to allow the forest to rebuild
itself.