in 1992, the marambaia's status was further elevated to reserve of the biosphere by unesco's program man and biosphere - this detailed the sandbank (restinga), the mangroves (manguezais), the beaches (praias) and sand dunes (dunas) as vital ecosystems to the area.
the vegetation of the sandbank is also specifically protected as element necessary to the stabilization of the sand dunes.
the same decree that includes the marambaia, extends to protect the área de proteçăo ambiental de mangaratiba, the region surrounding marambaia island.
in 2006 a legislation came in effect to protect atlantic rainforest vegetation - and as the marambaia is home to one of the largest and virtually untouched reserves of south-eastern brazil another layer of protection was extended over this island.
beaches
islands
