ilha das baleias is covered in mangrove, which spreads throughout the region, especially to the east.

to the west, there is the saltwater habitat known as 'restinga', covering a wide part of the marambaia island.

to the east and well into the barra de guaratiba neighborhood, these wetlands form an ecological region which was deemed important enough to be classified as a nature reserve.

the 'reserva biológica e arquelógica de guaratiba', or ' biological and archeological reserve of guaratiba' in english, was created in 1974 and is characterized by the large flocks of birds which gave it its name.