The Caatinga Biome, found in all states in the Northeast and in the North of the state of Minas Gerais, has the third largest concentration of caves in Brazil with 3,935 cavities recorded in 2020, in the database of the National Center for Research and Conservation of caves (CECAVE, ICMBio-MMA, 2020). Between 2019 and 2020, two hundred and eighty-nine new cavities were registered, within the area covered by the Biome. Most are found in carbonate rocks, followed by siliciclastic rocks and other lithologies. Among the 2,664 Conservation Units in Brazil, only 236 of them house caves (8,85%), with 56% of them (4,081) in Sustainable Use Units and 44% (3,203) of Integral Protection, a small number in the Caatinga Biome. The potential of the caves is very large, as many archaeological and paleontological sites of great relevance are in them, religious tourism and ecotourism are also a part of their use in the region.
UNESCO MAB WNBR database file
Contact:
Conselho Nacional da Reserva da Biosfera da Caatinga – CNRBCaat
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- Classic entrance to the Lapa Doce, Iraquara, Bahia, Brazil (© 2018 Epaminondas Pereira Lázaro)
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- Lapa do Sol Cave, in the foreground cave paintings over 3,000 years old, A. P., Iraquara, Bahia, Brazil (© 2020 William Lima)
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- Speleothem in the Lapa do Sol, Iraquara, Bahia, Brazil. (© 2020 Tarciso Sousa de Albuquerque)