Environmental Protection Areas are an important tool for the preservation and conservation of biodiversity, especially at local level. The aim of this work was to describe the environmental characteristics of the Maracanã APA, by carrying out a pre-zoning to identify the problems that occur in the region, where according to the data collected it was possible to obtain the zoning of the APA, which through this it was possible to visualise the main threats that affect the area, such as the suppression of native vegetation, inadequate disposal of solid waste, irregular occupation of riverbanks, construction of housing under the Federal Government's Minha casa Minha vida project, which is responsible for the loss of springs and what remains of the historical and cultural heritage, where the lack of a management plan and environmental management are aggravating factors.

Jainara Santos Albuquerque. Environmental Technician and Environmental Management Technologist.

Angélica dos Santos da Silva. Specialist in Portuguese Language and Respective Literatures, studying for a master's degree in Education Management.

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