---

Created by the state government in 2000, the Botanical Garden is one of Brazil's largest Atlantic Forest reserves, with 515 hectares. In addition to the leisure area, it is also a place for studies of fauna and flora species. Through three trails, the tourist can glimpse typical animal and plant species of the Atlantic Forest. Plants include sucupira, cajazeira (the cajá tree), copiúba (which serves as food for marmosets), orchids and bromeliads. Among the animals, can be seen specimens of anteater, cotia, fox, cavy, sloth, butterflies and birds (woodpecker, thrush, black anum and jacu). Other attractions include the "hug tree", a palm tree that has grown in the middle of a glacier, giving the impression that the two trees are entwined. The tour is accompanied by guides and rangers.



Benjamim Maranhão Botanical Garden, popularly known as Mata do Buraquinho, is a Brazilian botanical garden located in João Pessoa, capital of Paraíba state. The botanical garden was created by the state government through Decree no. 21,264, of August 28, 2000.



With 515 hectares, it is the largest dense and flat forest surrounded by densely urbanized area in the world, differing from both the Parque das Dunas (unique among them because it has one side fully facing the sea) and the Tijuca Forest (these are the only unnatural urban forest, but reforested) for its more constant relief, non-sandy and non-crystalline sedimentary soil, among other features (Cantareira Park for example touches the limes of the city, but is not surrounded by it) . [lacks sources]



The Jaguaribe River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, runs through the reserve and cuts through 23 neighborhoods in the Paraíba capital and currently suffers from urban pollution. For the three trails (Rio, Buriti and Bambuzal), the botanical garden receives groups of up to 50 people per shift, in the morning and in the afternoon, whose visits have to be scheduled. Before the tour, the group attends a lecture in the auditorium about the botanical garden and its importance to the city.



In addition to a leisure area, the botanical garden aims to study species of fauna and flora, develop environmental education activities and preserve the genetic heritage of plants, among which are sucupira, massaranduba, cajazeira, copiúba, dendê, pau- pigeon, orchids and bromeliads.



Among the animals, besides marmosets, there are rarer ones, such as anteaters, agouti, fox, cavy, sloth, butterflies, snakes and birds (woodpecker, thrush, black anu and jacu). The park has typical animal and plant species from the Atlantic rainforest.



In 1996, IBAMA presented another proposal for the transformation of Mata do Buraquinho into a botanical garden, with the objective of preserving the area and guaranteeing its study. In 2000, the Paraíba State Government assumed responsibility for the creation and implementation of the João Pessoa Botanical Garden. Thus, on August 28, 2000, Decree 21,264 of effective creation of the Botanical Garden was signed, covering a total area of ​​515 hectares.



Since the creation of the botanical garden there have been invasions on the banks of the reserve, where there may be cases of subtraction of preservation territory, as well as deforestation (as in the Paulo Afonso Favela), as well as the creation of clandestine trades such as the well-known «Junk do Italiano »in the neighborhood of Jaguaribe.



Visitation

Monday to Friday • 8am to 5pm

Saturdays • 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Free entrance

---