Brazil has officially included the Parque Nacional Marinho de Abrolhos, a National Marine Park located on the Abrolhos Bank, a hotspot for marine wildlife off the central coast of the Brazilian mainland in the state of Bahia, on its tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Natural Sites, within an updated listing note as of 2025, according to the official website of the Brazilian Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
Established in 1983, the Parque Nacional Marinho de Abrolhos is the first National Marine Park in the country, is part of the Abrolhos Archipelago area and of the largest reef complex in the South Atlantic. This nomination seeks to recognize the area as a “Natural Heritage of Humanity."
The candidacy is based on the uniqueness of its ecosystems, the richness of its biodiversity and its key role as a breeding area for the humpback whale, a large baleen whale, reaching up to 18m long, they travel great distances every year and have one of the longest migrations of any mammal on the planet, representing a migratory species of notable relevance at a global level.
With the delivery of the dossier, the site enters the formal evaluation process of the World Heritage Convention, and the final decision of which is expected in July 2027.
Key details regarding the designation:
• Significance: Located in the state of Bahia, the Abrolhos Marine National Park is recognized as having the highest marine biodiversity in the South Atlantic Ocean. It features unique column – shaped coral reefs known as “Chapeirões, which can reach 25 metres in height.
• Biodiversity Hotspot: It is a crucial breeding ground for humpback whales and a nesting site for several threatened sea turtle species, including the critically endangered Leatherback and Hawksbill turtles.
• UNESCO Criteria: The nomination highlights the area under natural criteria (vii, ix, x) recognizing it for its superlative natural phenomena, significant ecological processes, and importance to biodiversity conservation.
• Protection Status: The park is already a recognized Ramsar site (wetland of international importance) since 2010.
• Current Status: As of late 2025, it is in the “tentative list” phase, a mandatory step before being considered for the final UNESCO World Heritage list.
This effort is part of a broader push by Brazilian environmental authorities and NGOs to strengthen the protection of the Abrolhos Bank against threats such as illegal fishing and oil exploration.
The authorities emphasize that the application reinforces environmental governance and the international projection of Brazilian marine ecosystems, in addition to aligning with the country’s commitments in terms of biodiversity conservation and international cooperation.
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