In Brazil, an environmental protection area (EPA) is a generally vast area, with a certain degree of human presence, gifted with abiotic, biotic, aesthetic or cultural attributes, especially important to the quality of life and well-being of the human population. An EPA’s basic objectives are to protect the biological diversity, discipline the process of occupation and guarantee sustentainability in the use of the natural resources.

Environmental Protection Areas can be public or private properties, the Atlantic Forest is one of the planet’s areas of greatest biodiversity, considered the second most endangered tropical forest among the 15 regions denominated "hot spots" (areas of high biodiversity, elevated rates of endemism and great anthropic pressure).

Second largest area of preservation in the state of Rio de Janeiro, the Macae de Cima EPA has fundamental importance in preserving endemic species of the Atlantic Forest, and preserving numerous water springs that supply the nearby towns.