Understand
Surrounded by the ocean on one side, and the Inferno River estuary on the other, this island is of rare natural beauty, home to a great variety of ecosystems. mboi pewa - is a Tupy Indian word which means flat snake, in reference to a sea turtle, giving the name to the island of Boipeba. Boipeba is home to a dense Atlantic rainforest, and with its salt marshes, sand dunes, extensive mangroves, and paradisiacal coconut-palmed beaches and reefs, it is a world of ecological diversity. The reefs are found up and down the coast, sheltering the beaches from waves and ocean currents. The wide reefs are full of canals and shallow pools. Flora and fauna are rich in varieties of coral, algae, fish, mollusks, sea urchins, starfish, and other sea life. There are sea turtles found in the region, and spawning eggs can be seen on beaches around the island. The forested areas of the island are home to numerous species of birds, armadillos, fox and reptiles, as well as other animal life. Boipeba being a natural wildlife habitat, and given the necessity of protecting the Tinharé and Boipeba ecosystems, the state of Bahia created the Area of Environmental Protection APA in Portuguese of the islands of Tinharé and Boipeba, in June of 1992. In joining forces together as Amabo, the Association of Residents and Friends of Boipeba, residents of Boipeba put together a proposal of Sustainable Development for the island. With this proposal, Amabo would like to help better the lives of the local population, developing economic activities, especially tourism, without destroying the environment.
