"Close to a lot of water, all is happy"

ESECAE has a wide variety of flora and fauna.

There are 328 species of birds, including the rare osprey (Urubitinga coronata), miner quail (Nothura minor), rapazinho-dos-velhos (Nystalus maculatus), the white-browed warbler (Basileuterus leucophrys), gray hummingbird (Aphantochroa cirrochloris), the cardinal-of-goiás (Paroarai baeri) and the black maria (Knipolegus nigerrimus).

Its Cerrado area, practically intact, is home to endangered fauna such as the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), sussuarana (Puma concolor), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), giant anteater (Mymercophaga tridactyla), the savannah bat (Lonchophylla dekeseri); the presence of the wood mouse (Kunsia fronto) stands out.

We emphasize the significance of the presence of two amphibian species endemic to the Cerrado: Boana lundii and Odontophrynus salvatori.

ESECAE brings together a mosaic of different types of vegetation representative of the Cerrado.

The typical vegetation found at ESECAE, and in the Cerrado generally, is made up of savanna, ranging from open fields to dense forests. At the Ecological Station, the predominant vegetation is called Cerrado <i>sensu stricto</i> (75.2%).  Dirty fields (with scattered shrubs and trees) cover 5% of the area, clean fields (with no trees or shrubs) 3.5%, floodable and well-drained riverside forest around 2.5%, and palm swamps 2.5%

The name "Águas Emendadas" refers to a unique and important natural phenomenon, the same path pours water into two large hydrographic basins in Latin America. It is one of the most expressive geographic features in the national territory; its waters that spring there run in two opposite directions.

The Maranhão River flows into the Tocantins River towards the north of the country and the São Bartolomeu River, which flows south until reaching the Paraná River Basin.

Lagoa Bonita, as well as the path where the hydrological phenomenon known today as “Águas Emendadas” is located, was a reference used by Cruls Mission in choosing the area of ​​the Federal Capital.

In 2018, Águas Emendadas was internationally recognized for making the connection between water, culture, and heritage, receiving the Water and Heritage Awareness Shield from the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS Netherlands). To date, only five locations in the world have received this award.

The ecological station is under huge pressure from human activity as it is surrounded by ranches, farms, and settlements. Urban areas are also encroaching, whether as Planaltina expands or as land is constantly parceled off to build illegal condominiums. On large properties, the use of herbicides and other chemical inputs end up polluting the protected area.

Proof of this can be seen in the disappearance of bromeliads, despite the area being quite humid. The proximity to the BR-020, one of the busiest routes across the Federal District, is yet another item on the list of threats facing the Conservation Unit.    

As this is a delicately balanced area and a Fully Protected Conservation Unit, the Águas Emendadas Ecological Station is not open to the public, except for researchers and guided visits.