Caetés forest

The Caetés forest (Portuguese Mata de Caetés) is an area in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo that preserves larger stretches of old-growth in the Atlantic rainforest. The area lies within the municipalities of Castelo, Vargem Alta, Domingos Martins, Venda Nova do Imigrante, and Alfredo Chaves. The Caetés forest is known for its population of the cherry-throated tanager, a critically endangered bird confirmed in the area in 2003, and of other critically endangered species. The forest is threatened by deforestation. A proposal to establish a public nature reserve to protect the entire forest was abandoned by the local government in 2015 due to local opposition. Instead, two smaller, private nature reserves have since been established that protect parts of the forest, the Águia Branca Private Reserve and the Reserva Kaetés.