Drone Rules for Chapada Diamantina National Park
Drone flights are strictly prohibited within the boundaries of the Chapada Diamantina National Park.
⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTICE: Drone Operations Prohibited in Chapada Diamantina National Park
Drone flights are strictly prohibited within the boundaries of the Chapada Diamantina National Park. Operating unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones) in this region is illegal due to federal environmental laws, complex atmospheric mountain hazards, and historical-cultural heritage protection acts.
🗺️ Geographic Map Boundaries (Where it is prohibited)
The flight ban covers the entire official polygon of 152,000 hectares (1,520 km²) of the National Park, spanning across the municipalities of Lençóis, Palmeiras, Andaraí, Mucugê, Ibicoara, and Itaetê.
- North Boundary: Up to the limits of the BR-242 highway and the access valleys near Lençóis.
- South Boundary: Extends down to the rural borders of Ibicoara and Itaetê.
- East/West Limits: Encompasses all serras, tablelands (morros), and deep valleys of the Paraguaçu River basin.
- Critical No-Fly Zones: Total local enforcement at Cachoeira da Fumaça (340m drop), Morro do Pai Inácio, Cachoeira do Buracão, Poço Azul, Poço Encantado, and the Vale do Pati trekking circuits.
📜 Key Regulations & Specific Legal Articles
- ICMBio Normative Instruction No. 61/2020: This federal ordinance dictates that any recreational operation of unmanned aircraft inside National Parks is completely forbidden without a previously issued environmental permit.
- Federal Law No. 9,605/1998 (Environmental Crimes Law - Art. 29 & 40): Protects the rich avian fauna of the biome. The high-pitched noise of drone motors triggers panic and nesting abandonment in species like the Hooded Visorbearer hummingbird (Augastes lumachella) (endemic to the region), King Vultures, and various birds of prey that nest directly on the rocky canyon walls.
- DECEA ICA 100-40 & ANAC RBAC-94: Due to the extreme topography of the chapada, narrow valleys and sudden micro-burst winds create severe wind shear. Thermal updrafts cause frequent drone thermal runaways, signal loss, and crashes, leaving hazardous lithium batteries in inaccessible ecological zones.
⚖️ Penalties for Violations
Anyone caught operating drones inside the park boundaries without authorization will face strict immediate legal action:
- Immediate Equipment Seizure: Confiscation of the drone, remote controller, and all storage media by ICMBio Federal Rangers or CIPA (Environmental Police).
- Administrative Financial Sanctions: Fines starting at R$ 5,000.00 per infraction under Federal Decree 6,514/08.
- Criminal Penalties: Registration of an environmental crime report for damaging federal conservation units and violating airspace safety codes.
🎥 Official Media & Research Licensing
Recreational flying is 100% banned. For institutional, scientific, or licensed commercial cinematography:
- Permits must be requested at least 45 business days in advance through the ICMBio SISBIO System.
- Pilots must obtain specific airspace clearance via the DECEA SARPAS system, matching the precise coordinates of the intended shoot.
Thank you for respecting the natural silence of the mountains and helping preserve the biodiversity of Chapada Diamantina.