The creation of protected areas is one of the most useful strategies for protecting biodiversity against constant and growing threats. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to analyze conservation biology concepts and assess their application to the creation and expansion of Descobrimento National Park (Bahia, Brazil) by using primary and secondary data and geoprocessing tools. The creation of the protected area was basically guided by the opportunity to acquire the area, and great opportunities for biodiversity conservation in the region were disregarded in the process. The reliability of the planning tools of the conservation unit are discussed, as are the situations involving their application in the buffer zone.