Aplicação da adaptação da metodologia de capacidade de suporte de cifuentes em comparação com a metodologia NBV: circuito Janela do Céu - Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Abstract

The conservationist and preservationist ideals in Brazil have their origins dating back to the time of the Empire. During this same period, the proposal for creating Brazil’s first national park in the Itatiaia massif region of Rio de Janeiro was put forward. The category “Parks” is the most illustrative and recognized type of Protected Natural Area (ANP), primarily due to its potential for public use related to ecotourism through trail circulation. Since its establishment in 1973, the Ibitipoca State Park (PEIb) in Minas Gerais has experienced a significant increase in the number of visitors over the years. Consequently, effective management of this visitation has become essential for maintaining the quality of the environment and ensuring its preservation. Given the fragile nature of PEIb, any alteration could lead to irreversible damage to the site. Simultaneously, research on carrying capacity in these areas has emerged to assist managers with quantifiable studies and tools regarding the sustainable number of tourists the environment can support. This study aims to analyze different methodologies, including the Visitor Benchmark Number (NBV) created by ICMBio and the Cifuentes methodology adapted by Rocha et al. (2021). The adaptations account for the specific characteristics of southeastern Brazilian parks, incorporating modifications related to Accessibility Correction Factors, Solar Brightness, and the inclusion of the Exposed Roots Correction Factor. The study focuses on the Janela do Céu Circuit, where field data collection and trail inventory were conducted. After processing the data, two ideal scenarios were proposed: the first, labeled as “plausible,” considers the trail without any occurrences; the second, termed “utopian,” adds canopy and/or lateral vegetation attenuation along the entire trail. Comparatively, the results for NBV and Rocha et al. (2021) were similar in magnitude, with 302 and 278 visitors per day, respectively. For the simulations, the results were 328 for the “plausible” case and 448 for the “utopian” case. It is worth noting that despite yielding more conservative numbers, the adapted Cifuentes methodology by Rocha et al. (2021) demonstrates the potential for higher daily visitor estimates by improving trail management practices.