Evaluation of ecological and social impacts of public use of Itatiaia National Park - Alto dos Brejos Trail

Abstract

The increasing demand of visiting natural areas, and the fact that these areas sometimes coincide with fragile ecosystems cause negative impacts on the environment.  In recent years, visitation pressure has been increasing for all natural areas because of the popularization of ecotourism. Therefore, increasingly, it is necessary to find ways to cope with the impacts from visitation without necessarily reducing or curtailing its use. Hence, evaluation and monitoring of public use impacts are considered key tools for managing visitation. Given the above, the main objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of public use on a trail of the Itatiaia National park, the Brejos trail, which has seen intensified use in recent years, and to provide data that can support management proposals. As a method of evaluating the conditions of the trail and its attractions, we used VIM (Visitor Impact Management). This includes the selection of impact-Ievel indicators and verifiers, the evaluation of appropriateness of selected variables, the collection of data throughout the area, the comparison of data obtained in standard or ideal situations, and the proposal of management measures. The results show that the trail is still relatively well preserved, with various drainage points made by the community that uses it, and a pronounced degree of erosion which has apparently stabilized, a few bifurcations along a total stretch of 3.5 km, and low impact on wildlife and vegetation surrounding the trail.