Gerenciamento ambiental de atributos naturais da Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) Caverna do Maroaga, Presidente Figueiredo/AM

Abstract

The inappropriate use of natural attributes for tourism is the result of the lack of administrative regulation and management measures that make its actual protection possible. This way, the goal of the diagnosis of the natural attributes of the Maroaga Cave Environmental Protection Area (APA) was to map out and characterize the locations that have already been visited as well as those with potential; interview the visitors, seeking to identify their perception about the use of the areas; detect environmental and location space changes and the degree of enjoyment. Methods of Exploratory Research were employed by means of a Case Study and a chapter called Social Representation and a DAFO Chart, an acquisition of secondary and primary data been made. In the field research, direct observation was made by photography; acquisition of GPS locations; the used and creation of theme letters of the located areas; holding 127 scripted interviews with the users (87 community members, 10 managers, and 30 visitors); and applying 12 questionnaires of biophysical/institutional characterization. An analysis of the obtained information was done by interactive charts and control lists. The Maroaga Cave is the attraction that began the creation of the APA. Despite covering four levels of administrative protection under the form of distinct typologies of protected areas, even finding the state of conservation in compromise due to the slow actions by the government and society in general for its restricted protection and ordering public use, serving as a showcase of attractions scattered around the Conservation Unit. 63 known areas were identified by community members. 12 areas were chosen for a technical visit. This way, five new attractions were mapped and denominated. Just two attractions are in need of studies about the feasibility of tourism. All of the spots need more restrictive official protection and studies about their capability of support and visitor administration. The perception and preferences of visitors of two distinct natural areas (Gatekeeper's Waterfall and the RRPN Sanctuary Waterfall) were discussed. In these two areas, the inexistence of improvement on commodity and visitor security was highlighted; the lack of appropriate infrastructure for lodging and meals in the locations, therefore causing environmental impacts. Management's perception of the ten distinct natural areas resulted in the determination that the factors that made attraction management a challenge are the lack of qualification programs, technical support, funds, and regulating public use by respective public organizations. Besides this, factors such as deforestation in the countryside in the Conservation Unit and the consequent degradation of the permanent preservation areas (APP) are significant in the small amount of time the areas have been used for, due to inertia of the work of controlling, inspecting, and monitoring the environment, resulting in the clandestine use of the areas. The practice of tourism in three communities of the APA was also analyzed, having detected that it has been geared toward the natural attractions existing within it, lacking planning and environmental monitoring. It was detected that the community members take an interest and are motivated as far as their active participation in tourism and are in need of clarity about establishing entrepreneurships, in need of guidelines about the ways available to fund them, and the programs offered in visitor administration and entrepreneurship. Finally, public use of the APA natural attributes requires forming and taking proper management measures according to the natural conditions of each location, with the goal of not threatening its future use and avoiding losing originality.