Observação de aves no refúgio de vida silvestre metrópole da Amazônia: uma contribuição para a conservação ambiental da unidade e ao desenvolvimento turístico do estado do Pará

Abstract

Human beings need to be in contact with nature, but these areas are increasingly further away from the large urban centers. There is an increasing demand by tourists and nearby communities to frequent protected areas, which are protected by law. People with specific interests also search for protected areas, which is the case of birdwatchers who collect sightings and enrich their lives by enjoying birds, while at the same time contribute to science and the quality of the environement. The main objective of this study is to develop a proposal for birdwatching in the Amazonian Metropolis Wildlife Refuge, an integrally protected area located in the urban region of the city of Belém, Pará, Brazil. The proposal will serve as an instrument for environmental conservation which can also contribute to its economic sustainability and offer an alternative income source for the local communities. This research project is primarily qualitative while also using quantitative data, bibliographic research and field work. Ornithologists from the Emelio Goeldi Museum contributed to it by confirming the species sighted and checking the accuracy of the bird lists. One of the results is a updated list of 202 species including several endemic species and those threatened with extinction, which is what motivated the introduction of birdwatching, a segment of tourism that is just beginning to occur in the state of Pará. Alternative activities are proposed for the success of ecotourism and as a contribuition to the protected area’s administration which has the objective of maintaining wildlife and creating conditions for its reproduction. The Refuge is a State Protected Area, located in the Belém Center of Endemism and encompasses the townships of Ananindeua, Marituba, Benevides and Santa Izabel. Birdwatching is an educational recreational activity that occurs outdoors and encourages enviromental conservation.