Análise da gestão do uso público: turismo e lazer em duas unidades de conservação pertencentes ao Mosaico de Áreas Protegidas do Baixo Rio Negro

Abstract

The public use in protected areas can be understood as education, recreation, tourism and environmental interpretation activities, which provides the visitor with the privilege of knowing, valuing and understanding the importance of the natural and cultural resources of these places. Studies about how management of public use by Conservation Units (UCs), mainly in Sustainable Development Reserves (RDSs), is still in its infancy. The goal of this study was to comparatively analyze the management of public use of tourism and leisure activities in two RDSs: i) Rio Negro, under the management of the State of Amazonas; and ii) Tupé, under the management of the Municipality of Manaus. These CUs belong to the Mosaic of Protected Areas of the Lower Rio Negro (MBRN), located in the State of Amazonas, and have concentrated a great part of tourism and leisure activities in this region for decades. Based on the specific goals, the tourism and leisure activities carried out in each of the UCs were characterized, the status of implementation of the activities foreseen in the management tools for public use and the current reality of the PAs were characterized, as well as the challenges and opportunities identified for the management of tourism and leisure in the UCs, from their management instruments. For this purpose, bibliographic and documentary research were carried out, as well as field research with semi-structured interviews, observations and analysis of management instruments of UCs. The results showed that tourism and leisure activities occur independently and intensely in the two UCs, covering a diverse set of activities with various actors involved, such as travel agents and operators, local initiatives, private boat owners, boaters' cooperatives, Organizations Non-governmental organizations (ONGs), among others. This tourism dynamic does not occur due to the management of these units, but from other contexts, without the promotion of PAs. Insufficient technical and financial capacity was identified for the adequate planning of these activities in the units. It is also worth mentioning that there is a significant inequality in obtaining external support among the administrative spheres of PAs. While relevant and effective support to the development of tourism by ONGs and governmental programs at the municipal level are non-existent, in the state environment there is clear support from such organizations, making the difference in the implementation of the actions foreseen in the Management Programs of the PAs is brutal.